EastEnders' Shona McGarty's former co-star boyfriend Tony Discipline reveals plans to marry actress as he calls her the 'love of my life'

EastEnders star Shona McGarty could soon become a fiancée as her former co-star boyfriend Tony Discipline dropped a huge hint a proposal could be imminent. 

The actor, 37, said he does not want 'anyone else' as he opened up about his romance with Shona, 34, at the opening night of Oscar-winning lyricist Don Black's sold-out West End show From The Heart.

Asked if he wants to marry Shona, Tony said: 'Absolutely, that is the love of my life, she's the love of my life. I don't want anyone else. That's my woman, that's my soulmate.

'We were boyfriend and girlfriend in the show so you build up some kind of rapport.

'Maybe there was some kind of underlying chemistry there, but in the last year or so it's really gone up a notch.'

He added: 'She is just absolutely incredible.'

The pair played lovers in EastEnders more than a decade ago and are now living out the storyline in real life.

Shona is best known for portraying feisty Whitney Dean, while Tony starred as Tyler Moon from 2011 until 2013.

Their on-screen characters had a tumultuous relationship filled with cheating, trauma and drama, which eventually led to Tyler's departure from Albert Square.

Whitney remained in Walford for a further decade, becoming one of the soap's best-known characters before leaving in 2024. She made a one-off return earlier this year.

Shona's romance with Tony comes less than a year after she split from her fiancé David Bracken.

The actress and the Irish guitarist became engaged after he proposed in London's Holland Park, but mutually called time on their relationship before Shona entered the I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! jungle last November.

She later faced romance rumours with her rapper campmate Aitch, 26, after the pair appeared to grow close on the ITV show.

Tony is not the first former EastEnders actor Shona has dated. She was previously in relationships with Matt Lapinskas, who played Tyler's on-screen brother Anthony Moon, and Max Bowden, who portrayed Ben Mitchell.

Tony previously dated Shona's friend Jacqueline Jossa, who continues to play Lauren Branning in the BBC soap.

Shona took to the stage at London's Garrick Theatre on Thursday for From The Heart, Black's celebration of the songs and collaborations that have defined his extraordinary career.

The strictly limited 15-performance run features new material alongside some of the legendary lyricist's greatest hits from film, theatre and television.

Dame Maureen Lipman, Cheryl Fergison and Brenda Blethyn were among the stars in attendance for the sold-out opening night.

Michael Ball also stunned the audience by making a surprise appearance halfway through the show to perform Love Changes Everything, which Black wrote with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Charles Hart.

Walking on stage, Michael said: 'I was just passing by. I will be forever grateful that Don Black gave me this song.'

Shona also sang the EastEnders theme tune on stage, while the show featured a mash-up of Black's James Bond themes Thunderball and Diamonds Are Forever.

The songwriter, whose glittering career spans more than five decades, appeared on stage at the end of the performance to address the audience.

He said: 'This is wonderful to be here.

'And what about our special guest. He's my favourite of all time, Michael Ball.

'I've been working on this show for 30 years or more, which goes to prove that it doesn't matter how old you are, dreams last forever, and this dream has stayed with me all these years.'

From The Heart also celebrates Black's best-loved songs including Born Free, Ben, To Sir With Love, With One Look and As If We Never Said Goodbye.