SHONA McGarty cannot stop smiling. The 34-year-old former EastEnders star beams from ear to ear as she reveals she’s fallen for her co-star Tony Discipline.
“Me and Tony are official and I am so happy,” she announces.
Shona McGarty has confirmed she’s very much ‘in love’ with Tony Discipline, who played her on-screen boyfriend Tyler Moon on EastEnders Credit: Mark Hayman
Shona admits she’s had a ‘soft spot’ for Tony for years and knows he’s ‘The One’ Credit: Instagram/Shona McGarty
Shona can’t hide her excitement about her new relationship Credit: Click News and Media
Shona re-connected with Tony after she took the plunge into the jungle for I’m A Celebrity Credit: James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock
For years, fans, fellow cast members and even family have been urging her to date the actor, who played her character’s on-screen boyfriend Tyler Moon – and it’s finally happened.
Now, after months of speculation Shona, who played Whitney Dean from 2008 until 2024 on the BBC1 soap, is speaking for the first time about their relationship, telling Fabulous: “We are in love. He’s The One!”
Tony, 37, played Tyler Moon between 2011 and 2013, before later leaving acting to become a firefighter with the London Fire Brigade.
Their on-screen romance was one of the most tumultuous in Albert Square’s history – and that’s saying something – with rowing, broken engagements, infidelity and even a messy love triangle.
Despite their smouldering on-screen chemistry, nothing ever happened. Back then, Shona was dating Matt Lapinskas, who played Tyler’s brother Anthony, while Tony was with fellow EastEnders star Jacqueline Jossa.
But after both finding themselves single, the couple got together earlier this year, following Shona’s split from Irish musician fiancé David Bracken shortly before she entered the jungle on I’m A Celebrity. . . Get Me Out of Here! last November. And thankfully, they’re enjoying a much calmer relationship in real life than on screen.
“I am so happy,” Shona says. “Oh my god, he’s amazing. He is a brave, hardworking fireman and I’m so proud of him. And to be honest, I’ve had a soft spot for him for years. I always felt like he was The One. We’ve been friends since meeting on EastEnders – we’ve known each other for 15 years, but for a long time it felt to me like it could be more.”
The couple first set tongues wagging when they attended the Women’s Football Awards together in May, and they looked amorous as they went to EastEnders actress Lorraine Stanley’s birthday party at Ibiza-style nightclub Studio 338 in London in June. Then they were clocked sharing a kiss during a date in Italian restaurant VyTA in Covent Garden two weeks ago.
“People have been speculating about what’s going on as we’ve been spotted out together,” she says. “I’ve been sent so many videos and memes of Tyler and Whitney. It’s so funny. We’ve been keeping it under wraps for a while, but Fabulous is my fave magazine, so I wanted to tell you first.
“It’s not been that long. We got talking a while ago and it just happened. I am really smitten. I adore him. We’re really excited for the future.”
Despite it still being a relatively new relationship, Shona says having the foundation of such a long friendship means they are already getting serious. She even jokes that next time she sees us, she will be inviting us to the wedding.
“It’s moving quickly, in a good way,” she admits. “We’re both in our 30s. He’s 37, I’m 34. He’s gorgeous, and he’s such an old-school gentleman, too. We go on lovely dates, he treats me like a lady. I feel like I’ve got my feminine energy back. I’ve never felt so looked after and cared for before.”
Shona says having the foundation of such a long friendship means they are already getting serious Credit: Mark Hayman
Tony, 37, played Tyler Moon between 2011 and 2013 before leaving the soap to become a firefighter Credit: BBC
And he has the seal of approval from her real-life family, as well as her EastEnders family, too.
“My sister Camilla is so happy about this,” Shona says. “She has supported this for years. She was always saying: ‘You know, you and Tony would be nice together.’ I don’t think I could be with someone that she didn’t approve of, but she has given us a big thumbs-up.
“Some of the cast already know and are really pleased for us, too. And I’m sure the rest will be when they find out because everyone loves Tony. He is a really nice guy.”
While she is so loved-up with Tony – proudly showing off a picture of them together as her phone background – many of her fans were convinced she was going to hook up with rapper Aitch after they formed a close friendship while in the jungle.
“Oh my god, I know!” she laughs. “The way it was edited made it look like we were madly in love, it was crazy. But no! I’ve even seen AI things of me and Aitch having a child together and all sorts of madness. That was weird, but quite funny. I do love Aitch as a person and as a friend. But he was like a brother to me in there, and he still is. We were mostly just chatting all about music. He was rapping to me and we were just taking the p**s out of things.”
Shona, who left EastEnders to pursue a singing career, says she and Aitch are planning to collaborate on a track together. It’s clear that going on I’m A Celebrity – where she finished third, being narrowly beaten by Angry Ginge and runner-up Tom Read Wilson – was transformative for her.
“I can’t believe I did it,” she says. “And I’d love to do it again. It really did change my life. Being without my phone was a real wake-up call. I do really try not to use it as much, but if I’m honest, I love scrolling. Just sitting with my own thoughts could sometimes be a bit difficult.
