“I Thought I’d Go Out First”: Shona McGarty Opens Up About Anxiety, EastEnders Fame & Jungle Truths
The Therapy Crouch
Therapy Crouch
4.7 • 3.7K Ratings
🗓️ 6 January 2026
⏱️ 56 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
On today’s episode of The Therapy Crouch, Abbey and Peter are joined by the beautiful EastEnders icon and talented singer Shona McGarty - and nothing is off limits.
Shona opens up about life after EastEnders, what it’s really like being known as ‘Whitney’ for over 20 years, and why stepping into the jungle was both terrifying and transformational.
She talks candidly about anxiety, imposter syndrome and learning how to cope when fear shows up — as well as losing her dignity, surviving on rice and beans, and why she never wants to see a pretzel again.
There’s also plenty of laughter as the gang dive into bonk beats, phone-call rage, and the chaos of modern life.
Plus, Shona helps tackle an Agony Ab about being too reliable, sharing why saying no is sometimes the most powerful thing you can do.
Honest, hilarious and surprisingly emotional — this is one you don’t want to miss.
00:00 – Kicking off
01:02 – Introducing the pod & today’s guest
02:05 – Compliments, affirmations & relationship banter
04:10 – New Year reflections & turning 40
06:00 – Slowing down, being present & personal goals
07:10 – Weekly whines: technology, logins & QR code rage
09:05 – Paper menus & feeling “too old”
11:15 – Phone call anxiety & unannounced callers
13:20 – Oversharing on speakerphone disasters
14:25 – Bringing Shona McGarty into the studio
15:00 – First impressions & life after I’m A Celeb
16:40 – No makeup TV moments & singing confidence
18:20 – Jungle food, hunger & rice trauma
19:50 – Camp friendships & WhatsApp groups
21:10 – Being known as “Whitney” forever
23:00 – Growing up on EastEnders
25:00 – Long days, waiting around & strict schedules
27:00 – Iconic EastEnders cast moments
29:10 – Singing ambitions & future goals
31:00 – Anxiety, medication & coping mechanisms
33:00 – Caffeine withdrawal & jungle headaches
34:40 – Trials, bugs, cockroaches & survival fears
36:20 – Bonk baits, music choices & bedroom pressure
38:50 – Quotes to live by & winning arguments
41:00 – Jungle toilets, dignity loss & weight loss
43:00 – Highlights of the jungle experience
45:00 – What Shona missed most from home
46:40 – Imposter syndrome & fitting in
48:30 – Watching the show back
50:20 – Agony Ab: being “too reliable” at work
53:10 – Learning to say no & setting boundaries
55:20 – Final thoughts, gratitude & wrap-up
57:10 – End of episode & sign-off
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Do you feel like I've got no chin? |
| 0:02.0 | No, you say it? |
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| 0:09.0 | And would you... |
| 0:11.0 | The smear. |
| 0:12.0 | I've already asked to rub that in the kitchen. |
| 0:14.0 | Wow. |
| 0:16.0 | We've had a little chat. |
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