Former Shona McGarty and her ex-Tony Discipline co-star have sparked fresh romance buzz after appearing unusually close during a lively birthday celebration for fellow ex-EastEnders star Lorraine Stanley.
The soap favourites reunited with Lorraine for a boozy pre-birthday gathering ahead of her 49th later this month, with the event quickly turning into a lively reunion filled with dancing, laughter and affectionate moments that set social media alight.
Shona, 34, and Tony, 37, who have previously been linked in romance speculation, made little effort to shut down the rumours as they appeared closely bonded throughout the day.
In one widely shared photo, Tony was seen standing behind Shona with his arms wrapped around her while the pair took a break from dancing. In another moment, he appeared to kiss her on the head, while a third image showed the duo laughing together in an intimate, relaxed exchange.
Shona, best known for her long-running role as Whitney Dean, and Tony, who previously played Tyler Moon, quickly became the centre of attention after the images were posted online, with fans reacting strongly to the apparent chemistry.
Comments flooded in, with viewers writing messages such as “Tony and Shona!!” while others joked that it looked like a “Whitney and Tyler reunion” in real life, referencing their EastEnders characters.
The pair had already fuelled speculation weeks earlier after appearing together at the Women’s Football Awards 2026, where fans questioned whether they were subtly “soft launching” a relationship on the red carpet.
Following that event, Shona’s social media posts triggered further curiosity, with followers openly asking what was going on between the two stars and whether romance was developing behind the scenes.
Meanwhile, Tony has also remained in the spotlight after recently hinting he would be open to a return to EastEnders. Speaking in a recent interview on behalf of CasinoHawks, he said he had not yet been approached but added: “Never say never… I’d always be open to having the conversation. I loved my time there.”
As for the birthday gathering, insiders say the atmosphere was relaxed, celebratory and filled with nostalgia as cast members from different eras of the soap reunited for what turned into an unexpectedly headline-making night.
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/
