The location was perfect, his beautiful girlfriend in position …and a stunning emerald and diamond ring burning a hole in his pocket.
But musician David Bracken’s romantic plans to pop the question to Shona McGarty in the heart of London’s Holland Park nearly went awry…after the police showed up.
“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’” says David.
“So, I told Shona to go stand at the waterfall in the park. I then put on our favourite song and had a dance with her before getting down on one knee.”
Laughing, former EastEnders actress Shona, 31, said she was none the wiser how David’s proposal was almost scuppered at the last minute.
“David went over to speak to them and I had no idea what he said because I was just eating cheese and crackers,” she says.
In an exclusive joint interview with Ok! announcing their engagement, Shona and David say the location of the proposal made it even more special.
David had picked a tranquil corner of the park called Kyoto Garden – somewhere that means a lot to Shona. “I love Japanese culture and the spirituality of it. He brought a picnic which was really sweet. It was lovely, I was in my element but I didn’t think he was going to propose at all.”
Despite being on EastEnders for over 16 years playing Albert Square legend Whitney Dean, Shona explains that David actually had “no clue” about her soap fame. It was actually their love of music that brought the two together last year and the social media platform TikTok. After scrolling one night on his phone, David discovered a video of Shona performing a song cover and plucked up the courage to message her – without any idea that she was on primetime TV screens most nights.
Shona and David: We’re so in love (
Alan Keville)
Shona McGarty looking stunning (
OK! Magazine/ Alan Keville)
David, who plays in an Irish band named Blessed, asked if Shona was interested in doing a duet. He says, “I saw she had a blue tick on TikTok, but I just assumed that she must be a really good singer or something.” BBC soap star Shona replies, “It was funny because David didn’t have a clue what I did for a job. I remember him asking me, ‘So what do you do? Do you gig or sing?’ I said, ‘Well not really, I’m not allowed at the moment.’ He was like, ‘What do you mean?’ He didn’t even know I was in EastEnders – he had never watched it!
“He doesn’t care what I do for a job and it can be hard in this industry to find someone who actually likes you for you.” The pair then spoke on the phone for 90 minutes before talking every day. Two months later, the 35-year-old soon flew out to the UK to be with her. But David was thrown in the deep end as, in the space of three days, he’d met Shona’s mum, dad, sister, nephew and the dogs.
Shona knew right away though that he was The One. “I’m 32 and we’ve both had relationships in the past but this time it feels different,” she says. “It’s a feeling I’ve never had before about a person. What we love about our relationship is that we are very like-minded, down-to-earth, grounded and not letting fame become a thing. We both know we are human, we both love music, acting and food.”
Shona McGarty tells all about her wedding plans (
OK! Magazine/ Alan Keville)
Shona McGarty tells all about her proposal (
OK! Magazine/ Alan Keville)
It could be a long guest-list though as Shona reveals the entirety of the EastEnders cast could be making the cut. “To me, they are all just going to be on the family invite list,” she says. “I love them so much and they are such a big part of mine and David’s journey. David actually chats to James [Farrar] who plays Zach more than I bloody do. He’s pretty much met all of the cast and they are all big fans of his. They are all just a massive family and so supportive. They kept telling David, ‘You look after her, now.’”
Speaking of EastEnders, Shona made the difficult decision in 2023 to walk away after joining the cast aged 16 in 2008. She tells us it was something she had to do for both her personal and professional life, with the star swapping long days for more quality time at home with her family, friends and beloved fiancé. I remember the last day of filming. I said, ‘I am not going to cry – it’s just a job!’ But when that last scene came, I was crying like a baby. All my colleagues were crying. It was a decision I had toyed with for a few years,” she says.
Shona McGarty reveals all about her new fiance (
OK! Magazine/ Alan Keville)
Shona McGarty on her plans for a winter wedding (
OK! Magazine/ Alan Keville)
“I miss everyone at EastEnders but I don’t particularly miss the schedule so much. I have so much more time to spend with David and family and friends it’s been fantastic. I feel very free. I can say yes or no to things and work on my music. I have windows of time now that I never had before. I feel very excited for what is to come.”
Now, Shona – who does say if it “felt right” she would return to Watford since her character wasn’t killed off – has entered a new and exciting chapter of her life. With a wedding to plan, as well as a starring role in the Irish cast of 2:22 A Ghost Story, alongside Laura Whitmore, she’ll certainly be busy. But relaxed and positively glowing with happiness, Shona admits that she has never felt more free than she does now – and a baby could be the next chapter for her.
“Now that I have left EastEnders and my life is less hectic and I am really happy with David, my life is just in such a beautiful place. We want to get married and enjoy married life. I think naturally what will happen will happen but we have spoken about it and I’ve always wanted children.”
David couldn’t agree more, “Yeah, it’s definitely something we want in the future.”
See the full interview in this week’s OK! magazine, out nationwide on Tuesday
Photography by Alan Keville, photography assisted by Kris Hand, styling by Megan Fox, styling assisted by Ella McCarthy, make-up by Michelle Kinsella using Charlotte Tilbury, hair by Bernadette Byrnes of Hairpeople Dublin, shot on location at The Odeon, Dublin.
Follow us to see more useful information, as well as to give us more motivation to update more useful information for you.
Source: USA Today
