Michelle’s fury as Lauren refuses to move away from the Wrights
Michelle Keegan is upset by Mark Wright’s ex Lauren Goodger’s constant wish to be close to him and his family
❛ SHE FEELS LAUREN ONLY DOES THESE THINGS TO TRY TO UPSET THEM ❜
They celebrated their four-year anniversary earlier this year – but Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan are still seemingly unable to escape the shadow of his ex-fiancée Lauren Goodger, who has repeatedly spoken publicly about him since their split in 2011.
Rather than fading into the background, Lauren, 33, is apparently intent on ensuring she’s still on their radar – by recently moving into a new £1 million home, reportedly near to a luxury block of apartments in Chigwell, Essex, that are owned and have been renovated by Mark.
Although Mark and Michelle, both 32, don’t live in the block, his sister Jess, 34, does. Mark’s best mate James “Arg” Argent has also bought a house close by. Closer recently revealed that Michelle was riled by Lauren reigniting her friendship with Arg, 31 – even flying to Majorca last month to support him at his music gig.
A source says, “Michelle is furious that Lauren is intent on being in that area, as she’s not far from where her sister-in-law Jess lives. Jess and Michelle are really good friends, so this has just made it a problem for when she wants to visit. The last thing Michelle wants is to run into Mark’s ex and she’s worried about bumping into her and it being awkward.”
During their stormy 10-year relationship, Lauren – who has a difficult relationship with her own parents – grew close to Mark’s family, particularly Jess, although they fell out shortly after the couple broke up for the final time.
BAFFLED
The source continues, “Michelle is baffled as to why Lauren would even want to carry on living so near to her ex’s family or be matey with his friends, and why she wouldn’t move to a new area to start her life again. They split up eight years ago and Michelle really doesn’t understand why she can’t just leave them alone.”
To make matters worse, the home she shares with Mark is in the same neighbourhood as Lauren. Insiders say the couple were forced to change gyms after Lauren recently told Closer that she had seen them during a workout and felt their relationship was “really odd” as they didn’t appear to speak to each other.
The source adds, “She sometimes feels Lauren only does these things with the purpose of trying to upset
them. Michelle and Mark have a lovely home and a wonderful life together, but she can’t help feeling that Lauren is a dark cloud hovering over them.”
Earlier this year, Lauren – who this month treated her Instagram followers to a peek inside her new home – claimed Mark and Michelle had “blanked her” when she smiled at them as they passed her in the street. They were later said to be “fuming” when she bragged about her and Mark’s sex life, and how they were “obsessed” with each other.
Now Mark – who revealed during his honeymoon in 2015 he’d had lawyers involved to try make Lauren stop talking about them – has apparently advised his family to avoid speaking to her when they see her.
AWKWARD
The source says, “With Lauren living in the same area as Mark’s family, she’s often bumping into Jess and his parents. He’s told them it would be best for everyone if they didn’t engage in conversation with her.”
But Lauren – who once claimed she was booted out of TOWIE hangout Sheesh because Mark was about to arrive with friends, which he denies – refuses to let the awkwardness get to her.
The source says, “Lauren doesn’t understand the problem. This area is her home too, and ever since she and Mark split, she feels like she’s been frozen out. Why is it up to him to decide that he can live there and she can’t?
“Mark’s always jetting around the world and he doesn’t hang around Essex as much any more, which is why Lauren thinks it’s ridiculous she should be exiled just because Mark doesn’t want her in her own home town.”