Shona McGarty has spoken for the first time about her relationship with former EastEnders co-star Tony Discipline, stating she has always felt he was "The One." The actress, 34, shared that she has "never felt so cared for" by Discipline, 37, following the breakdown of her engagement to David Bracken.
McGarty and Discipline, who played couple Whitney Dean and Tyler Moon on the BBC soap, initially met on set. Discipline departed EastEnders in 2013, while McGarty concluded her role earlier in 2024. Their friendship, spanning 15 years, evolved into a romance which they recently confirmed on Instagram, showcasing matching tattoos.
"I am so happy. And to be honest, I've had a soft spot for him for years. I always felt like he was The One," McGarty told The Sun. "We've been friends since meeting on EastEnders – we've known each other for 15 years, but for a long time it felt to me like it could be more."
She described their relationship as having "moved quickly, in a good way," attributing their strong foundation to their long-standing friendship. McGarty noted Discipline's gentlemanly nature, stating, "We go on lovely dates, he treats me like a lady. I feel like I've got my feminine energy back. I've never felt so looked after and cared for before."
McGarty's split from fiancé David Bracken occurred in November, just over a year after he proposed. The couple met in 2023 after Bracken contacted her on TikTok. Their engagement was mutually called off before McGarty's appearance on "I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!" last November.
The actress and Discipline made their relationship Instagram official last month, sharing photos from a holiday. Their matching tattoos, reportedly a toaster with bread, a pineapple, and a palm tree, were revealed shortly after. McGarty also posted a Spanish phrase on Discipline's post, "Tú Y Yo," meaning "You and Me."
Romance rumors between McGarty and Discipline intensified in May when they attended the Women's Football Awards together, posing for cozy red carpet pictures. At the time, a source indicated they were keeping their relationship label-free while getting to know each other, suggesting it could be a "summer romance or it could be the real deal."