Mark Wright and James 'Arg' Argent gained overnight fame on TOWIE in 2010, becoming firm favourites with fans as their close friendship played out on screen.
And now, an insider says that Arg is hoping to follow in best friend Mark’s footsteps by becoming a father this year.
After Mark and wife Michelle Keegan announced their pregnancy news in December, a source close to Arg reveals that he would love to start a family with girlfriend Nicoline Artursson.
The insider says, ‘Mark and Michelle are over the moon after Arg broke the news that he and Nicoline would like to try for a baby. Arg told pals they were hoping to conceive soon – even revealing that they’ve been looking at family homes as they contemplate moving out of Arg’s bachelor pad.’
The source continues, ‘Mark’s always thought it would be great to become a dad at the same time as his childhood best mate, and while Arg may be a few months behind, he’s excited to embark on the fatherhood journey with his best bud. Michelle gets on with Nicoline really well and has enjoyed getting to know her better since she moved in with Arg, so she’s also excited at the prospect of having someone she can go through the new mum experience with – especially given most of her best friends live in the north.’
Mark, 38, and Arg, 37, were original cast members on TOWIE, dominating several of the major story lines thanks to their turbulent romantic lives. As viewers watched the demise of Mark’s decade-long, on/off relationship with Lauren Goodger and his subsequent dalliances with the likes of Sam Faiers and Lucy Mecklenburgh, Arg meanwhile had rocky romances with Lydia Bright and Gemma Collins. In one explosive scene on the ITVBe show, it unravelled that Arg had slept with both of his former flames within hours on the same holiday in Marbella.
But both men have gone on to fulfil their happily ever afters, with Mark tying the knot with Fool Me Once star Michelle, 37, in 2015, and Arg finding love with former Miss Sweden Nicoline, 32, last July.
In a recent interview, the loved-up pair opened up about their future plans, with Arg admitting, ‘We’d both love to have a family one day, absolutely.’ Nicoline added, ‘That’s one thing I love about James. He’s very family-oriented. Our families are so similar.’
And now, a source tells Closer that after spending time with Mark and Michelle – who revealed their pregnancy on Instagram with the caption ‘2025 is going to be a special one for us’ – Arg and Nicoline are thinking even deeper about their own milestones.
The insider says, ‘Arg and Nic went round to Mark and Michelle’s for dinner after Christmas and they were getting even more excited about the idea of starting a family after seeing their gorgeous nursery and seeing their excitement.
‘Arg is also keen to pop the question at some point this year, and has planned to formally ask Nicoline’s dad for his permission.’
Since quitting TOWIE in 2011, Mark has carved out a career in entertainment and fitness, currently presenting on the radio and promoting a healthy lifestyle via his Live Wright platform. Meanwhile, Arg left TOWIE after eight years in 2018 but continued to build his reality TV credentials, before focusing on his singing career with The Arg Band.
Despite their careers taking different directions, the best pals have always been there for each other’s highs and lows. Arg has been candid about Mark’s unwavering support during his well-publicised battle with substance abuse, revealing on This Morning in May 2020, ‘Mark is my best friend. He’s always been there through my ups and downs. He has always given me tough love. Throughout the whole of December, he was begging me to go into rehab, but I had given up hope and didn’t want to stop. I rang him up on Boxing Day and said, “I can’t do this anymore”. He went out of his way to get me into a rehab in Thailand and helped me with the financial side of things. I am forever grateful.’
And now, a source says that Mark and Arg are excited about the prospect of their careers crossing over again.
‘Mark has told Arg they could start a podcast for new dads and assured him that after everything he’s overcome, this would be the making of him,’ the insider says. ‘Mark loves the idea of their kids growing up like twins and joked that they’ll be stirring up trouble on TOWIE in 20 years.
‘Arg is the happiest he’s ever been and the thought of becoming a dad and getting to do it alongside Mark is the icing on the cake.’