EastEnder Shona McGarty Planning Amy Winehouse-Style Jazz Singer Career

TV stars who launch pop careers do so with the spectres of dozens of failures behind them.

But Shone McGarty, who plays Whitney Dean on EastEnders, is hoping she can buck the curse as she’s planning to launch her pop career.

The actress, below, who believes her speciality is Amy Winehouse-style popular jazz, is said to be gearing up to release her debut single this summer after nearly three years of secret recording.

Shona, who trained in musical theatre, has reportedly been writing and recording songs with Swedish indie singer Axel Jansson and now plans to release one of their duets through Warner Music Group.

Last night the pair performed their track Easy As A Dream, which is expected to be her first single, at an intimate London gig.

A source told The Sun: “This is big deal for Shona. Despite becoming one of the most popular stars in EastEnders, she has always longed to be known for her music too.

“It’s scary showing the public another side of her, and she knows there’ll be lot of pressure.

“But Axel has really inspired her to try. She loves the music they’ve been making together and now ready for everyone to hear it. It’s unclear whether this means she’ll be leaving Whitney behind to pursue singing full-time but it would definitely be tricky trying to juggle both.”

Other EastEnders who have tried and failed in the music business include Sid Owen and Preeya Kalidas.

But Hertfordshire-born McGarty, above playing Whitney on the Square, has said: “I’m not being big-headed but I can adapt to any style of music. I can sing opera, Motown, reggae or big ballads.”

Pictures Getty Images/REX Features