The EastEnders actress is adjusting to life outside of the ITV reality programme

Shona McGarty appeared on BBC Radio Two for an interview(Image: BBC)

I’m A Celebrity star Shona McGarty has broken down in tears as she marked an ‘unbelievable’ career milestone just a week after leaving the Australian jungle.

The former EastEnders actress, who played Whitney Dean on the BBC soap from 2008 until her exit last year, was a fan favourite on the ITV reality series. Shona finished in third place on the series, behind Celebs Go Dating’s Tom Read Wilson and eventual winner Angry Ginge.

Taking on creepy crawlies and bushtucker trials, much was made about Shona’s bond with Manchester rapper Aitch. The rumour mill began spinning when Aitch said he has a ‘soft spot’ for the Shona, who recently began pursuing a music career, during a chat with his pal and fellow campmate Ginge, who he is close friends with away from the show.

Fans were adamant that they sensed sparks, with presenters Ant and Dec teasing they wanted a jungle romance. However, both Shona and Aitch have both put the rumours to bed since leaving I’m A Celebrity.

“I mean, I’m like over 10 years older than him, and honestly the rumours are rubbish. He is like my little brother, I was like his older sister, and we just had the same energy level, we were just hyper and silly, and that’s why we got on,” Shona said on Lorraine.

While Aitch told The Sun: “Shona’s just a cool person. I feel like me and Shona are just cut from the same cloth in a way. We just have the same sense of humour. Obviously I’ve not watched the show, so I don’t know what’s been put out there in any way – but it was nothing like that.

“I just think we had a bond over a bit of a music thing – me knowing that she’s trying to come out of the jungle and pursue this music career, me having a music career.”

Shona McGarty on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here(Image: James Gourley/ITV/Shutterstock)

As mentioned by Aitch, Shona had been focusing on music prior to joining I’m A Celebrity. Back in October, she released her debut music single Unapologetically Me, which she worked on with famed producer Steve Anderson.

Having joined forces with the man who has worked with Kylie Minogue and Britney Spears, Shona was emotional on Sunday (December 14) as she joined Joel Dommett for a chat on BBC Radio 2.

In a huge moment for Shona’s career, Joel played the track on radio for the first time. In a clip of the moment shared to social media, Shona could be seen becoming teary-eyed as she sang along to her lyrics.

I’m A Celebrity: Unpacked presenter Joel said: “Yes, Shona McGarty! I feel so privileged that I got to play that. That’s since. I feel like I’ve been in a moment of your life. How does that feel?”

An emotional Shona noted: “You really have. It feels unbelievable. I promised I wasn’t going to cry.” To which Joel replied: “‘Well, I wish it was up to me. What a key change!”

Previously discussing the importance of the song, Shona said on Instagram: “It’s taken me a long time to stop apologising, for my voice, my feelings, my choices, my laugh, my dreams, my boundaries… all of it.

“For so long, I thought being accepted meant shrinking myself to fit what others were comfortable with. But somewhere along the way, I realised the only person I was really hurting was me. Now, I’ve learned that being unapologetically myself isn’t about being loud or defiant , it’s about being free.

“It’s about standing in my truth without guilt. It’s about knowing I’m allowed to take up space, to shine, to change, to grow, and to be loved for who I truly am. So here’s to no longer saying ‘sorry’ for simply being. Here’s to showing up as we are , imperfect, evolving, and utterly real.”