I’m A Celebrity star Shona McGarty’s life from co-star ex to quitting EastEnders
Shona McGarty is best known for playing Whitney on EastEnders, but she is set to show a different side to herself when she takes part in I'm A Celebrity
Shona McGarty as Whitney in EastEnders(Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Former EastEnders actress, Shona McGarty, is set to participate in this year’s series of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!
The 34-year-old Londoner won’t be the only campmate with a history on the BBC soap, as Martin Kemp, who played Steve Owen, has also signed up for the ITV reality show.
Completing the line-up of soap stars on this year’s edition, hosted by Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly, is Lisa Riley, currently taking a break from her role as Mandy Dingle on Emmerdale.
In an interview with ITV following her announcement for I’m A Celebrity, Shona expressed her hopes that the show would help viewers distinguish between her and her character, Whitney Dean.
EastEnders’ Shona McGarty played Whitney Dean for 16 years (Image: BBC)
Shona stated: “I have always wanted to do I’m A Celebrity… because I am a massive fan of the show. Now that I have left EastEnders, I want to do other things.
“I’m finding my voice and who I am away from the script and character that I grew up playing. Everyone expects me to wear massive gold hoop earrings and have a ponytail whilst eating chicken nuggets!”
She added: “But I am nothing like that. I’m looking forward to using this experience to be completely myself, which nobody has seen.”
Why did Shona McGarty leave EastEnders?
Shona left Eastenders in 2024 to seek other career opportunites (Image: BBC)
In 2008, Shona joined the cast of the BBC One soap as Whitney, the adopted daughter of Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer), who took the young girl under her wing after the death of her father, Nathan Dean.
The actress’s commitment to her character over 16 years led to multiple award-winning performances. Just one year after joining EastEnders in 2009, Shona secured a British Soap Award for Best Newcomer.
Shona’s final scenes as Whitney aired in May 2024, as the character departed Walford to begin afresh with her newborn daughter Dolly.
Discussing her decision to leave EastEnders, Shona told The Sun that she wished to pursue different opportunities.
Shona McGarty is taking part in this year’s I’m A Celeb
She said: “It was a really difficult decision, because it’s all I’ve ever known. I pretty much grew up on the Square, so I feel like I’m leaving home.
“But I had to put on my big girl pants and be quite brave, because life is so short, and you feel that more and more as you get older.”
Shona added: “There are other opportunities and areas of the industry I want to explore before I get too old! All things come to an end and this is the new chapter of my life.
“So although it was a big decision, once I’d made it, I was quite resolute that this was something I had to do.”
Following her exit, Shona has embarked on a musical career, releasing her debut single Unapologetically Me last month to favourable feedback.
Shona McGarty’s love life
Shona was engaged to Ryan Harris from early 2018 to late 2019(Image: Twitter)
Shona was engaged to her long-term partner, electrician Ryan Harris. The couple announced their engagement following Ryan’s proposal on her 26th birthday in October 2018, when he concealed a diamond ring in the top layer of her birthday cake.
However, the couple announced their separation in 2020, having kept the split private for some time.
Speaking to Fabulous Magazine, Shona said: “We just grew apart. Nothing bad happened, it was all very amicable.
“We both came to the decision that, actually, this isn’t what we really want. It fizzled out, and we weren’t the same people.”
EastEnders’ Shona McGarty dated her co-star Max Bowden for six months(Image: Instagram/@shonabmx)
Shona subsequently entered into a relationship with her EastEnders co-star Max Bowden, who portrayed Ben Mitchell.
Shona and Max are believed to have been together for six months before ending their romance in October 2022, following the birth of his first child with ex-girlfriend Roisin Buckle.
After their break-up, Shona publicly discussed her relationship with Max for the first time at the British Soap Awards in 2023, according to The Sun.
Shona said: “It’s lovely to be here tonight because Max’s mum’s here and I haven’t seen her for ages, I adore her. So it’s lovely to catch up with her.”
The EastEnders star met her former fiancé David Bracken in 2023(Image: @davidirishband)
Regarding her relationship with Max, she added, “We’re actually better than ever. It’s a friendship, we’re such in a good place.
“You take a risk, and you do something and it doesn’t work out, but that’s life, you’ve got to take that risk.”
In 2024, Shona became engaged to musician David Bracken after they met in 2023.
However, the pair are understood to have recently ended their relationship due to “wanting different things” and being “better off as friends”.
I’m A Celebrity returns on ITV1 and on ITVX on Sunday, November 16, at 9pm
