Lauren Goodger has opened up about her engagement to Mark Wright, eight years after he called off the wedding
Speaking in new! magazine, the former TOWIE star and social media influencer admitted that there “[is] no love like your first love” and that the two of them had an “instant connection”.
“I was so in love with him straight away. He was obsessed with me and I was obsessed with him. Sex keeps you together as well, so we had the connection. There’s no love like your first love."
The couple were childhood sweethearts and dated for 11 years before getting engaged on the show in 2011.
CHECK OUT TOWIE original cast then and now
CLOSER: TOWIE Original cast then and now photos
Lydia Bright
Lovely Lydia Bright had a tough job putting up with on/off boyfriend James 'Arg' Argent. After Arg's cheating ways proved too much to deal with, Lydia walked away from their relationship and the show in 2012, but returned for a few special episodes.
Lydia Bright
Lydia had string of relationships and was most recently linked to mechanic Lee Cronin. She still runs her successful clothing business, Bella Sorella, and she took part in the Channel 4 TV show The Jump.
James 'Arg' Argent
Arg was the loveable cheeky chap who could first be found singing around the bars of Essex. After proving to be a pretty lousy boyfriend to Lyds and being suspended from the show for partying, Arg went into rehab and came out a new man.
James 'Arg' Argent
Arg is now in a relationship with another Essex blonde bombshell, Gemma Collins, and they have big plans to become the world's next big power couple.
Lauren Goodger
Poor Lauren Goodger was always in distress over long-term boyfriend Mark Wright. The future never really looked promising for this couple. In fact, she famously pushed Mark into a swimming pool.
Lauren Goodger
Lauren left the show in 2016, before appearing on Dancing on Ice and Celebrity Big Brother. She's now in a relationship with Joey Morrisson, who's currently doing a stretch in prison. Lauren occasionally makes a special appearance in the show that made her name.
Mark Wright
Ah, Mark wright - he sure did have a way with the ladies in Essex. After finishing things with fiance Lauren Goodger, he had flings with Sam Faiers and Lucy Mecklenburgh. Mark left the show in 2016 after meeting actress Michelle Keegan.
Mark Wright
Mark married Michelle in 2015 and now has a TV career in LA, presenting a show called Extras. The pair are VERY loved up and we reckon it's far less dramatic than his previous relationships.
Kirk Norcross
Sugar Hut club promoter Kirk Norcross had relationships with Amy Childs and Lauren Pope. He even had 'his n hers' nose surgery with Popey before they split. Kirk also introduced viewers to his Sugar Hut owner dad, Mick, who had a one-sided love affair with Gemma Collins.
Kirk Norcross
Kirk is now a dad to two kids and he has an ADORABLE Instagram feed of family photos. Kirk also had a stint on Celebrity Big Brother and Ex On The Beach, but it looks like he's now sticking to life as a daddy.
Amy Childs
Queen of the vajazzle, Amy Childs was the beautiful beautician who only stayed in the show for a year. She soon starred in her own series, It's All About Amy.
Amy Childs
Amy is now a mum to little Polly who she gave birth to in 2017. She is no longer in a relationship with Polly's dad, Bradley Wright, but she was recently snapped with a mystery man on holiday.
Harry Derbidge
Young Harry was the cousin of Amy Childs and just as glamorous as her. Who can forget when he performed as Lady Gaga at his birthday party?
Harry Derbidge
Harry started a relationship with co-star Bobby Norris but it ended after Harry reportedly cheated. Harry recently opened up about his battle with an eating disorder, but he looks to be doing well, and is now a pretty amazing makeup artist. Do you think he's had lip fillers? Hmmm.
Sam Faiers
Sam Faiers first hit screens when best mate Amy Childs gave her a vajazzle. She gave in to Mark Wright's romantic pursuits for a short while, but it was her relationship with Joey Essex that won our hearts (sob).
Sam Faiers
Sam now has a BEAUTIFUL family with her partner Paul Knightley and two kids. She went on to star in another reality show, Sam Faiers: The Mummy Diaries. Sam has also opened up about her battle with Crohn's disease and she still helps to run clothing boutique, Minnie's.
Jess Wright
Sister of Mark Wright, she had to give him a few sisterly straight-talks. She was a model and singer, with dreams of making it big in the pop music world. Jess's big relationship was with co-star Ricky Rayment.
Jess Wright
More recently. Jess split from Strictly's Giovanni Pernice after five months of dating. She's released a fitness DVD but that's all we've heard from her, really.
Billie Faiers
The bond between Billie and her sister Sam was pure joy to watch. She always had her sister's back.
Billie Faiers
Billie is now engaged to Greg Shepherd, who she has a son and a daughter with. She appeared in The Mummy Diaries with her big sis, but it's reported that she's to get her own reality show which will document her getting ready for the wedding.
Lucy Mecklenburgh
Lucy Mecklenburgh caused a lot of trouble between Mark Wright and Lauren Goodger after she slept with Mark. But her big romance was with co-star Mario Falcone.
Lucy Mecklenburgh
Lucy is now a fitness GURU. Honestly, nothing comes between this girl and her abs. She's now in a relationship with former Corrie actor Ryan Thomas after appearing on Celebrity Island together. She also runs a fashion boutique and an online fitness program - quite the entrepreneur.
Lauren Pope
DJ Lauren 'Popey' Pope was already known for being a bit of a party girl on the circuit before starting TOWIE. She was in an on/off relationship with Kirk Norcross and dated Tom Pearce.
Lauren Pope
Lauren is now the proud owner of a successful hair extensions business. She recently rejoined the show.
Maria Fowler
Model Maria Fowler was Popey's best pal and she did NOT get on with her mate's BF Kirk Norcross. She went through some tough times in public after leaving the show just two series later.
Maria Fowler
But now Maria looks VERY happy in her new role as a mum to Evie, who she had with boyfriend Kelvin Batey.
Nanny Pat
Nanny Pat was the voice of reason that the TOWIE cast needed. She doted on her grandkids Mark and Jess Wright, and always dished out the best advice. She also knew how to let her hair down. Sadly, 80-year-old Pat died in 2015.
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But Mark ended things after his friends reported they had seen Lauren cheating on him.
Mark is now happily married to actress Michelle Keegan, although it’s been reported their long-distance relationship is putting them under a lot of pressure.
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Lauren is currently single, her most recent relationship with jailed Joey Morrison ending in July 2018 after two years of conducting their romance from prison.
“I regret giving two and a half years of my life to someone who was in jail," said Lauren in the same interview.
In 2015, Mark and Lauren were embroiled in a vicious Twitter spatwhere Mark publicly begged her to leave him and then new wife Michelle alone.
Lauren then asked her agent to release an official statement on her behalf.
“It's hurtful for Lauren to constantly be painted in this way and for readers to actually believe it,” it said. “That is why Lauren has taken to her own column in the past to defend herself against ludicrous claims such as the one that said she was going to gatecrash the wedding.
“Anyone facing such embarrassing lies week in and week out is of course going to want to defend themselves."