Former EastEnders actress Shona McGarty is embarking on her I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! adventure with an unexpected souvenir—a painful injury sustained during her pre-jungle training.
The Park Bench Collision
McGarty, who is set to join the series when it launches on 16 November, took to Instagram to document her preparation. In a video shared with her followers, she transformed her local park into a makeshift training ground.
While a voiceover discussed how 'survival is based on preparation', the footage took an unfortunate turn. Shona was seen going down a slide, only to crash heavily into a park bench. The collision was followed by a loud grunt from the actress.
For the remainder of the video, which featured her attempting to jump through tyre swings and use a zip line, she appeared visibly wary and in pain.
The Aftermath: A Nasty Bruise
The reality of the accident was later confirmed when Shona posted a picture of a nasty bruise on her waist to her Instagram Stories. Over the image, she wrote wryly, "And yes, the rumours are true. Sliding into a park bench does leave bruises. Prep for @imacelebrity they said. It'll be fun they said."
Her jungle preparation continued with an attempt to shower using an outdoor hose pipe, which resulted in her screaming as the cold water ran over her hair.
A New Chapter After EastEnders
Shona McGarty is best known for playing Whitney Dean on EastEnders for 15 years, having joined the soap in 2008 as the adopted daughter of Bianca Jackson, played by Patsy Palmer. She decided to leave the show in 2023.
In an interview with The Sun at the time, she stated, "I have decided to spread my wings and will be leaving EastEnders. I have loved my years in the show. I have been trusted with some incredible storylines and have made amazing friendships – and family – which will endure."
Her appearance on I'm A Celebrity marks a significant return to the spotlight. It comes amid rumours of a split from her fiancé, David Bracken. Just before flying to Australia, she shared a cryptic post on Instagram about a "new beginning" and learning to be "unapologetically me".
