FANS of EastEnders’ think Danielle Harold and Max Bowden’s secret dating caused backstage drama with his co-star ex.
The Ben Mitchell actor was previously in a relationship with Shona McGarty, 33.
Together, the duo were in a relationship for around six months as they worked together on the long-running BBC One soap.
Although they seemingly became close quickly, the duo soon called it quits.
This was shortly after Max became a father for the first time with his ex-girlfriend, Roisin Buckle.
We previously reported that Max Bowden and Danielle Harold sparked a mystery after unfollowing each other on social media.
The duo reportedly “had a secret years-long romance” that they hid from fans, but their relationship has now come to light.
They previously appeared on the latest episode of Celebrity Antiques Road Trip, which coincided with EastEnders’ 40th anniversary.
A source said: “It’s all very strange. Max and Danielle used to be so close – even after they left the show. But to unfollow each other so publicly seems so strange.”
One eagle-eyed fan took to social media forum site Reddit, as they questioned the motives behind the hive of activity,
Starting a new thread post on the platform, the fan wrote: “Umm why Max Bowden and Danielle Harold unfollowed each other on Instagram?
“I know I don’t have a life and all but I accidentally saw it today and I was like whaaaat!?”
The user added: “I wonder what happened I love those 2..”
Another user replied to the post, suggesting that it may have had to do with Shona McGarty.
She apparently unfollowed both of her former colleagues when they got together.
The fan replied: “Danielle supposedly unfollowed Shona [during] the BSA nominations in March.
EastEnders stars who QUIT
MICHELLE Collins has seen her second EastEnders stint boost her bank balance. Yet what stars have quit this year?
The Sun exclusively reported how Michelle, 62, was down to £20,000 in her company accounts when she agreed to a shock back-from-the-dead return to Albert Square last year.
Her character, Cindy Beale, was presumed dead off-camera in 1998.
Yet what about the 2024 exits?
Earlier this summer, loyal soap fans appeared to note how Stevie Mitchell had “quit” the long-running series.
It came after Alan Ford enjoyed just six-months on-screen.
Bobby Beale actor Clay Milner Russell also left this year after five years in Walford.
Fans also feared Martin Fowler actor James Bye would “quit out of boredom” over recent storylines.
Additionally, a host of stars have quit the BBC soap for Hollywood fame.
One of the most successful stars to come from the BBC One soap is Rob Kazinsky.
He played Stacey Slater’s brother Sean Slater from 2006 to 2009, he has starred in Hollywood blockbusters Pacific Rim and Captain Marvel.
Ben Hardy, who quit EastEnders as Bobby Beale almost a decade ago, went on to break Hollywood the following year, when he starred as Archangel in X-Men: Apocalypse.
Since then, he has played Roger Taylor in Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, and he starred in Michael Bay’s Netflix movie 6 Underground.
Michelle Ryan played Zoe Slater until 2005.
She starred as the lead in short-lived American series Bionic Woman from 2007 to 2008.
“Shona & Max obvs have a romantic history & Shona was also posting cryptic insults (people suspected were aimed at Max) as well as plugging for votes for herself.”
This comes after Shona opened up meeting her now-fiancé David Bracken, admitting that she started getting to know him two years ago.
Shona remained friends with Max following their split, and she even gushed about her close bond with Max’s mum at the British Soap Awards.