“It was also nice being so open with everyone about things, and there was no judgement.”
Shona says Tony has the seal of approval from her real-life family, as well as her EastEnders family, too Credit: Mark Hayman
Shona with sister Camilla McGarty after finishing third in I’m A Celebrity Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Shona, who’s struggled with anxiety and depression throughout her life, decided to open up about it to her campmates – and the public – for the first time.
“I think getting that secret about my anxiety off my chest really helped. Publicly, it was definitely something I’ve always wanted to do, but I was scared. I was worried that people might think I was crazy or not capable of doing certain things. But it’s the best thing I did.
“I’ve learned that it’s so much better to be honest. I don’t need to be scared any more about talking about it. I’m not carrying this weight around any more. I feel very free. The feedback I got was amazing.”It wasn’t all plain sailing though, and ahead of a live trial, Shona battled an unaired panic attack.
“I’ve had them before, but everything felt elevated there because I’d not eaten and I was only drinking boiled, smoky water,” she says.
“I got in my own head, knowing it was going to be live. I just didn’t feel right, then it triggered a panic attack. It was horrible. But with the support of my campmates, I got through it.”
Along with Aitch, Shona formed close friendships with both Martin Kemp and Ruby Wax.
“Bless Ruby, we had these little chats in there,” she says. “She said to me: ‘Well done for coming in here [with anxiety].’ I did ask myself: ‘Can I actually do this?’ So I’m glad I did. I didn’t want to quit and never considered it, but I missed my family a lot. The one thing I would take away is how much you appreciate your family. You shouldn’t take it for granted. Life’s really short, that’s what it reminded me.
“Martin was so lovely. He really reminded me of my dad. I was sad they didn’t show the games we used to play. When Martin was asleep having a nap, we all had to go up to him and shout: ‘Gold’ in his ear. It was so funny.”
Shona’s priority is now her music career Credit: YouTube @ShonaMcGarty-p8y
WHAT WAS THE LAST…
TV show you watched?
Yellowstone. I love it. Rip and Beth’s relationship is so crazy and wild, but romantic.
Podcast you listened to?
ShxtsNGigs – they read out these really embarrassing stories.
Person you texted?
Tony.
Thing you bought?
A gin and tonic last night.
Last gig?
I saw James Hype at club Hï in Ibiza.
Time you laughed?
Last night with Tony. He always makes me laugh!
Away from jungle life, Shona’s priority is her music career, and this week sees the release of her new single Mr Anxiety, which she co-wrote with Blue’s Lee Ryan.
“I’ve got loads of songs that I’m itching to get out there. I’m really loving being able to be creative and free. Mr Anxiety is all about anxiety, but it can also be about a person, something or someone that gives you that fear and makes you feel not yourself. This song is about getting me back.
“I’m a massive overthinker. Singing has always been my therapy. If I’m feeling anxious or down, or even if I’m happy, I’ll sing – I’ve done it ever since I was little. It’s always been like self-soothing. I’m at my happiest when I’m singing.
“I usually write with inspiration from my own life experience, whether it’s a person or something that’s happened. I write a lot of poetry, too. I am a night owl, so that’s when I get most creative. I usually think about a melody first, then I’ll write the lyrics.
“My songs use my life experience, so I do worry that people will think: ‘Is this about me?’ But then that didn’t do Taylor Swift any harm!”
It’s not just the bad things in her life helping Shona get creative – she’s put pen to paper about new boyfriend Tony, too.
“I’ve already written some songs for him,” she says. “I sing to him all the time. He’s so supportive of me. We bring each other up, which I love. But you need that in a relationship, you need support from your partner.
“I can’t wait to perform the songs live. That’s on the cards – loads of performances and loads more songs. I’ve been working with some really cool people like Jimmy Napes. I’m learning to DJ as well – DJ Sticky is teaching me. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.
“I’m always going to watch DJs, especially female ones like Jazzy. I’ve just been in Ibiza and I loved it so much. By this time next year I’m hoping I’ll be good enough to have a few DJ gigs booked.”
We saw Whitney make a brief reappearance in Albert Square in May – when she was seen from behind as a mystery woman having dinner with Zack Hudson, before the camera panned around to dramatically reveal it was her – and fans are hopeful she will return full-time.
“I did enjoy it,” she says. “But it was just a little pop-in for one episode. The response I got was really nice. I think when people saw the back of my head, they knew it was me! It was lovely to see everyone, because they are like family. But I’m just so busy with music.”
As well as her songwriting, Shona has a panto run coming up this winter, playing Snow White at White Rock Theatre in Hastings. She has also been busy reinventing her look, swapping her blunt black bob for long, luscious dark red locks.
“It’s so weird that every time I feel happy, I change my hair colour,” she explains. “I don’t know if it’s a woman thing or a me thing! I’m always going from black to red to black.”
There’s no denying Shona certainly seems happier than ever.
“I’m letting go of any fear,” she says. “And not letting other people bring me down.”
