EastEnders: Whitney Dean leaves Walford
EastEnders legend Shona McGarty is rumoured to be joining this years line-up of Strictly Come Dancing. As the beloved BBC reality show prepares to celebrate its 20th birthday, this year's cast is expected to be packed with stars.
Strictly enthusiasts have been guessing which celebrities will be showcasing their dance moves in the new series, and according to recent betting odds, former soap star Shona is set to shine on the dance floor.
The 32-year-old actress is renowned for her 16-year stint as Whitney Dean on EastEnders.However, in May, the character said goodbye to Walford for good when Shona left the long-standing soap.
Now, just two months later, the TV star is poised to make a return to the BBC on Strictly Come Dancing.
According to Gambling.com, actor Ralf Little is a favourite to participate in Strictly 2024, and trailing behind the Death in Paradise star is Shona with odds of 4/6.
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Former Love Island star and boxer Tommy Fury currently stands at 8/11, with rugby player Danny Cipriani and Will Young both at evens.
Holly Willoughby is set to step back into the spotlight next year with the release of her new Netflix show Bear Hunt, but she also has odds of 5/1 to join Strictly.
Her ex-This Morning co-host Phillip Schofield, who has kept a low profile since leaving the ITV show in May 2023 after confessing to an "unwise but not illegal" affair with a younger male colleague, is just 6/1 to put on his Strictly dancing shoes, reports the Daily Star.
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However, Shona isn't the only EastEnders star to have strutted her stuff on the Strictly dance floor. Jay Brown actor Jamie Borthwick clinched victory in the Christmas special in 2023.
Jamie's triumph followed hot on the heels of Freddie Slater star Bobby Brazier, who twirled his way to second place in the previous year's series alongside dance partner Dianne Buswell.
Martin Fowler actor James Bye also took a spin on Strictly in 2022, even dancing to the famous EastEnders theme tune in one week. However, he was the fifth contestant to be voted off with Amy Dowden.
Rose Ayling-Ellis, known for her role as Walford's Frankie Lewis, and her dance partner Giovanni Pernice lifted the Glitterball in 2021 with a deeply moving performance that raised Deaf awareness.
Letitia Dean, who famously plays Sharon Watts, also participated in 2007, joining a long list of other EastEnders cast members including Jill Halfpenny, Tameka Epson, Louisa Lytton, Nigel Harman, Nina Wadia and many more who have taken part over the past 20 years.
Strictly Come Dancing is set to return in the autumn.
