Michelle tells Mark: “We still need to work on our marriage”
Under increasing pressure, Michelle Keegan warns Mark she doesn’t want a ‘showmance’
Their year-long T marriage has been dogged by rumours of infighting, tension and a possible split – but there are signs the tide may have turned after Mark Wright proudly announced his wife Michelle Keegan’s new TV role and praised her sandwich-making skills!
He posted a photograph on his Instagram of a BLT sandwich that Michelle, 29, made last week, saying: “The missus don’t mess about when it comes to BLTS.”
And when the news was announced that she has landed the role of footballer Bobby Moore’s glamorous wife Tina in a new ITV drama, he proudly Tweeted: “The cat is out the bag and I am over the moon. My wife is playing the wife to my all time hero Bobby Moore in a new drama for @ITV #buzzing.”
under strain
However, despite this show of domestic bliss, sources close to the couple – who were once famed for their loved-up selfies – say that the situation is still difficult behind closed doors.
The pair’s marriage is said to have come under strain during Michelle’s two-month stint filming Our Girl in South Africa, and was hit by rumours that Mark, 29, is keen to start a family, whereas Michelle wants to wait for a few years.
A source says: “Things have still been tense between Michelle and Mark since she returned from filming My Girl. Mark feels like he’s treading on eggshells and isn’t being his usual bubbly self. She’s found it tough to readjust to life with Mark after spending so much time away on set.
“Mark arranged a date night recently at Michelle’s favourite restaurant in a bid to start spending more time together, but they ended up arguing over the same issues about where they should live and starting a family.”
putting on a front
The former Corrrie star was also reportedly fuming over pictures of Mark flirting with a blonde bikini-clad model in Las Vegas last month.
And pals say that while Mark, who attended an ITV party alone last week, is eager for them to be seen out more together and to go back to posting loved-up selfies, Michelle is less keen.
In March, Mark Tweeted then deleted a gushing post about falling in love with Michelle, which read: “Never give up on what you want.”
A source says: “Michelle told Mark she’s not prepared to be part of a ‘showmance.’ If they’re not feeling loved-up naturally, she doesn’t want to post cheesy pics. She wants them to work on their relationship behind closed doors, instead of putting on a front.”
The source adds: “Mark’s been desperate to post a new snap of them together, but last week he had to post an old one of them together. The trouble is Michelle believes it makes their situation look desperate.”
Now sources are hoping the pair, who have also talked about moving to LA in a bid for a fresh start, can finally move on.
A source says: “They are trying to make it work, but things are still tough. Michelle can’t help feeling anxious about her future with Mark; she’s told him they still need to work on their marriage.”