Former EastEnders icon Shona McGarty and her new fiancé, musician David Bracken, look absolutely besotted with each other as they pose for an exclusive shoot with OK! to announce their engagement. Despite playing the Albert Square legend Whitney Dean, the adopted daughter of Bianca (Patsy Palmer) for 16 years, Shona says David had "no clue" about her EastEnders fame. It was actually their love of music that brought the two together. David, 35, who plays in an Irish band called Blessed, and Shona, who loves to share her passion for singing by posting her incredible covers of songs on social media, discovered each other while scrolling on TikTok.
While it was an incredibly difficult decision for Shona to walk away from EastEnders, she tells us it was something she had to do for both her personal and professional life, with the star swapping long days of filming for more quality time at home with her family, friends and beloved fiancé.
Now, Shona, 32, who left the BBC soap in May, has entered a new and exciting chapter of her life, with a wedding to plan - as well as a starring role in the Irish cast of 2:22 A Ghost Story, alongside Laura Whitmore.
Relaxed and positively glowing with happiness, Shona admits that she has never felt more free than she does now, as she looks forward to a bright future, sharing with us her next dream role, Strictly Come Dancing plans and hopes to one day start a family...
Congratulations on your engagement, you two! Take us back to how you first met...
Shona: We actually met on TikTok. David is a really amazing guitarist, he's in a band and it came up on my FYP [For You Page], so I liked a video. And then, I got a message from David on TikTok saying, "I've seen your singing videos, I'd love to do a duet with you." I said, "Oh, yeah, definitely, I think you're amazing." But I was so busy with EastEnders that it took me eight months to message him back.
This story is from the July 22, 2024 edition of OK! UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the July 22, 2024 edition of OK! UK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
THE PITFALLS OF AT-HOME REMEDIES
Some online health advice could be putting our wellbeing at risk
GREEK RETREATS
Relax and unwind at some of the Greek islands' best wellness destinations, offering sun, sea - and spas
Food from home
Romy Gill takes us on a journey through the ancestral kitchens of the Bengal and Punjab regions by sharing 70 of her beloved family recipes
DANCING QUEEN: 'You'd have to shovel me out of my Strictly chair'
Shirley Ballas loves her role as head judge on the hit BBC dance show and despite struggling with back pain, she won't be putting her feet up any time soon, she tells OK! in an exclusive interview
FAMILY TIME: 'I feel content and in a good place - I was so different before I became a mum'
Reality TV star Ferne McCann on motherhood, marriage and being inspired by her children
THE MATCHMAKER: 'I would pay to go on My Mum, Your Dad if I wasn't in a relationship'
As the hit ITV dating series where single parents get a second chance of finding love returns, host Davina McCall reveals why the show is such a success
REEL DRAMA: BRAD STEALS THE SHOW AT MAJOR MOVIE EVENT
A host of screen stars graced the red carpet for the 81st Venice International Film Festival
FAMILY MATTERS: 'PETE AND I GET ON EACH OTHER'S NERVES, BUT WE LAUGH EVERY DAY'
Presenter Abbey Clancy tells us her secret to a happy marriage and why she loves the chaos of family life
SUMMER OF LOVE: 'We just match each other perfectly'
Olympic swimmer Matthew Richards marries fiancée Emily Large in a fairytale ceremony, making it a summer that they'll never forget
LIFE, LOVE AND DUTY: QUEEN CAMILLA'S JOURNEY INTO THE SPOTLIGHT
Following another busy week of duties, it's clear Queen Camilla has taken to her role in the monarchy “like a duck to water\" says former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond