Cheryl Fergison has a 'special relationship' with former EastEnders co-star Shona McGarty
Cheryl Fergison has an enduring bond with her former EastEnders co-star Shona McGarty.
Cheryl Fergison shares an unbreakable bond with her former EastEnders co-star Shona McGarty.
The 61-year-old actress played Heather Trott on the BBC soap from 2007 to 2012 and recalled how she and Shona, who portrayed Whitney Dean on Albert Square from 2008 until 2024, used to perform music together when they weren't shooting scenes.
In an interview with New magazine, Cheryl said: "When she first came into EastEnders, I used to play guitar. I can't do it so much now because of my hands, but I used to play guitar and write songs, and Shona would come into the dressing room and sing. She's got a beautiful voice.
"We had quite a special relationship. It's really strange when you come out of something as iconic as EastEnders. But Shona's always supported my work, and she came to my wedding. We're there for each other."
Cheryl is continuing to recover from a devastating stroke last year that left her unable to walk or speak and is looking forward to performing in panto this Christmas with her son Alex, 27, whom she has with her former husband Jamshed Saddiqi.
The star, who now lives in Lancashire with Alex and her second husband Yassine El Jamoun, said: "I'm just great. After the stroke, it's all about moving forward and my son and I are doing lots together.
"We're doing panto this year – Beauty And The Beast in County Durham. You lot ain't getting me down here."
Fergison described her son, who helped care for her following her stroke, as her "rock".
She said: "He's been my carer for almost a year and a half, and I have to say, he's my rock. He is just wonderful."
Meanwhile, Cheryl revealed that she would love to follow fellow Walford alumni Ross Kemp in taking part in The Celebrity Traitors – although she doesn't feel that she would be any good because she is a terrible liar.
She said: "I think when people lie, their nostrils flare. But I'm really lucky that I've got a solid nose, so it won't go anywhere.
"But I can't tell fibs. I'm not very good at fibs, and if I do tell one, I just giggle. I'd be doing an Alan Carr the whole way through."
