His career was left “hanging in the balance” last week after he reportedly quit his upcoming appearance in ITV reality show, The Real Games, via text message. However, insiders say that on the contrary, Mark Wright and wife Michelle Keegan are hoping their move will turn them into TV’s new power-couple.
Reports claimed the former TOWIE star, 35, has been “blacklisted” by the network after leaving producers in the lurch at the eleventh hour – and it’s thought ITV were sending a “clear message” to the star when they then announced Mark will be replaced by Michelle’s ex-fiancé, Max George, 33.
A show insider said, “It’s caused a real stir. For some it’s become a joke behind the scenes at ITV. If they can’t have Michelle Keegan’s husband – they’ll have her former fiancé!”
Despite his controversial replacement on the Olympic-themed show – presented by Holly Willoughby and Freddie Flintoff and which will see celebs go head-to-head in a range of sporting challenges – sources say Mark is determined to distance himself from the drama of the reality show world, which has followed him since his 2010 launch into the spotlight as the original TOWIE Lothario.
And insiders tell Closer that his decision to pull out of the show was sparked by his desire for him and 35-year-old Michelle to spend more time together, and also his hopes that they can carve out a joint presenting career together.
A source says, “Working together has been something Michelle and Mark have been talking about for a long time and after agreeing to do The Real Games, Mark realised it could be a big mistake given he’d be cementing his image as a ‘reality star’ rather than detaching himself from that world. That’s something he wants to keep in the past so he can carve out his new career path with Michelle as a power couple.
“He and Michelle have also spent long chunks of time apart during their marriage, so he also turned it down to spend as much time as possible with her.
“He knew it wasn’t the most ideal situation, but he insisted it was better to let them know at the start than pulling out weeks down the line.
“He and Michelle had a lot of tense talks about it and she encouraged him to follow his heart, which he did. Mark really prides himself on being professional, so he’s gutted his sacrifice has backfired. He’s hoping his reputation can come back from this and it won’t affect any future projects. Mark’s made a sacrifice to spend more time with Michelle and to work on their new career, but that decision has backfired if ITV really has blacklisted him.”
Check out: a look back at Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan's relationship
Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan: A love story
1 of 34Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan meet
Mark and Michelle first met on holiday in Dubai at the end of 2012, and reportedly fell in love immediately. It was only a matter of days before they met up back in the UK for their first date.
2 of 34They walk seperately on the red carpet
At the National Television awards in early 2013, everyone knew they were seeing each other, but they'd never actually walked the red carpet together. And this awards ceremony was no different.
3 of 34Their first red carpet appearance
Finally! Marchelle (can we call them that?) confirmed their relationship on the red carpet at the British Soap awards in May 2013, and they looked totally gorgeous. Of course.
4 of 34Mark declares his love on Twitter
In June 2013, Mark declared his love for Michelle with a string of photobooth snaps he posted on Twitter, and captioned: "Forever."
5 of 34The engagement
Just nine months after they met, Mark popped the question to Michelle during another holiday in Dubai. Michelle tweeted: "THANK YOU for all the lovely messages, and yes it's true @markwright_ and I are engaged!! We are so SO happy :-) xxx". What followed was, as you'd imagine, loads of super cute insta snaps."I've got now, for the first time in my life, what I've always wanted and what every boy dreams of – affection in a relationship, love, best friend, a girl I fancy… everything rolled into one," Mark said at the time.
6 of 34The spat with the ex
As news of the proposal spread, Mark's ex Lauren Goodger who he was with for ten years from the age of 15, posted a message on Instagram:"I'm not going to be the girl you marry, but I'll be the girl you'll be thinking of 20 years from now while you engage in polite sex with your boring wife who fakes her orgasm to make you feel better about your receding hairline."
7 of 34The spat with the ex gets worse
Rather than just a few exchanges, the spat becomes full-on and pretty public, with Lauren speaking about her ex and his new fiancé in every magazine interview she did.Though Michelle kept a dignified silence, Mark spoke out against Lauren and begged her to leave them alone, on Twitter.Lauren then wrote in her column: "Frankly, it was embarrassing that those tweets were made when he was on his honeymoon and I was away with my boyfriend, having an amazing holiday".
