EastEnders’ Shona McGarty and James Farrar share powerful message to viewers after baby loss story

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“We hope we’ve done it justice, and played it with respect.”

whitney dean, zack hudson, eastenders

The following article contains discussion of themes including child loss.

EastEnders duo Shona McGarty and James Farrar have reached out to fans on social media amid the heart-wrenching Whitney Dean and Zack Hudson storyline.

In last week’s scenes, the Walford couple were forced to terminate their pregnancy after it was discovered by doctors that baby daughter Peach might not survive birth due to a rare condition known as Edwards’ syndrome.

Taking to Instagram yesterday (March 7), McGarty uploaded a powerful video featuring herself and Farrar extending their thanks to everyone who worked on the drama behind the scenes, and to those who keep tuning in on BBC One.

“We thought we’d do a little message,” her caption began. “We’ve both received so many moving messages from both men and women who have been through the pain of losing a child. Thank you for all your support through this sensitive storyline. We hope we’ve done it justice, and played it with respect.

“We’d like to thank @bbceastenders for raising awareness of Omphalocele and Edwards Syndrome, through this story. Thanks you to @chris_clenshaw and Kate Oates for trusting us with this.

“Thank you to all the crew on set for your patience, care, and sensitivity always.
Thank you to the fantastic writers Johnny O’Neil and Jessica Barnes for the powerful and moving scripts. Thank you to the incredible directors @coilinoscolai and Jane Ashmore for there guidance and care throughout. Thank you from us both. Shona and James xxx.”

In the homemade clip itself, Zack star Farrar paid tribute to “the really brave women and men at SOFT UK that allowed us into their lives and helped us explore something that is so, so important,” while pointing out: “We’ve learned so much along the way and hope that some of you out there have too.”

“There were tears during line-runs, on the set-ups, not just from the cast but everyone around us which shows such respect for the subject,” he continued, before expressing his appreciation for McGarty on this emotional job.

“When you are in this world together, you have to lose yourself. You have to be able to… no inhibitions, throw yourself in the deep end and those directors, the first [assistant directors], the whole crew were fantastic, but the fact I was doing it with you mate, thank you.”