Shona I’m a Celeb: Age, Relationships, and Jungle Finish

In 2025, Shona McGarty swapped the cobbles of Albert Square for the Australian jungle — and her personal life unraveled in full public view. This article covers her age, relationships, and how she fared in the competition, with details on her split from David Bracken and her future plans.

Age: 34 ·
I’m a Celeb result: 3rd place ·
Born: 14 October 1991 ·
Known for: Whitney Dean in EastEnders ·
2025 single: Unapologetically Me

Eight facts about Shona McGarty, from her full name to her jungle finish, tell a story of a woman navigating fame and personal upheaval side by side.

Here is a quick reference of key details about Shona McGarty.

Who is Shona from I’m a celeb?

What is Shona McGarty’s background?

• Shona Bernadette McGarty was born on 14 October 1991 in the London Borough of Barnet, England (Wikipedia (community-run encyclopaedia)).
• She has been active as a performer since 2006, starting her career in musical theatre before television (Wikipedia).
• Her Instagram handle is @shonabmx (Cosmopolitan UK (lifestyle magazine)).

What is her role in EastEnders?

• Shona is best known for playing Whitney Dean on the BBC soap EastEnders from 2008 until her exit in 2024 (Wikipedia).
• Whitney became a fan favourite through storylines involving abuse, motherhood, and friendship.

Bottom line: Shona McGarty is an English actress and singer who rose to fame as Whitney Dean on EastEnders. Her dedicated fanbase followed her from Walford to the jungle.

How old is Shona on Im a Celeb?

When was Shona McGarty born?

• Shona was born on 14 October 1991, making her 34 years old during her I’m a Celebrity appearance in 2025 (Famous Birthdays (celebrity database)).

What is her zodiac sign?

• Born in mid-October, Shona’s star sign is Libra.

What this means: At 34, Shona is old enough to have built a decade‑long TV career but young enough to pivot into music and reality TV — a sweet spot for reinvention.

Are David and Shona together in real life?

Who is David Bracken?

• David Bracken is a musician from Northern Ireland who met Shona on TikTok in 2023 for a music collaboration (Cosmopolitan UK).
• He proposed to her in 2024 at London’s Holland Park (Cosmopolitan UK).

Did Shona have a fiance? What happened to their relationship?

• Shona was engaged to David Bracken, but the couple split in 2025 (Wikipedia).
• The separation followed a reported miscarriage that Shona endured (Wikipedia).
• Shona has not publicly detailed the pregnancy loss, and the exact timeline remains private.

Is Shona pregnant?

• There is no current public evidence or official statement indicating that Shona is pregnant.

Relationship history snapshot

• 2011–2013: Dated EastEnders co‑star Matt Lapinskas (Wikipedia).
• 2014–2020: Engaged to Ryan Harris; split after a year‑long engagement (Famous Birthdays).
• 2022: Dated Max Bowden for six months; they remain good friends (Cosmopolitan UK).
• 2023–2025: Engaged to David Bracken; split in 2025.

The pattern shows Shona’s personal life consistently intersects with her career turning points.

What place did Shona come in I’m a celebrity?

How did Shona perform in the jungle?

• Shona was a contestant on the twenty‑fifth series of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! UK in 2025 (Wikipedia).

What was her final position?

• She finished in third place, exiting the jungle on Day 22 (I’m A Celebrity Wiki (fan wiki)).

Why this matters: Third place is a strong showing — Shona made it to the final week and left a lasting impression. The visibility from the show also boosted interest in her music career, as she released the single “Unapologetically Me” in the same year.

Is Shona McGarty Irish?

What is Shona’s nationality?

• Shona is English. She was born in England and holds British nationality (Wikipedia).
• Her surname “McGarty” may sound Irish, but she has no known Irish heritage in her public biography.

This clarifies the common misconception.

Timeline of key events

• 14 October 1991: Shona McGarty born in England (Wikipedia).
• 2008–2024: Portrays Whitney Dean in EastEnders (Wikipedia).
• 2023: Meets David Bracken on TikTok (Cosmopolitan UK).
• 2024: Becomes engaged to David Bracken (Cosmopolitan UK).
• 2025: Participates in I’m a Celebrity Series 25; finishes third (Wikipedia).
• 2025: Releases single “Unapologetically Me” (Wikipedia).
• 2025: Splits from David Bracken; reported miscarriage (Wikipedia).
• 2025: Opens up about anxiety after leaving the jungle (The Sun (UK tabloid)).

Confirmed facts and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

• Age 34 (as of late 2025) (Famous Birthdays)
• Third place finish on I’m a Celeb (Series 25) (Wikipedia)
• Engagement to David Bracken ended in 2025 (Wikipedia)
• English nationality (Wikipedia)

What’s unclear

• Current relationship status with rapper Aitch
• Detailed timeline and circumstances of the pregnancy loss
• Whether Shona is married or single at present
• Whether Shona will return to EastEnders

What Shona and others have said

According to The Sun (UK tabloid), Shona McGarty opened up about her anxiety after leaving the jungle, describing the return to normal life as overwhelming.

— The Sun

Closer magazine reported on Shona’s split from David Bracken and the pregnancy loss, citing sources close to the couple who said the decision was mutual but painful.

— Closer magazine

The implication: Shona’s post‑jungle mental health struggles and broken engagement paint a picture of a celebrity trying to process two major life events in the public eye. Her candidness has earned sympathy from fans.

For Shona McGarty, the crossroads is clear: she can lean further into music and reality‑TV visibility, or step back from the spotlight to rebuild her personal life. Either way, the I’m a Celeb journey has reset the narrative — she is no longer just “Whitney from EastEnders” but a woman whose real‑life story is still being written.

Frequently asked questions