Shona McGarty reveals secret I’m A Celebrity panic attack cut from show – and the ‘amazing’ campmate who stepped in to save the day

Shona McGarty has revealed that she had a secret panic attack while on I’m A Celebrity that nobody saw – and opened up about the ‘amazing’ campmate who stepped in to save the day while on Tuesday’s episode of Loose Women.

The former EastEnders star, 34 – who placed third on this year’s show – appeared on the latest episode of the ITV programme to chat about her stint in the jungle.

Shona has been very open about her mental health and the panel – made up of Jane Moore, 63, Nadia Sawalha, 61, Myleene Klass, 47, Brenda Edwards, 56 – touched upon her struggles.

Nadia pointed out: ‘You had a panic attack [in the jungle], I didn’t see that, before one of the challenges, is that right?’

Shona said: ‘Yeah, so it was on the way to a trial. It was the first live trial, I just got in my own head about it and had a bit of a panic.’

Myleene added: ‘And you don’t have your friends or your family around who know how to deal with you in those kind of scenarios.

Shona McGarty has revealed that she had a secret panic attack while on I'm A Celebrity that nobody saw - and opened up about the 'amazing' campmate who stepped in to save the day while on Tuesday's episode of Loose Women
+5
View gallery

Shona McGarty has revealed that she had a secret panic attack while on I’m A Celebrity that nobody saw – and opened up about the ‘amazing’ campmate who stepped in to save the day while on Tuesday’s episode of Loose Women

The former EastEnders star, 34 - who placed third on this year's show - appeared on the latest episode of the ITV programme to chat about her stint in the Australian jungle
+5
View gallery

The former EastEnders star, 34 – who placed third on this year’s show – appeared on the latest episode of the ITV programme to chat about her stint in the Australian jungle

Shona said: 'Yeah, so it was on the way to a trial. It was the first live trial, I just got in my own head about it and had a bit of a panic'
+5
View gallery

Shona said: ‘Yeah, so it was on the way to a trial. It was the first live trial, I just got in my own head about it and had a bit of a pani

‘How did you come out of that?’

The actress, who is best known for playing Whitney Dean in EastEnders, touched upon how comedian Eddie Kadi, 42, got her through it.

‘Eddie was amazing. He really helped me,’ Shona explained.

‘He just sat beside me, squeezing me, and you just have to throw yourself into it.’

Myleene asked: ‘Do you feel stronger for doing it?’

Shona confessed: ‘I do, I really do. I am trying to do things that scare me.’

Jane asked if taking part in the iconic show managed to help her anxiety, to which Shona said: ‘Definitely. I mean for people that don’t really understand anxiety, from the outside looking in, you must think “Well if she’s anxious, why would she do that?”

‘I understand because that’s kind of how I felt. But it got easier!’

Shona placed third on this year's series of the ITV show
+5
View gallery

Shona placed third on this year’s series of the ITV show

Jane said later on in the segment: ‘At the start, the anxiety kind of explains it, because you were quiet, and then suddenly you just came out of your shell and of course, we heard your amazing voice.’

Shona is best known for playing Whitney in EastEnders, a role she quit in May 2024.

Just last week it was revealed that she has landed a brand new BBC gig.

She will be part of the Beeb’s New Years Eve celebrations, alongside a trio of other famous faces.

Boyzone star Ronan Keating will be hosting BBC One’s festivities – which will see Shona perform West End show tunes.

Titled Ronan & Friends, the star-studded line-up also includes Calum Scott and Louise Redknapp.

During her time in the jungle, romance rumours surrounded Shona and her co-star, rapper Aitch (real name Harrison Armstrong).

Shona addressed the rumours after joining Fleur East, Will Best and James Barr on the Hits Radio Breakfast Show on Tuesday, where she reflected on her time in the jungle and set the record straight on any blossoming romance.

She shared: ‘I came out, and apparently me and Aitch were in a relationship…

‘He’s great, still my little brother! He’s so fun to be around, he’s just hyper, and he matched my level of hyper.

‘He hasn’t been round for karaoke yet, but it’s on the cards.’

Elsewhere, Shona also opened up about what her mental health had been like prior to entering the jungle.

She told the Daily Mail: ‘Before I came in here, I couldn’t even sit on the toilet without scrolling on TikTok. You know?

‘I don’t remember the last time I had a real deep conversation with my mom and dad. Because you’re just constantly replying to emails or scrolling or WhatsApp.’