EastEnders star Shona McGarty breaks silence on engagement rumours

EastEnders spoilers follow.

EastEnders star Shona McGarty has addressed engagement rumours after announcing her new relationship online.

McGarty, who plays Whitney Dean, revealed her relationship with Irish musician David Bracken in an Instagram post last September.

Despite referring to him as "my whole world" and being seen with a ring on her wedding finger, the actor has denied any upcoming nuptials.

BBC

Taking Bracken's feelings into account, McGarty remained relatively tight-lipped about the situation. "We're not engaged, no," she told The Sun.

"I'm not going to talk about David, bless him, because he doesn't like being out there too much. But yes, I will say that I'm very happy in my personal life."

The same can't be said for McGarty's alter ego Whitney, unfortunately. The EastEnders favourite has had more than her fair share of heartbreak after 16 years on the Square.

Recent episodes have seen Whitney and partner Zack Hudson struggling in their relationship as Whitney prioritised vulnerable schoolgirl Britney Wainwright, despite being heavily pregnant. Zack was then shown cheating on Whitney with her best friend Lauren Branning.

Whitney's story will soon come to a close - at least for now - as McGarty is set to leave Walford in pursuit of new opportunities before she gets "too old".

BBC

"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," she shared about her exit.

"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.

"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."

She added: "So although it was a big decision, once I'd made it, I was quite resolute that this was something I had to do."

EastEnders airs on Mondays - Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.