Mark Wright tells Michelle Keegan he’s quitting the UK
It could be bye-bye Brentwood for good
He ditched Essex for LA last year, and while we always thought Mark Wright wouldn’t be able to resist the lure of Sugar Hut for too long, we’re now hearing that’s not the case. Friends tell us the TV presenter is resolutely not looking to come home any time soon – even though wife Michelle Keegan has other plans. “Mark is so settled in LA, and while he’ll always love Essex, he just can’t see his future there any more,” says our insider.
The 31 year old moved to the US last September after getting a job as a reporter on entertainment news show Extra, and has revelled in his success ever since. In contrast, his stint on TOWIE made him famous for all the wrong reasons in his home country, and his presenting career never really took off.
Our source says, “Mark’s really been a hit in the States. He’s taken seriously – he would never get that in the UK, so he feels there’s no point in coming back. He loves the LA lifestyle and weather – he feels so much more relaxed over there. He says it feels like home now.”
Recently, his wife of three years publicly said that she would never move to the US – but we’re told Mark is having none of it. “When Michelle said that, Mark was gutted at first, but as time’s gone on, he seems to have gotten more and more angry, as he misses her,” the insider says.
Recently the couple have spent some time together – although, notably, Mark has only been in the UK for work. The couple were together in Manchester where Michelle was watching Mark play at Soccer Aid. Previously, Mark has said that if Michelle really wanted to stay in the UK, he would move back, but according to our source, it now looks unlikely. “He thinks LA is a great place to raise a family and sees himself being there long-term, so he and Michelle have a lot to sort out,” we’re told.
“He’s the happiest he’s ever been and he worries that – if Michelle insisted on him moving back – he could end up resenting her.”
Mark is reportedly about to renew his contract with Extra, which would see him committing to living in LA for another 15 months. Michelle has often dismissed rumours their long-distance relationship puts a strain on their marriage, saying that she “just stays positive”, but our source says, “There’s no way Mark is coming home, so it’s made him wonder how they will have a family or a normal married life.
“It’s tough, but they’re determined to make it work.”
‘There’s no way Mark’s coming back to the UK’