EastEnders actress Shona McGarty announced she’s engaged to boyfriend Ryan Harris

Shona McGarty has announced that she’s engaged to her electrician boyfriend, Ryan Harris after he popped the question on her birthday.

The 26-year-old actress told OK! magazine all about the surprise proposal.

'Ryan threw me a surprise party for my birthday at a golf course and the choir who I sing with burst into song.

'When I cut the cake, there was a box on the top of the cake with a ring inside.'

She added that she turned around and saw Ryan down on one knee and started crying.

She's also revealed that the couple have already discussed when they'll tie the knot, saying that they plan to get married 'towards the end of the year in the UK' and the pair would love to have an 'Irish-themed wedding.'

The couple got together back in 2013 after being introduced by mutual friends.

But Shona revealed that their relationship actually helped the pair to move on from their previous relationship breakdowns.

She told OK that out of both break-ups, it was 'harder for Ryan' because he had split from his ex Scarlett who is the mother of his two children.

However her breakup from former EastEnders co-star Matt Lapinskas [who played Anthony Moon] was 'publicly humiliating', because of accusations of him getting very close to his professional skating partner, Brianne Delacourt on Dancing On Ice.

Despite the heartaches, once the couple were sure their romance was the real deal, Ryan introduced Shona to his two children, 10-year-old Scarlett and six-year-old Alfie.

The soap star has also admitted that while she's not yet ready to have kids with Ryan just yet, she would love to have tons of children with her fiancé in the future.

In the meantime, Shona seems pretty ready to take on the role of stepmother to Ryan's kids.

'I never thought I'd go out with someone who already had children, but it couldn't have worked out any better' she said.

Congratulations to the happy couple!