EastEnders’ Max Bowden & Shona McGarty inseparable as they party after refusing to walk Soap Awards red carpet together

EASTENDERS stars Max Bowden and Shona McGarty could not stay apart at the British Soap Awards.

The pair who play Whitney Dean and Ben Mitchell on the BBC soap played it cool by walking the red carpet separately and then had co-star Tony Clay (Callum Highway) sit between them during the awards ceremony.

But that didn't stop them getting close at a pre-show drinks event.

They were inseparable after hitting the red carpet at Hackney Town Hall where they sipped champagne and whispered closely to one another.

Shona was seen smiling happily while Max was chatting and they were lated spotted by fans posing for selfies inside the awards venue.

The Sun recently revealed that the pair had “grown close” after he split from his pregnant girlfriend this year.

They denied they are “officially dating”, but have been spotted holding hands and Max, 27, was seen leaving 30-year-old Shona’s home in the morning.

Max’s ex-lover, insurance exec Roisin Buckle, revealed last month they were having a baby boy. The couple vowed to raise the child together, despite their split.

Shona is single after splitting from electrician fiancé Ryan Harris in January.

A source previously told the Sun on Sunday: “They spend as much time together as they can.

“Most nights or mornings Max is seen entering or leaving Shona’s home. He wears the same clothes most days.

“They have tried to keep their relationship a secret and they drive into the EastEnders set separately.

“But anybody who sees them together can see how they feel about each other.”

However, despite their growing relationship they opted to walk alone, with Shona oozing Hollywood glamour in a strapless gown.

Max joined the BBC soap in 2019 after playing Kash Ryland in BBC drama Casualty and was in the Beeb’s Waterloo Road for two years as Justin Fitzgerald.

He became the sixth actor to play Phil Mitchell’s son and won Best Bad Boy at the 2019 Inside Soap Awards.

His character is now married to policeman Callum Highway, who has been at the centre of a number of big storylines including the recent hard-hitting male rape.