8 of 34Mark's sister weighs in on the Lauren/Mark spat
Mark's sister, Jess, stood up for Michelle:"Lauren and Mark met when they were children. They were 15, they weren't even adults, and they had a kind of volatile, random relationship. With Michelle, Mark's besotted. He idolises, he respects her. He just loves her," she said.
9 of 34Mark and Michelle get married
Despite the shade from exes, Mark and Michelle tied the knot in a lavish ceremony surrounded by their famous family and friends in May last year.At the time, Mark was on Strictly Come Dancing, so he and his new wife performed a dance routine to Time of Your Life for their guests.
10 of 34The pair go on a honeymoon
It was a two hander, first in the Maldives, then in Dubai where they first met - and also, coincidentally, where ex Lauren Goodger also happened to be with her boyfriend.
11 of 34Michelle gets parts in BBC drama
Mark is really proud of his wife. He gushes about her on Instagram loads and makes us feel all warm and fuzzy.
12 of 34Mark is ‘upset’ after Michelle is linked to ‘Our Girl’ co star
During rehearsals for Our Girl, Michelle posted a snap of the cast together. Fans on Instagram commented on the fact that she had her hand on co-star Ben Aldridge's shoulder, and thought there may be something going on.Ignoring the fact that, if there was something going on, why would she post a pic of it on her Insta?!
13 of 34Mark says he cried when he saw Michelle on set
Having gone out to visit her for a few weeks while she was filming the drama over in South Africa, Mark said in an interview he burst into tears when he saw the scale of the show. "When I saw her on set with everyone around her it made me cry. I wasn't emotional, I was just so proud of her." he said. No, that doesn't sound emotional at all.
14 of 34Michelle doesn’t wear her wedding ring
In May 2016, while in South Africa, Michelle was spotted out and about without her wedding ring on numerous occasions, which caused major panic among fans.Thankfully, a couple of weeks later back in her Essex home, she was snapped wearing it again and the world birthed a sigh of relief. It has since emerged the 28-year-old left it in a safe in the UK while she was filming abroad because she was scared of losing it.
15 of 34The pair are still being cute on social media
Does this look like a man who has split up with his wife?
16 of 34Mark and Michelle are plagued by split rumors
After Our Girl, Michelle was then also away filming Tina and Bobby in Europe. A friend of the pair told The Sun:"It's been a turbulent first year and they've been apart much more than they've been together. Things between them are pretty volatile."When you add it up they're just not sharing time, a bed, meals, days out, or chilling together the way couples need to."
17 of 34Michelle doesn't wear her ring again
Michelle was also forced to shut down claims her marriage was over after fans questioned why she was stepping out without her wedding ring on again.The actress' rep confirmed, again, that Michelle removes her £20,000 ring for filming, saying: "Michelle is continuing to film the ITV series Tina and Bobby."As she's unable to wear her ring at work she will leave it at home on days which she has been filming."And Michelle responded to her critics online, hitting back with an explanation on Twitter."I work on camera so I take it off and put it somewhere safe… SIMPLE. Last night I went straight out after work… Hence the NO ring!!!" She wrote.
18 of 34Mark’s sister says Mark is sick of split rumours
Continuing to fend off the rumours, Mark explains: "I've been up and down the country and so has Michelle, so it'll be great when we finally get that time off – it's been a long time coming!"It comes as Jessica Wright hit out at critics of her brother's relationship during an appearance on Loose Women.Jess, who is extremely close to the happy couple, stuck up for Mark: "They're amazing and very happy and very in love. They're so sick of hearing the rumours."
19 of 34Michelle supports Mark
In June 2016, Michelle stood out in the cold to support Mark's charity football match, which slowed the rumour mill down a little more. There was also talk of Mark moving up north to be with Michelle while she finished filming Tina and Bobby.
20 of 34The pair go on holiday to Mallorca
Mark flew out to Mallorca to join her for a romantic break in August 2017 and the pair shared a string of romantic pictures together on Instagram.Paps also got a snap of the pair looking tense over dinner, but what couple doesn't have the odd bit of tension?!
21 of 34Mark speaks out against publications who say they'll split
The former TOWIE star has spoken out against a number of publications that have slandered the pair's relationship, telling the world they are stronger than ever.And for anyone who doesn't believe him - check out their candid photos on Instagram. Does this look like a couple on the brink of collapse? LONG LIVE MARCHELLE!
