Former EastEnders star Shona McGarty has got fans seriously excited after teasing the release of her brand new single, and judging by the reaction online, Friday can’t come soon enough.
The actress, who played Whitney Dean on the BBC soap for more than 15 years, is continuing to make the move from Albert Square to the music world, with her latest track Mr Anxiety set to be released this week.
Teaser on Instagram
Sharing a teaser with fans on Instagram, Shona revealed there are only a few days left to wait before the song drops. She wrote: ‘3 days until my new song drops AHHHHHH!!’ ‘Would love to see you guys using my new sound for your own videos, I’ll be resharing my favourites.’
It didn’t take long for the comments section to fill up with excited fans, many admitting they’re already counting down until the full song is finally released. One fan wrote: ‘You go girl, love it can’t wait to hear the full song.’ Another commented: ‘Looking forward to hearing it all, can’t wait.’ Meanwhile, one follower joked: ‘Just waiting for the collab with Aitch now.’
Music career after EastEnders
It’s clear Shona’s soap fans have followed her into this new chapter, with plenty continuing to support her growing music career since she waved goodbye to EastEnders. After leaving the role of Whitney Dean in 2024 following an emotional exit storyline, Shona has thrown herself into music, something she’s always been passionate about alongside acting.
She officially launched her music career last year with her debut single Unapologetically Me, which was followed by an album of the same name. The project marked a completely different side to the actress, swapping dramatic storylines for cinematic pop songs inspired by her own experiences. The title track was co-written by Shona herself and produced by Steve Anderson, whose impressive CV includes working with artists including Kylie Minogue and Britney Spears.
Personal inspiration behind Mr Anxiety
While the album introduced fans to her sound, her upcoming single looks set to be her most personal release yet. Earlier this week, Shona shared a sneak peek of Mr Anxiety, revealing the inspiration behind the track in a post that resonated with many of her followers. She wrote: ‘Wrote a song about my favourite uninvited house guest: “Mr Anxiety”.’
Although many viewers know Shona for playing one of EastEnders’ most iconic characters, singing has never been far from her career. Over the years she’s shown off her powerful voice on a number of occasions, including performing on Children in Need and delivering a moving rendition of Hallelujah at the 2022 Festival of Remembrance.
Future return to EastEnders?
Now, with her acting career taking a back seat, she’s putting all of that experience into building her own identity as a recording artist. Despite leaving Walford two years ago, Shona hasn’t completely ruled out returning to the Square. Earlier this year she made a brief comeback as Whitney, delighting long-time fans who were keen to see the much-loved character back on screen, even if only for a short time.
Personal life
Away from work, Shona has also found herself making headlines over her personal life. The actress has been linked to former EastEnders co-star Tony Discipline, who played Tyler Moon, after the pair were spotted spending time together and sharing snaps on social media. While rumours of a romance have continued to swirl, neither has publicly commented on their relationship. Shona was previously engaged to David Bracken but confirmed during her appearance on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! last year that the pair had split.
For now though, it’s her music that’s stealing the spotlight. With Mr Anxiety arriving on Friday and fans already flooding her comments with messages of support, it’s safe to say plenty of people are counting down the days until they can finally hear the full track.
