EastEnders slated by fans for ruining character with ‘worst ever storyline in 39 years’
FANS have accused EastEnders of ruining one character amid what they have labelled as the soap’s “worst ever storyline”.
Viewers of the BBC show have not held back in regards to the programme’s current ‘fake’ fostering plot.
It has led to harsh accusations that BBC chiefs have ruined the character of Whitney Dean, played by Shona McGarty.
Shona is due to leave the BBC soap very soon having quit her role after 15 years.
Currently pregnant with her first child with Zack Hudson, fans are currently watching how Whitney has also taken care of Britney Wainwright under the pretence that she has been formally fostered – a story that some have insisted is in the running for the worst in the show’s history.
Over the past year, following the heartbreak of losing baby Peach, Whitney and Zack began to foster children after originally planning not to focus on having a biological child of their own.
However, Whitney soon became pregnant once again and is due to give birth in the summer.
Since then, she has taken care of a vulnerable young girl named Britney.
Whilst those around her have been led to believe that she has been formally fostered – Whitney has actually faked the arrangement with Britney’s biological mum meaning that it isn’t legitimate.
Whitney has even attempted to bypass the NHS and GP system in order to avoid people clocking on to the fact that she should not legally be in the care of Whitney.
With Britney having received a diagnosis of Usher Syndrome, her health is more vital than ever and EastEnders viewers are now questioning the decision to ‘dumb down’ Whitney to the point where she could put a child in danger.
Not only this, the fact that the soap has followed a ‘fake’ fostering plot amid Whitney’s recent heartbreak hasn’t gone down too well.
Slamming the soap, one fan wrote on X – formerly Twitter: “This Britney, Whitney and Zack storyline is genuinely the worst storyline that #eastenders have ever written and the show has been going for 39 years.”
Another then added: “Are they purposely making Whitney this daft and annoying so we don’t miss her when she leaves?”
Shona’s EastEnders character Whitney has had a roller coaster life since arriving in Albert Square in 2008 as the adoptive daughter of Bianca Jackson, played by Patsy Palmer.
The character was sexually abused at 12 by Bianca’s fiancé, suffered sexual exploitation, killed her stalker, been married once and engaged three times.
In 2016, Whitney suffered a miscarriage and, in 2023 she had a termination after her unborn baby was diagnosed with life-limiting condition Edwards syndrome.
Speaking in 2023, Shona said: “I’ve been lucky to be trusted with such big stories. I don’t want it to stop.
“I want heartbreak and tragedy all the time if I could.”