Shona McGarty

Shona Bernadette McGarty (born 14 October 1991) is an English actress and singer, best known for her portrayal of Whitney Dean in the BBC soap opera EastEnders from 2008 to 2026. In 2025, she released a single "Unapologetically Me" and was a finalist on the twenty-fifth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, finishing in third place.

Early life Shona Bernadette McGarty was born on 14 October 1991 in London Borough of Barnet to Patrick McGarty and Jennifer McNamara. She has a younger sister named Camilla. She is of Irish descent. McGarty attended St. Teresa's Catholic Primary School and later studied at Loreto College, St Albans.

Career Early work and EastEnders

McGarty was involved in amateur musical theatre for six years, including a role in Wizard of Oz. In 2007, she appeared in the short film What Goes Around.

In October 2007, following the announcement that established character Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) was returning to EastEnders, McGarty was confirmed to be joining the soap as Whitney Dean; the daughter of Bianca's deceased partner Nathan Dean. McGarty began filming in January 2008, and made her first appearance as Whitney on 1 April. Early into her tenure, the character of Whitney was involved in a sexual abuse storyline in which she was groomed by Bianca's partner Tony King. McGarty who was 16 at the time, required her parents to give permission for the storyline to go ahead. In July 2012, McGarty was suspended from EastEnders by the acting executive producer Lorraine Newman "for repeatedly being late for filming". McGarty later regretted her behaviour as "lazy and irresponsible". The same year, McGarty performed the song A Change is Gonna Come for Children in Need 2012. McGarty's other storylines included being sexually exploited by Rob Grayson (Jody Latham), her marriage to Lee Carter (Danny-Boy Hatchard) and subsequent miscarriage, being stalked by Leo King (Tom Wells) which leads to her killing him in self-defence, and being impregnated by Zack Hudson (James Farrar), before discovering the baby has Edwards syndrome and omphalocele, which ultimately leads to her to terminating the pregnancy. In July 2023, McGarty announced her departure from EastEnders after fifteen years. In an interview with The Sun, McGarty said she "had decided to spread [her] wings and [would] be leaving EastEnders, whilst adding that she had "loved [her] years in the show." Her final scenes aired in May 2024, following the end of her contract. McGarty reprised the role of Whitney for two episodes in May 2026.

Music and other ventures

In 2018, McGarty joined 26 other celebrities and performed an original Christmas song, "Rock With Rudolph", a song written and produced by Grahame and Jack Corbyn. The song was recorded in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital and was released digitally on independent record label Saga Entertainment on 30 November 2018 under the artist name the Celebs. The music video debuted with The Sun on 29 November 2018 and had its first TV showing on Good Morning Britain on 30 November 2018. In 2021, McGarty reunited with Saga Entertainment to record a cover of the Beatles song "Let It Be", recorded at Metropolis Studios, in support of British charity Mind and released on 3 December 2021. McGarty was backed by a choir of celebrities including Georgia Hirst, Anne Hegerty, Ivan Kaye and Eunice Olumide, who performed as part of the 2021 line up of the Celebs. In October 2025, McGarty released a single "Unapologetically Me". The following month, she became a contestant on the twenty-fifth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!. On 7 December 2025 she was eliminated from the show, finishing in third place behind runner-up Tom Read Wilson and winner Angryginge.

On 31 December 2025, McGarty performed with Irish singer Ronan Keating on his BBC One New Year's Eve programme, Ronan Keating and Friends: A New Year's Eve Party.

Personal life McGarty was in a relationship with her EastEnders co-star Matt Lapinskas from 2011 to 2013. Between 2018 and 2020, McGarty was engaged to long-term partner Ryan Harris. In 2022, McGarty dated her EastEnders co-star Max Bowden for six months. She became engaged to musician David Bracken in 2024; however, they split the following year. As of July 2026, she is in a relationship with her former EastEnders co-star, Tony Discipline, who played Whitney's on-screen boyfriend Tyler Moon. McGarty lives in Old Welwyn, Hertfordshire.

Filmography Television Year Title Role Notes 2007 What Goes Around Shona Short film 2011 Lauren's Diary 2 episodes 2012 Children in Need 2012 Herself Performer 2020 The Queen Vic Quiz Night Whitney Dean Charity special 2020 EastEnders: Secrets from the Square Herself Episode: "Whitney and Sonia" 2025I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Contestant; series 25 Ronan Keating & Friends: A New Year’s Eve PartyPerformer; guest

Music videos Year Title Role 2018 Rock With Rudolph Herself 2018 "Rock With Rudolph" (with the Celebs) 2021 "Let It Be"(featuring the Celebs) 2025 "Unapologetically Me" 2026 "Mr Anxiety"

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Result 2009 British Soap Awards Best Newcomer 2009 Inside Soap Awards Best Young Actor 2014 2014 British Soap Awards Sexiest Female 2014 Inside Soap Awards Sexiest Female 2015 Inside Soap Awards Sexiest Female 2016 Inside Soap Awards Sexiest Female 2017 22nd National Television Awards Serial Drama Performance 2017 Inside Soap Awards Best Actress 2017 Inside Soap Awards Sexiest Female 2020 25th National Television Awards Serial Drama Performance 2020 TV Choice Awards Best Soap Actress 2020 Inside Soap Awards Best Actress 2020 I Talk Telly Awards Best Soap Performance 2021 26th National Television Awards Serial Drama Performance 2021 Inside Soap Awards Best Actress 2023 2023 British Soap Awards Best Leading Performer 2023 Inside Soap Awards Best Actress 2023 Digital Spy Reader Awards Best Actor