Shona McGarty is best known for playing Whitney Dean on EastEnders, but is taking part in this year’s series of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!
Angie Quinn Screen Time Reporter
09:30, 16 Nov 2025
Shona McGarty is taking part in this year I’m A Celebrity (Image: WireImage)
Former EastEnders actress Shona McGarty is preparing to join this year’s I’m A Celebrity line-up.
The 34-year-old London-born star will be joined in camp by fellow BBC soap veteran Martin Kemp, known for his portrayal of Steve Owen, who has also committed to the ITV reality programme.
Completing the soap opera contingent for this year’s series, presented by Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly, is Lisa Riley, temporarily stepping away from her Emmerdale role as Mandy Dingle.
In an interview with ITV following the announcement, Shona discussed her desire for the programme to showcase the distinction between herself and her EastEnders character, Whitney Dean, reports OK!.
EastEnders star Shona McGarty as Whitney Dean(Image: BBC)READ MORE: I’m A Celeb Kelly Brook persuaded to change ‘awful’ real name after being teasedREAD MORE: I’m A Celebrity star issues warning to campmates days before launch
Shona said: “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!”
The actress continued: “But I am nothing like that. I’m looking forward to using this experience to be completely myself, which nobody has seen.”
The actress is now said to be focused on her career after leaving EastEnders(Image: BBC / Kieron McCarron)
Why did Shona McGarty leave EastEnders?
Shona made her debut on the BBC One drama in 2008 as Whitney Dean, the adopted daughter of Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer), who embraced the girl following her father Nathan Dean’s passing.
Shona has been recognised for her stellar performances over a 16-year period, even bagging the British Soap Award for Best Newcomer just a year after her debut in 2008.
Her character Whitney made her final appearance in May 2024, leaving Walford to start afresh with her baby daughter Dolly.
EastEnders actress Shona McGarty left the soap in 2024 after 16 years (Image: BBC)
Discussing her decision to exit EastEnders, Shona revealed to The Sun that she was keen to explore new avenues.
She expressed: “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 McGarty will be hoping to be crowned queen of the jungle
Shona stated: “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.”
Since her departure from the soap, Shona has ventured into the music industry, releasing her single Unapologetically Me last month to favourable reviews.
Shona McGarty’s love life
Shona was engaged to Ryan Harris from early 2018 to late 2019(Image: Twitter)
On the personal front, Shona was engaged to her long-term partner, electrician Ryan Harris.
The couple announced their engagement after Ryan popped the question on her 26th birthday in October 2018, hiding a diamond ring in her birthday cake.
However, the couple announced their separation in 2020, having kept their 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 relationship in October 2022, following the birth of his first child with ex-girlfriend Roisin Buckle.
After their break-up, Shona spoke publicly about 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, they have reportedly 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
