WILL MARK & MICHELLE EVER ESCAPE LAUREN?
● Lauren Goodger brags about her sex life with ex Mark Wright ● Pals claim Mark’s wife, Michelle Keegan, has demanded a showdown ● Friends fear Lauren will never stop trying to get her revenge
She’s the girlfriend who’s haunted him ever since their turbulent 10-year romance came to a bitter end in 2011, when Lauren Goodger and Mark Wright called- off their engagement after accusing each other of cheating.
While Mark, 32, has gone on to find happiness with wife Michelle Keegan, Lauren, also 32, has continued to bear the brunt of car- crash relationships – ending her last romance with jailbird Joey Morrison last year and repeatedly telling fans she’s desperate to settle down.
After Lauren – who last week confirmed she was still friends with Joey and was spotted enjoying a night out with the criminal and mutual pals – opened up about her sex life with The Bachelor host last week, claiming it’s what kept them together and that they had an “obsession” with one another, pals say it’s pushed Michelle, 31, to ask Mark to silence his ex once and for all. Lauren said, “He was obsessed with me and I was obsessed with him. Sex keeps you together as well.”
A source says, “Michelle went through a range of emotions when she read Lauren’s words – going from feeling stung and hurt to feeling frustrated at the fact Lauren is still managing to be in their lives. Mark was angry too, but he urged Michelle to just ignore it, which caused tension. She said she can’t continue to worry about what Lauren will say next and that it was time he put an end to her constant remarks.”
EMBARRASSING
It’s not the first time Lauren’s dragged up the past. She sparked a war with Mark after posting an Instagram message about lost love on the eve of his wedding in 2015, before jetting to the Middle East where the newlyweds were honeymooning.
Mark reacted furiously on Twitter, writing, “Endless mentions re: me and us is embarrassing. I really thought after lawyers being involved and polite pleas to stop mentioning me she would stop. Maybe not. It’s hurtful to think one person needs to mention YOU every week to earn a living.”
At the time, Closer’s sources alleged Michelle had dictated the post. This came shortly after Lauren posted a screen shot of a text she’d received from automated question and answer service Bongo, saying she’d made the “Wright choice over Mark.” Mark responded, dubbing it “ridiculous.”
Now pals say the Our Girl actress wants to meet Lauren face-to-face in a bid to put an end to the drama for good.
The source says, “Michelle wants to talk to Lauren in private and get to the root of why she’s so intent on continuing to twist the knife. She hopes that by talking to her without Mark, she’ll be able to see how hurtful it is.
“She thinks a face-to-face showdown is the only way to get Lauren out of their lives, so she’s asked Mark to reach out through a mutual pal. He doesn’t like the idea and has warned her it could antagonise things. He worries they’ll never escape Lauren.”
Also in her interview, Lauren revealed she’d run into the couple near their homes, saying, “I bumped into him the other day. I didn’t realise it was him. I saw his body and thought, ‘I know that body.’ But it was a lot smaller. I looked and smiled and Michelle was there as well, but it isn’t like that… I’d happily say hello, but he sort of went… It was fine. It was like they didn’t even know me.”
Friends say Manchesterborn Michelle – who’s been living in Essex since she wed the TV host – has asked Mark to consider moving up north to get some distance from Lauren, despite only recently moving back home after his two-year presenting stint in LA.
The source says, “Michelle can’t stand knowing Lauren lives so close by and the fear they could bump into her at any time, but Mark says he refuses to be pushed out their own home because of a bitter ex.”
TORMENT
Meanwhile, insiders tell Closer how Lauren – who also revealed last week her regret over wasting two-and-a-half years of her life visiting Joey in prison – is hooked on stirring-up drama to create headlines.
The source adds, “Lauren’s bored and is always looking for her next fix of drama, especially when she’s single and hasn’t got a man to focus on. She thinks it’s fair game that she speaks about her ex – they shot to fame on a reality show that focused on their romance. She loves the thought of still being able to get to Mark and says it’s her revenge after the years of heartbreak and torment he put her through.”