EastEnders icon Shona McGarty confessed she met her fiancé while dating her co-star.
The Walford couple dated for six months from May to October 2022. Shona, 32, and Max, 29, became close very quickly, but they decided to call it quits shortly after Max became a father for the first time with his ex-girlfriend Roisin Buckle.
The BBC couple remained co-stars and friends after their separation, with Shona opening up about her close bond with Max’s mum at the British Soap Awards last year. She told reporters at the time: “It’s lovely to be here tonight because Max’s mum’s here and I haven’t seen her for ages, I adore her.
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“So it’s lovely to catch up with her.” Speaking about her friendship with Max, she added: “We’re actually better than ever. It’s a friendship, we’re in such a good place.
![EastEnders' Shona McGarty dated her co-star Max Bowden for six months](https://i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk/incoming/article33249241.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_EastEnders-Shona-McGarty-admits-she-met-new-fiance-while-dating-co-star-Max-Bowden.jpg)
“You take a risk and you do something and it doesn’t work out, but that’s life, you’ve got to take that risk.” Thankfully the actress found love again just a few months later, when she started dating musician David Bracken in 2023.
Now, the TV favourite has revealed that she met the hunk whilst she was dating the Ben Mitchell star. She told the outlet that the pair started talking a year before they became an official couple.
David told the publication: “So we met on TikTok two years ago. Well, I messaged. Took her eight months to reply.” Shona added: “We started talking for two years, getting to know each other.
![The EastEnders star met her fiancé David Bracken while she was dating her co-star](https://i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk/incoming/article33249242.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/1_EastEnders-Shona-McGarty-admits-she-met-new-fiance-while-dating-co-star-Max-Bowden.jpg)
“And on our first-year anniversary...” Finishing her sentence, David added: “I proposed” as she added: “You did really well. It was beautiful.” But his romantic gesture almost didn’t happen when the couple were interrupted by the police.
David added: “I went over to the police, who said, ‘Sorry we are just closing up the park’. I said, ‘Would you mind giving me five minutes as I am about to propose to my partner?’ He looked at his watch and said, ‘Of course, and best of luck’.
“So, I told Shona to go stand at the waterfall in the park. I think put on our favourite song and had a dance with her before getting down on one knee.” The Whitney Dean star added that her fiancé brought along a picnic for the special occasion and played her favourite song as he got down on one knee.
![The musician popped the question on their one-year anniversary](https://i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk/incoming/article33249245.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/0_EastEnders-Shona-McGarty-fuels-secret-engagement-rumours-as-fans-spot-clue-in-loved-up-Valentines.jpg)
Thankfully, it all went to plan and the couple are now focused on their future together. Want all the biggest Showbiz and TV news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Showbiz newsletter