He shot to fame ten years ago on TOWIEas the Essex party boy and events promoter but, these days, it’s a very different story for former ladies’ man Mark Wright. The TV star admits he’s dreading hosting a New Year’s party with his wife of four years, Michelle Keegan, at their Essex mansion – because he can’t stand the mess!
“We’re thinking of hosting a New Year’s Eve party,” he says, “but I’ve got OCD, so I hate having parties. I’m just debating it at the moment.”
The presenter – who has always taken pride in his appearance, regularly posting gym and selfie pictures on his social media – admits he doesn’t like hosting a lot of people in his home, sometimes even resorting to drastic measures. “I just hate a mess in my house,” he reveals.
“When I had a party before, during the summer, I actually rented portable loos and put them out on my drive so nobody could go inside.”
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In February, Mark, 32, returned to the UK to live full-time with wife Michelle, also 32, after spending a two-year stint presenting US TV show Extra in Los Angeles. He said at the time, “It just feels like the right time tocome back to the UK and live here with my wife and family.”
Admitting he was homesick, Mark says, “It’s good to be home, it really is. All the things I didn’t think I’d miss, I did, which is everything. Just little things, like going to the pub.”
The big move home means he’s even more excited for a traditional family Christmas in Essex this year. He says, “We do north and south alternate years and, this year, it’s south – so we’re going to be in Essex. Some of Michelle’s family are going to come down and we’ll have Christmas dinner at my mum and dad’s.”
Despite Mark and Michelle having an estimated joint fortune of £6million, the showbiz couple don’t go overboard on Christmas gifts – and even keep to a set budget.
CHECK OUT: The original TOWIE cast members: then and now
CLOSER: TOWIE Original cast then and now photos
1 of 27Lydia 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.
2 of 27Lydia 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.
3 of 27James '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.
4 of 27James '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.
5 of 27Lauren 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.
6 of 27Lauren 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.
7 of 27Mark 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.
8 of 27Mark 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.
9 of 27Kirk 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.
10 of 27Kirk 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.
11 of 27Amy 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.
12 of 27Amy 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.
13 of 27Harry 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?
14 of 27Harry 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.
15 of 27Sam 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).
16 of 27Sam 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.
17 of 27Jess 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.
18 of 27Jess 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.
19 of 27Billie Faiers
The bond between Billie and her sister Sam was pure joy to watch. She always had her sister's back.
20 of 27Billie 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.
21 of 27Lucy 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.
22 of 27Lucy 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.
23 of 27Lauren 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.
24 of 27Lauren Pope
Lauren is now the proud owner of a successful hair extensions business. She recently rejoined the show.
25 of 27Maria 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.
26 of 27Maria Fowler
But now Maria looks VERY happy in her new role as a mum to Evie, who she had with boyfriend Kelvin Batey.
27 of 27Nanny 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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“I’m at that stage where I’ve gone over the amount – I’ve bought her new trainers, new perfume, new tracksuit, holiday, dress, whatever – now I’m like, what do I do now?” Mark says. “Now, it’s the risky bits – you choose something a little random and hope that it works.
“She’s [Michelle] so grateful for anything. She’s a bit like me – it’s more about the thought that makes it special.”
As well as spending quality time with his wife, Mark has been busy with the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special. He competed in the main show in 2014 with dance pro Karen Hauer, and is excited to dance with new partner Janette Manrara this year, alongside favourites like real-life couples Gemma Atkinson and Gorka Marquez, and Joe Suggand Dianne Buswell.
Mark says, “I remember when I first started Strictly, it took me ages to learn a dance, and then, towards the end of the series, I learnt pretty quickly. It’s been five years now and I thought it was going to be hard again, but I went straight back into it and it felt good."
Read more in this week's Closer magazine, out now