I'm A Celebrity star Shona McGarty has revealed she's finding life difficult following her recent breakup from fiancé David Bracken, just weeks before entering the Australian jungle.
Jungle Heartbreak
The 34-year-old EastEnders actress had been engaged to Irish musician David Bracken, 38, since last year, but the couple decided to go their separate ways shortly before she flew to Australia for the ITV reality show. During camp discussions about relationships, McGarty found herself particularly affected when conversations turned to engagements.
Fellow campmate Kelly Brook, 46, shared that she'd been engaged "about five times" before meeting her husband Jeremy Parisi, while Martin Kemp revealed that his wife Shirlie Holliman had essentially proposed to him after spotting a ring in a Dublin jeweller's window.
While washing up with campmate Tom Read Wilson, McGarty confessed she struggled to participate in the engagement conversation and had to walk away because she wouldn't have known what to say following her own recent split.
Support From Unexpected Places
Tom Read Wilson offered comforting words to the distressed actress, telling her: "I think you've done a really sensible thing" and encouraging her to stay positive, suggesting that the right thing would come along at the right time.
Despite their breakup, David Bracken has shown public support for his former partner's jungle journey. The guitarist took to his Instagram Stories to share a sweet picture of the former couple together with the caption: "Let's go girl! You got this" as McGarty made her dramatic entrance into camp via parachute.
Amicable Separation
The couple, who met two years ago on TikTok, are understood to have parted on good terms, with sources confirming there were no hard feelings between them. An insider revealed: "They are on amicable terms, but have ended their romantic relationship. There are no hard feelings, they realised they wanted different things and are better off as friends. Shona is now focusing on her music and career."
Bracken had proposed during a romantic picnic in a Japanese garden in Kensington, West London, which McGarty had described as particularly special given her love for Japanese culture and spirituality. At the time, she gushed to OK! magazine about their wedding plans, saying they wanted to marry in West Cork, Ireland, surrounded by family in a Catholic church ceremony.
The former couple had been planning their future together, with McGarty previously expressing excitement about their Irish wedding and their shared Catholic faith. Now, the actress is navigating single life while facing the challenges of the jungle, with millions of viewers watching her journey unfold.
