EASTENDERS star Shona McGarty left soap fans delighted after sharing a cosy snap with a familiar face from her Albert Square past.
The actress bumped into her former on-screen flame during a lively early St Patrick’s Day celebration.
She posted the surprise reunion on Instagram with the caption: “What are the chances.”
In the sweet pic, Shona can be seen posing with actor Tony Discipline, who played Walford bad boy Tyler Moon on the BBC soap.
Having last appeared on screen together more than a decade ago, the pair looked delighted to run into one another as they posed together in the bustling bar.
The chance encounter came as revellers gathered for early St Patrick’s celebrations.
Tony starred as Tyler Moon, one of Albert Square’s most notorious young troublemakers.
The character arrived in Walford in 2011 as part of the infamous Moon family.
Tyler was the son of Eddie Moon, played by music legend David Essex.
During his time on the show he became embroiled in a fiery romance with Whitney Dean, played by Shona.
The pair were once one of the most talked-about young couples in soap.
Their turbulent relationship kept viewers hooked and even led to an engagement storyline.
But the romance eventually fell apart as their chaotic on-screen lives spiralled.
Tony remained on the BBC soap for around two years before leaving in 2013.
After years of ups and downs, as well as becoming entangled in his family’s increasingly sketchy businesses, Tyler decided he’d had enough and left in 2013 in a stolen sports car.
He was last known to be going to work on a cruise ship alongside his brother Anthony.
Despite their on-screen chemistry, there was never any suggestion of a real-life romance between Shona and Tony.
Tony instead dated fellow EastEnders star Jacqueline Jossa, who played Lauren Branning.
She later went on to marry TOWIE star Dan Osborne.
The TV star has since traded EastEnders for a new life working as a firefighter for the London Fire Brigade.
Speaking of his new job, Tony previously told The Sun: “I love it. Every day is different and you feel you’re helping your community.
“It can be quite dangerous but you’re trained to deal with those situations.”
Shona, meanwhile, spent far longer in Walford as Whitney Dean.
The fan favourite first appeared in 2008 and became one of the soap’s most recognisable characters.
Shona eventually bowed out of the BBC drama in 2024 after an impressive 15-year stint on the show.
Since quitting EastEnders, she has starred in theatre productions, launched a music career and last year finished third on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
