It's over! Dancing On Ice love curse strikes again as Shona McGarty dumps Matt Lapinskas after he 'grows close to skating partner'

PUBLISHED: 21:16 EST, 2 March 2013 | UPDATED: 21:20 EST, 2 March 2013

Former EastEnders star Matt Lapinskas has been dumped by girlfriend Shona McGarty after 'becoming close to his Dancing On Ice skating partner'.

Furious Shona decided to end their 18-month romance during a tearful showdown after both admitted they had become distant since Matt started on Dancing On Ice, skating with Canadian Brianne Delcourt.

Friends revealed the pretty brunette, 23, was heartbroken but 'fed up' with her boyfriend's behaviour over recent weeks and decided enough was enough.

Enough is enough: Matt has been dumped by actress Shona McGarty after 'becoming close to his skating partner Brianne Delcourt (pictured together on the show)

A source told The Sunday Mirror: 'She couldn't help feeling a bit jealous that was growing so close to a stunning blonde dancer'.

EastEnders actress Shona, who plays Whitney Dean in the soap, was noticeably absent at Matt's surprise birthday party - organised by 32-year-old Brianne.

The skater even tweeted a loving message to her partner on the show before the bash: 'Happy Birthday to my Best Friend @mattylapinskas. Love you so much!! Hope all you're Birthday wishes come true. You deserve the WORLD!'

Fed up: Shona is said to have become exasperated with Matt's behaviour since he signed to Dancing On Ice

Love you so much! Brianne's gushing tweet may not have impressed Shona

She met Matt's family at the swanky party at Ciro's restaurant in Kensington, west London, and pictures from the evening show the pair cuddling.

The pair were even seen sharing a 'quick kiss at the bar' at the Holiday Inn near the Dancing On Ice studios on Friday - although there is no suggestion they are in a relationship.

Sources said rumours had been spreading backstage that the pair were more than friends but both insisted their relationship was simply platonic.

A TV insider said: 'Matt used to be attentive but the closer he grew to Brianne the less time he seemed to have for Shona.'

Close: Matt and Brianne have become favourites to win the competition... but has that come at the price of Matt's relationship?

The pair split a week after Valentine's Day.

Shona is believed to have made a last ditch attempt to save their relationship by going to the show two weeks ago - although insiders said this just made her more certain the pair were over.

Shona tweeted on February 17 that she cried her eyes out at Matt's performance on the show but just four days later cryptically wrote: 'People change and forget to tell each other.'

Matt and Shona both met on EastEnders in August 2011 and since they started dating the pair have gushed about their relationship with Staines-born Matt saying he wanted to marry Shona.

Thrilled: An overjoyed Matt lifted Brianne up into the air after hearing they had topped the leaderboard

Shona recently said: 'People say it's a honeymoon period but I really hope it lasts and that this doesn't turn out to be like an EastEnders storyline.'

Dancing On Ice is fast getting a reputation for ruining relationships and Shona and Matt's split is one of many - it is not even the first of this year's show.

Coronation Street actress Samia Ghardie split from actor Will Thorpe after she became close to her skating partner - Frenchman Sylvain Longchambon.

It all started so well! Shona kisses Matt on the first episode of this year's show

He in turn split from Hollyoaks actress Jennifer Metcalfe - who he met on the show.

Olympian Beth Tweddle left her lover Steve Cryer this series.

Coronation Street star Danny Younghad a brief affair with Brianne during the Dancing On Ice tour in 2010, they later split.

Going out on a high: Samia Ghadie was elimated from Dancing On Ice on Sunday night and joked she may keep in contact with boyfriend and former skating partner Sylvain Longchambon after meeting him on the show

Judge Karen Barker also split from her husband Stephen Pickavance and began a relationship with host Christopher Dean.

But fans will remember it was footballer David Seaman who kick started the 'love curse' after leaving his wife Debbie for pro-skater Frankie Poultney - the pair got close during rehearsals for the skating tour.

MailOnline has contacted Shona and Matt for a comment.