Former EastEnders star Shona McGarty has reportedly split from her fiancé, Irish guitarist David Bracken, just over a year after he popped the question in London’s Holland Park.
The 34-year-old actress, who played Whitney Dean on the BBC soap for over 16 years, is said to have ended things amicably with David after realising they wanted “different things.”
A source told The Sun that while the pair have chosen to part ways romantically, “there are no hard feelings. They remain on friendly terms, but Shona is now focusing on her music and career.”
Shona and David first met in 2023 after he reached out to her on TikTok, suggesting they duet after seeing one of her singing videos. The chemistry between them quickly blossomed, and within months, David proposed during a romantic picnic at Kyoto Garden in Holland Park — a place close to Shona’s heart.
Recalling the proposal, David previously shared how police almost interrupted the moment as they were “closing the park.” He said he had to beg for “five more minutes” before getting down on one knee to propose beside the waterfall while their favourite song played.
At the time, Shona said she was “completely surprised,” adding, “He brought a picnic, and it was lovely. I was in my element, but I didn’t think he was going to propose at all.”
The couple had even begun wedding planning, with hopes for a Christmas ceremony in Ireland surrounded by family and many of Shona’s EastEnders co-stars.
But despite their fairytale beginning, it appears the love story has come to an end. Shona, however, is said to be in good spirits and moving forward with her next chapter in music and TV.