22 of 34Rumours about the pair having kids circulate
The pair attend the National Television Awards together at the 02, finally putting the rumours to bed.Rumours of the pair having children also circulated, with Michelle revealing that she's "thought about" having kids, but "not yet". We'd definitely love to see some mini Marks and Michelle's.
23 of 34Michelle Keegan's former opinion on her husband surfaced
Over the years a lot of celebrities' old tweets and comments have resurfaced and for Mark and Michelle it's no different. When Mark was on TOWIE, Michelle wrote about the reality star in her magazine column which was titled 'Tut Tut, Mark!'.In her piece she wrote: "I love TOWIE! It's one of those shows you don't want to watch, but just can't help turning on."I don't know how Lauren can take Mark back so easily, though - it's so cringe! I wouldn't be able to get back with someone who'd slept with lots of girls I knew, but that's just me."She then threw more shade at her now-husband.Awks!
24 of 34Mark responds to Michelle calling his relationship with Lauren Goodger 'cringe'
Two months after Michelle's column resurfaced, Mark finally responded to what she has said about his previous relationship with Lauren Goodger.He seemingly brushed off her previous commentsand said in an interview with Digital Spy: "I don't think she meant it like that. She meant it like the situation was cringey, rather than me being cringey."I didn't even know she'd said that until the other week, so I didn't have to win her around because I didn't think about it. She didn't say that to me, she was completely nice to me."N'aww.
25 of 34Lauren Goodger makes SHOCKING claims about Mark and Michelle's relationship
Just when we all thought all the Mark Wright/Lauren Goodger drama was over, she spoke out and claimed that her former fiancé was seeing her at the same time as his now-wife Michelle Keegan!A spokesperson for Mark "emphatically denied" the claims.
26 of 34Mark posts touching tribute to Michelle after living apart for EIGHT months
Mark proved that his marriage was strong after he shared a touching tribute to his wifeafter they lived apart for eight months.
27 of 34Mark and Michelle spend the new year together
The pair jetted to LA after Christmas in 2017 and spent the last few weeks posting loved up snaps together. Mark captioned: "Last sunset of 2017 stateside. Bring on 2018. Live, love, learn, grow, progress, stay healthy ud83dudc99 happy new year x"
28 of 34Mark and Michelle enjoy LA
Mark and Michelle seemed as happy as ever as they attended an ice hockey game in L.A. Talking to Now mag, Michelle said: "I've been spending some time in Los Angeles with Mark and it's so nice to have some time together."
29 of 34Mark is caught liking saucy pictures
The former TOWIE star came under fire after it was revealed that he'd been liking saucy pictures of other women on Instagram.An insider told Closer magazine that Michelle was "furious" when she heard, adding that she "can't help feeling insecure when they're apart."Even TOWIE's Chloe Sims defended the Our Girl star.
30 of 34Mark gets riled over Michelle questions on GMB
Mark made it clear that despite having a long distance relationship, his marriage to Michelle was his top priority. He explained on Good Morning Britain: "In five years when maybe we've got a family, we might not be so flexible in travelling the globe and trying to conquer our dreams so right now we just make sure we see each other as much as we can."Nothing's forever and if it ever wasn't working, I'm an eleven hour plane home and I would fly home. That's what's first, my marriage is first."
31 of 34Michelle Keegan opens up about ‘difficult’ long-distance marriage to Mark Wright
The former Corrie star admitted in an interview that she can spend up to six weeks apart from her husband, before opening up about the difficulties faced in a long-distance marriage.
32 of 34Is Michelle Keegan pregnant?
Speculation on whether Michelle Keegan is pregnant or nothas been going on since she first married her husband and three years on it's no different.Just before their third wedding anniversary insiders revealed to Closer magazine that the former Corrie star was left frustrated after Mark's family asked about her plans to move to LA and start a family.Eek!It's unsure whether Michelle will move out to her husband, although she did say on Lorraine: "I always say I wouldn't move out there to LA. But you know what, I don't know. I love living in the UK."
33 of 34Is Michelle Keegan feel the strain
Tensions mount for the couple astheir long distance relationship becomes too much to bare, with a source telling The Sun, "Neither of them could stand being apart from each other much longer, and Mark seemed to be suffering more as he was also away from his family who he's very close to."
