Former EastEnders star Shona McGarty has traded Albert Square for the Australian jungle, joining the lineup of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! 2025. The actress, who played the troubled but beloved Whitney Dean for 16 years, is using the ITV reality show as a platform to introduce the public to her authentic self, rather than the character she grew up playing (OK! Magazine, Manchester Evening News).

🎬 Life After EastEnders

Shona, 34, started playing Whitney Dean in 2008 and became a permanent fixture on the BBC soap until her final scenes aired in May 2024, when Whitney left Walford with her baby daughter Dolly. She became an award-nominated actress for her portrayal, including a nomination for the British Soap Award for Best Newcomer in 2009 (Wikipedia, OK! Magazine).

Her decision to leave was described as "difficult," but necessary for personal and professional growth:

"It was a really difficult decision, because it’s all I’ve ever known... But I had to put on my big girl pants and be quite brave, because life is so short," Shona said. "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" (The Sun via OK! Magazine).

Since leaving EastEnders, Shona has been actively pursuing a career in music, which she described as a passion that has helped her overcome personal struggles with anxiety and depression (Liverpool Echo). Her debut single, Unapologetically Me, was released in October 2025 to positive reviews, with industry veterans praising her vocal talent and songwriting (Music Talkers).

💖 Dating and Co-Star Romance

Shona's love life has been public, featuring two high-profile relationships:

• Ryan Harris (2018–2020): Shona was engaged to her longtime partner, electrician Ryan Harris, who proposed on her 26th birthday. They called off the engagement in 2020, with Shona stating that they simply "grew apart" and the split was "very amicable" (Fabulous Magazine via OK! Magazine).

• Max Bowden (Co-Star Romance, 2022): Shona dated her EastEnders co-star Max Bowden, who played Ben Mitchell, for about six months. Their relationship ended in October 2022, shortly after Max's ex-girlfriend, Roisin Buckle, gave birth to his baby boy, Reginald Buckle, on September 19, 2022 (My London). Despite the split, Shona maintains an amicable relationship with Max and his mother, stating in 2023, "We’re actually better than ever. It’s a friendship, we’re such in a good place" (The Sun via OK! Magazine).

• David Bracken (Recent Split): Shona most recently got engaged to musician David Bracken after meeting in 2023. However, reports indicate that the pair recently called off their engagement just before her jungle appearance, deciding they were "better off as friends" (The Mirror via OK! Magazine).

🏕️ The I'm A Celebrity Goal

Shona is one of three soap stars in the 2025 series, joining fellow former EastEnders star Martin Kemp (Steve Owen) and Emmerdale's Lisa Riley (Mandy Dingle).

Her main motivation for entering the jungle is to dismantle the public's perception of her as the dramatic character Whitney Dean.

"Everyone expects me to wear massive gold hoop earrings and have a ponytail whilst eating chicken nuggets! But I am nothing like that. I’m looking forward to using this experience to be completely myself, which nobody has seen," she stated (OK! Magazine).

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