As Mark Wright heads home to the UK, sources say Michelle Keegan isn't ready for babies just yet
He insisted in December that he had no plans to quit his presenting gig with US show Extra but, last week, Mark Wright appeared to make a dramatic U-turn when he confirmed he had left the LA-based show and was set to return home to Essex to be with his wife, Michelle Keegan.
The couple have had a long- distance romance since 2017 – when Mark jetted out to the States for his presenting role while Michelle filmed around the world for eight months for Our Girl. But as Mark returns home, Michelle is due to fly to South Africa for four months in April to shoot for a new series of the BBC drama.
And sources say the former Coronation Street star can’t help but feel guilt for encouraging him to give up his dream role and has told pals she worries she’ll now be put under pressure by his family to start thinking about a baby.
CHECK OUT stars who ARE expecting a baby in 2019
Pregnant Celebs 2019 Closer - SLIDER & STACKED USE THIS ONE
1 of 16Marnie Simpson and Casey Johnson
Marnie Simpson announced she was pregnant with her first child with boyfriend Casey Johnson in April, after fearing she was infertile.
2 of 16Gemma Atkinson and Gorka Marquez
Strictly Come Dancing love birds Gorka Marquez and Gemma Atkinson announced their pregnancy with an adorable instagram snap of their two pups Norman and Ollie with signs around their necks saying "Guess what... Mum's pregnant! We're going to be big brothers!"Aww!
3 of 16Jess Hayes and Dan Lawry
Love Island winner Jess Hayes announced she's pregnant with her first child with Dan Lawry, and the happy couple are expecting in July.
4 of 16Myleene Klass and Simon Motson
Former Hear'Say singer and TV presenter Myleene Klass has announced that she is pregnant with her third child.Myleene, 40, revealed the happy news on Instagram on Valentines Day with an adorable photo of her baby bump with the simple caption '❤ufe0f'.This will be Myleene's third child but her first with her partner Simon Motson. Myleene already has daughters, Ava, 11 and Hero, 7.
5 of 16Hayley Tamaddon
Actress Hayley Tamaddon, who's starred in Emmerdale and Corrie, announced she's expecting her first child - age 42!"I'm so pleased to tell you all... I'm expecting my first child with my wonderful boyfriend Adrian!!" she said. "I've always wanted to be a mum and didn't think I could have children. And now, at the ripe old age of 42 - I'M PREGNANT! And We couldn't be happier. "
6 of 16Chloe Lewis
Chloe Lewis announced her pregnancy with boyfriend Danny Flasher in May, with a v. cute Instagram post.
7 of 16Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev
Strictly Come Dancing lovers Rachel Riley and Pasha Kovalev announced they'd be having their first child in May.
8 of 16Julia Goudling and Ben Silver
Congrats are in order for Coronation Street actor Julia Goulding and her husband Ben Silver who are expecting their first child – just three months after getting married.
9 of 16Hannah Elizabeth
Original Love Islander Hannah Elizabeth has been celebrating her pregnancy with some very racy lingerie snaps. She made her announcement in May.
10 of 16Malia Arkian
Most famous for getting ejected from the Love Island villa just HOURS after arriving in 2016, Malia Arkian announced in June that she was expecting her first child with, and was engaged to, her footballer boyfriend Hope Akpan.
11 of 16Helen Briggs and Chet Johnson
One of the only successful couples to have come from Ex on the Beach, Helen Briggs and Chet Johnson, have announced their first pregnancy with a really gorgeous snap on Instagram. "Half me, half you," wrote Helen, alongside the post.
12 of 16Anna Willamson and Alex Di Pasquale
Anna Williamson announced her second pregnancy with husband Alex Di Pasquale with a gorgeous cover shoot with OK! magazine. "I'm not getting any younger, so when we discovered I was pregnant, we were so pleased," she said.
13 of 16Jeremy McConnell and Katie McCreath
Jeremy McConnell's girlfriend Katie McCreath confirmed she's expecting their first child together (and Jeremy's second) a week after Jeremy made his own announcement on Instagramwhich he then claimed was "a prank".
14 of 16Joe Wicks and Rosie Jones
Joe Wicks announced he was expecting his second child with wife Rosie Jones with a lovely family snap on Instagram which showed off Rosie's 19-week bump. "We are very happy and excited to grow our family," he said.
15 of 16Jeremy Kyle and Vicky Burton
Jeremy Kyle announced he was going to be a dad again in August, to his first child with girlfriend Vicky Burton, following the axing of his daytime TV show.
16 of 16Aaron announced he was expecting his first child with girlfriend Talia Oatway, with some beautiful family portraits of them together along with Talia's daughter, who Aaron's played step-dad to since they got together two years ago. The shock announcement came just days after reports the couple had split as they unfollowed each other on social media.
Aaron announced he was expecting his first child with girlfriend Talia Oatway, with some beautiful family portraits of them together along with Talia's daughter, who Aaron's played step-dad to since they got together two years ago.The shock announcement came just days after reports the couple had split as they unfollowed each other on social media.
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A source says, “Michelle didn’t like being apart from Mark and she’s excited about his return, but she’s still feeling guilty that he’s leaving his dream job.
"Mark said he was ready to come home and focus on their marriage. He doesn’t mind that she’s got a four month shoot in South Africa as he says he’ll be able to visit her more often with his work schedule freed up a bit.
"But Michelle also thinks that once they’re back living in the same country permanently, the baby questions from his family are going to start rolling in. She’s even told pals she reckons they’ll be bending his ear about having children while she’s away in South Africa. Michelle has always said she wants a baby but only when she and Mark are ready.”
Closer previously reported how Michelle felt put under pressure from Mark’s family – particularly mum Carol – to have a baby when she attended a hen do for his brother Josh’s now-wife Holly last summer.
Carol has been open about her eagerness for grandkids, once saying, “I will be [a grandmother] soon, I’m sure. And they reckon they come like buses, so I know that’s going to happen to me.”
But Michelle has previously said their conflicting schedules made it too unrealistic – insisting recently, “We’ve not planned anything and realistically nothing can happen right now because I’m too busy” – and sources say she doesn’t want to have to keep justifying herself.
The source says, “Michelle is really ambitious and she still has a lot she wants to achieve in her career – she isn’t quite ready to step back and live a quiet life with Mark at home.
"She still wants a few more years of pursuing her dreams around the acting world. Mark is really understanding but he does feel pressure from his family. She wants to be a mum someday but she doesn’t want to feel rushed or guilted into it to live up to other people's expectations."
Read even more about Mark and Michelle in this week's Closer magazine - out now.