34 of 34Mark Wright returns to the UK
Hurrah! Mark Wrightfinally officially moves back to the UK to be with his wife and take on work commitments closer to home.Meanwhile, Michelle warns friends and family NOT to pressure her into getting pregnantnow that Mark is back on home soil.
Since leaving TOWIE in 2011 – which charted his rocky on/off relationship with former fiancée, Lauren Goodger – Mark has gone onto forge a successful presenting career, hosting a string of radio and prime time TV shows including Take Me Out’s spin-off programme, Surprise Surprise, The Bachelor and This Morning and continuing to dip his toe in the reality show world with stints on Strictly and I’m A Celeb!.
In 2017, he landed a high-profile role in America with entertainment news show, Extra, which he quit in 2020 to spend more time at home with Michelle amid reports the long distance put strain on their relationship.
Meanwhile, former Corrie star Michelle has become one of the UK’s biggest actresses since leaving the ITV soap in 2013 – starring in multiple critically acclaimed shows, including Ordinary Lies, Our Girl and Brassic. In stark contrast to her serious dramatic roles, it was recently announced that she will make her debut as a TV judge on BBC Three’s RuPaul’s Drag Race.
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And while Michelle’s latest gig may come as a surprise to her fans, insiders say her shift in career direction has been sparked by her and Mark’s latest career ambitions.
The source says, “Michelle is also trying to break away from the roles she’s been typecast as and wants to show off more of her personality – something she rarely gets to do apart from in the odd interview.
“She hopes that fans will get to see a different side to her on the show and she’ll gain popularity for who she really is rather than the characters she plays, which will in turn help her develop a hosting career alongside Mark so they can gain a loyal fanbase together.”
The couple – who wed in 2015 – have been keeping fans updated with the renovations of their £3.5m Essex mansion, which will include a swimming pool, gym, bar and an annexe.
The insider adds, “They are moving into their new home and, after years of long distance, they want to make the most of being together as much as possible – and that means home and work.”
While Michelle has enjoyed sharing their home renovation journey on social media, she’s previously opened up about her mission to keep her relationship private. Hinting at multiple reports of marriage troubles in the past, she added, “Over the years we’ve opened ourselves up to a lot of criticism, so it’s nice to have something just for us.”
While she’s still intent on keeping their relationship private, pals say she’s excited about being able to work alongside Mark and share their chemistry with their fans, which they rarely get to see.
The source adds, “Michelle still loves acting and that’s her main passion, but she loves the idea of presenting too – and even better being able to work with Mark and enjoy being on-screen with him.
“They’ve spent the first few years of their marriage with long chunks of time apart, so they’ve decided to start putting their marriage first and exploring opportunities to work together and merge the things they both love.
“They’re in talks about presenting a dating show, which Michelle loves the idea of, as well as pitching ideas for their own programmes to the likes of Netflix, so while nothing is set in stone yet, they’re really excited about the future and this next chapter in their marriage.”
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Expert: ‘The TV industry is very competitive and unforgiving’
TV insider and presenter Nick Ede tells Closer that Mark has taken a risk by pulling out of The Real Games. He says, “The TV world is very competitive, cut-throat and unforgiving. If you’re reliable and talented, you will be liked and recommended among the TV bosses, but if you’re difficult and flaky you just won’t get rebooked and you’ll have a bad reputation. You can afford to turn things down or make mistakes when you are TV gold, but Mark just isn’t that yet, so it was a real gamble for him. I imagine ITV wasn’t happy with him, and that will impact any future opportunities.
“Mark has been open about wanting to move away from his reality TV background and carve himself out a career as a host. But that sort of thing doesn’t just happen overnight. A show like The Real Games would have been perfect for him – he could have showcased his personality, reminded the public why they fell in love with him and raise his profile. Being a contestant on one of these shows is no bad thing! Look at stars like Denise Van Outen, who is an amazing TV presenter, but has also starred on The Circle and Celebrity Gogglebox. And those shows did things great for her career. Same with the likes of AJ Odudu and Ulrika Jonsson – she starred on Celebs Go Dating recently, and her popularity grew.
“Michelle’s established herself as a really credible actress, but I’m not sure she’s TV host material. And if she and Mark want to become the next hosting duo, Mark will need to ensure he is reliable and polite, in order to improve his reputation.”