Shona McGarty has given fans a glimpse of her latest music project, and one person was quick to show his support. The former EastEnders star shared a teaser for her upcoming single, 'Mr Anxiety', on Instagram, with rumoured boyfriend and former co-star Tony Discipline among the first to react. Tony, who played Tyler Moon in the BBC soap, left a string of clapping hands and fire emojis beneath the post, delighting fans as speculation surrounding the pair’s relationship continues to grow.
New Single and Musical Comeback
Shona, 34, is preparing to release 'Mr Anxiety' later this month as she continues to focus on her music career following her EastEnders exit. The actress bowed out of the long-running soap in 2024 after playing Whitney Dean for 16 years, and has since turned her attention back to singing. While she released a cover of 'A Change Is Gonna Come' in 2012, she returned to music in 2025 with her original single 'Unapologetically Me'. Now she’s getting ready to unveil her latest track, which covers the struggles of anxiety and overthinking.
Alongside the teaser, Shona opened up about the inspiration behind the song, writing: 'Wrote a song about my favourite uninvited house guest: Mr Anxiety.' She added: 'First teaser is officially here! If you’re a certified overthinker who makes up entire scenarios in your head at 3 AM, this one is for you! Click my link in bio to pre save and let me know if it hits home.'
Fan Reactions and Support
Fans flooded the comments with messages of encouragement after hearing the preview. One wrote: 'IT IS ABOUT TIME!!! She has arrived! Super excited for this.' Another added: 'Love it @shonabmx now we need you & @aitch to make a tune.' But it was Tony’s appearance in the comments that also caught fans’ attention. The former co-stars have become the subject of romance rumours in recent months after being spotted together on several occasions, more than a decade after sharing the screen in Albert Square.
Romance Rumours Timeline
Tony appeared in EastEnders between 2011 and 2013 as Tyler Moon, while Shona remained on the soap until last year. The pair first sparked speculation in March when they posed for a cosy photo during a night out. They were later seen together again in May, with eagle-eyed fans also noticing that Shona had reacted to one of Tony’s social media videos with a series of fire emojis after he showed off his body transformation. Last month, they fuelled rumours even further after they were seen looking close at a friend’s birthday party, with fans questioning whether their friendship had blossomed into something more.
However, the pair are believed to be taking things slowly rather than rushing to confirm their relationship publicly. According to The Sun, a source said: 'Shona has been trolled mercilessly in the past over her relationships. There’s always been a spark there with Tony, and finally they’re both single at the same time. They’re two people having fun getting to know each other in a whole new way. Shona has been burned in the past by rushing into things when it comes to relationships. This time around, she’s determined to enjoy it rather than have it picked apart on social media.'
Past Relationships and Future Plans
Neither Shona nor Tony has publicly addressed the romance rumours, though fans continue to keep a close eye on their social media interactions. Before being linked to Tony, Shona was in a relationship with David Bracken. The pair got engaged in 2024 before later splitting in 2025. She has also previously dated fellow EastEnders actor Max Bowden, Ryan Harris and Matt Lapinskas. For now, though, fans are just as excited to hear what’s next musically, with 'Mr Anxiety' set to arrive later this month.
