EASTENDERS viewers have slammed the show after noticing ‘missing scenes’ during a major character departure.

Whitney Dean – played by Shona McGarty – exited the BBC soap after 16 years in scenes aired earlier this week.

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Whitney Dean, played by Shona McGarty, left Albert Square behind this week
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Whitney Dean, played by Shona McGarty, left Albert Square behind this weekCredit: BBC

The build-up to Whitney's departure involved her wedding to Zack Hudson - which didn't quite go as planned
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The build-up to Whitney’s departure involved her wedding to Zack Hudson – which didn’t quite go as plannedCredit: BBC

Whitney's fiancé Zack and best friend Lauren went behind her back by sleeping together
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Whitney’s fiancé Zack and best friend Lauren went behind her back by sleeping togetherCredit: BBCThe character’s departure was known almost a year ahead of time, with Shona having announced she was leaving EastEnders in July last year.In the end, Whitney’s conclusion saw her, newborn daughter Dolly and foster daughter Britney head to Wakefield to stay with Whitney’s half-brother Ryan Malloy.She cut off cheating fiancé Zack Hudson and former best friend Lauren Branning, who slept together weeks prior to Whitney and Zack’s wedding day.

Her adoptive mother Bianca Jackson was also exiled, having known about the cheating prior to Whitney finding out at the wedding.

However, some fans weren’t happy with Whitney’s final scenes as they called out other characters who weren’t given the chance to bid farewell.

One wrote: “I wanted Jay to say goodbye too. And Denise. And Jack.”

All three of these characters first arrived in Albert Square within two years of Whitney.

Jack is also a relative of Whitney’s via adoption, being the uncle of her adoptive mother Bianca.

 

EastEnders star Shona McGarty glams up for Whitney’s wedding

Although Zack tried to convince Britney to stay quiet, she spilled the beans during the couple’s vows.

Whitney’s exit brings an end to her storyline which began 16 years ago, when she arrived in Albert Square with Bianca and her family.

At first, Whitney believed Bianca’s daughter Tiffany to be her half-sister.

It was later revealed that Tiffany is actually the daughter of Ricky Butcher, not Whitney’s father Nathan.

The character’s storylines over the years have seen her face grooming, sexual abuse, stalking and kidnap, to name just a few.

Meanwhile her wedding to Zack was not Whitney’s first attempt at a happy marriage.

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She wed Lee Carter back in 2016, although their relationship would later deteriorate and they subsequently divorced.

Whitney was also once engaged to Callum Highway, however, Callum would ultimately come out the night before their wedding.

 

Her other past lovers included Kush Kazemi, Tyler Moon, Billie Jackson and Mick Carter, father of her ex-husband Lee.

Fans were disappointed certain other characters weren't given a goodbye with Whitney
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Fans were disappointed certain other characters weren’t given a goodbye with WhitneyCredit: BBC