How Michelle Keegan & Mark Wright overcame ‘crisis talks’ & ‘toughest moment’ as notoriously private pair share baby joy
WHETHER they were batting off pregnancy questions or going through rumoured 'crisis talks', Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan have overcome a lot before announcing they're expecting a baby.
The couple - who have been married for nine years - shared a touching post on social media yesterday, announcing the happy news that Michelle, 37, is pregnant.
Michelle and Mark, also 37, posted on Instagram with a photo of the former Coronation Street actress cradling her growing baby bump on the beach.
The Brassic star, dressed in a chic white outfit with an off-the-shoulder jumper and matching skirt, couldn’t stop smiling as Mark walked towards her, wearing a coordinated outfit.
They captioned the post: "2025 is going to be a special one for us…"
Here, we take a look inside the notoriously private couple’s relationship - from their 'toughest moment' to battling ‘sexist baby questions’.
Read more on Michelle Keegan
‘Sexist' baby questions
Over the years the pair, who met on the showbiz circuit after both rising to fame as TV stars, have fielded questions about having children - but have made no secret about wanting a large family.
While in 2019, Mark told The Sun: "We say we're going to try [for a baby] every year but something comes up with work. So it'll be Michelle filming in South Africa and then I got the job in Los Angeles – so we think, right, we'll try next year."
However, Michelle in particular, has been hit with constant ‘sexist’ questions about when the pair would start a family.
Earlier this year, she said: “It’s horrible. People don’t know if we’re trying.
";They don’t know the background of what’s happening.
“In this day and age, you shouldn’t be asking questions like that. I’m asked purely because I’m a woman.
“But I’m immune to it now – it’s like a reaction, and as soon as I hear it I brush it off as it’s no one else’s business.”
‘Crisis talks’
The couple, who live in a dream £3.5million mansion with five bedrooms, a state-of-the-art gym, a cinema room and an outdoor pool, have faced ‘crisis talk’ rumours too.
Ever since the private couple tied the knot at St Mary’s Church in Bury St Edmunds in 2015, the pair have been inundated with work.
Michelle’s acting career has taken her all over the world, while Mark has been busy with his role as a presenter on Heart FM, as well as various fitness initiatives and a spell hosting red carpets in Hollywood.
Earlier this year, the couple, who reportedly fell in love immediately, packed on the PDA as they soaked up the sun on Sydney’s Bondi Beach whilst Michelle enjoyed a break from filming her second series of Ten Pound Poms.
Mark Wright's career timeline
Since rising to fame over a decade ago as a reality TV star, popular personality Mark Wright has gone on to enjoy a successful career.
- The Only Way is Essex (2010-2011, regular): Mark was an original Towie cast member from its October 2010 launch and spanning series 1-3. He left the programme in 2011 but has returned for a handful of cameos.
- I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here (2011): After leaving Towie, Mark signed up for the famed ITV jungle. He finished in second place behind McFly star Dougie Poynter.
- Heart (2012-2017; 2019 - present): Mark first joined radio station Heart in 2012, leaving five years later to pursue work in the United States. He made a return to the station in July 2019.
- Strictly Come Dancing (2014): The star took to the Strictly ballroom in 2014, finishing fourth behind Caroline Flack, Simon Webbe and Frankie Bridge.
- The Dengineers (2015-2017): Mark was a co-presenter of the children's programme for its first two series. After his departure, later hosts have included Joe Swash and Meryl Fernandes.
- Extra (2017-2020): Mark was an entertainment reporter for this US outlet for three years.
- The Bachelor UK (2019): A revived UK iteration of the popular American dating show. Mark's version of the programme aired on Channel 5.
- The Challenge UK (2023): Another UK rendition of an American format, this aired on Channel 5 in February 2023.
- Clean It, Fix It (2024 - present): Mark has joined the popular BBC daytime show from its fourth series onwards.
But trolls were quick to rain on their parade - labelling the former Towie star, “Mark No Job Wright” and accusing him of “keeping his meal ticket sweet”, after his actress wife, had been tipped to land Hollywood fame amid the huge success of her recent Netflix drama, Fool Me Once.
They’ve both made a vow that as long as they continue to put each other first, nothing else matters
Source
“He’s immensely proud and supportive of Michelle, but it does hurt when the haters come out in full force and belittle him.
“Michelle is conscious of Mark feeling in any way inferior to her or demasculinised, and seeing how affected he was by the cruel jibes sparked a deep heart-to-heart and, in a way, made them stronger.”
The source also claimed that the couple’s differing career trajectories had been a tense topic for them and added: “Michelle has reassured Mark that these people are just bitter and don’t know the ins and outs of their relationship or what’s going on behind the scenes.
“While Mark and her marriage will obviously always be Michelle’s number one priority, her career is also extremely important to her and she’s keen to ride the wave of success that’s come after Fool Me Once.
"She’d love to conquer Hollywood at some point, and would love it if there were an opportunity there for Mark too.
“Being in Australia has given them time to really talk about their future, and they’ve both made a vow that as long as they continue to put each other first, nothing else matters.”
‘Long distance love’ and their ‘toughest moment’
Due to their work commitments, Michelle and Mark have been long distance many times before.
And Michelle shared the secret to getting through, as she said on The Jonathan Ross Show: "People said 'how did you deal with it' and stuff. Thank God for FaceTime and things like that.”
She then added: "You're on a countdown the whole time to just get home. I had six months off when I went home, so I went to America."
We are based down south but if we travel, we go with each other and I think that really works for us
Michelle Keegan
The couple, who have been married for almost 10 years and recently launched their new sportswear brand Aytee7, also spoke about how their busy schedules can be "really tough".
Of Michelle's possible new opportunities, a source told "Heading to America would mean they’d be apart and they’ve already spent a lot of their marriage across the pond when Mark moved over for his job [on entertainment show Extra].
"This would mean another parting for them and it would be tough, no matter how supportive Mark is of her.”
But to get through the toughest moments, travelling together where they can is key.
Michelle, who's from Stockport, Greater Manchester, told Fearne Cotton's Happy Place podcast: “I think we are really lucky where if I go up north, he comes with me if he can and same when I go down south.
"We are based down south but if we travel, we go with each other and I think that really works for us."
‘A bit boring now'
Despite travelling for work and living in a luxe mansion, the Fool Me Once star gave fans a glimpse into their private life, revealing that their once late-night outings have now been replaced with earlier evenings that are "a bit more boring".
Michelle previously revealed: "I'm happy to have a night on the sofa with our dogs watching TV and relaxing.
"But we do still like to get dressed up and go out for dinner.
Michelle Keegan's career so far
Since making her on-screen debut in 2007, actress Michelle Keegan has wowed audiences in a variety of roles.
Here is a look back at some of her biggest career moments.
- Coronation Street: Michelle began playing barmaid Tina McIntyre on Corrie in 2008. Throughout her stint, her character dated the likes of David Platt (Jack P. Shepherd) and Jason Grimshaw (Ryan Thomas). Tina was written out of the soap in 2014, after she was killed by Rob Donovan (Marc Baylis).
- Ordinary Lies: In a major post-Coronation Street role, Michelle starred in the first series of this BBC drama. Set in a car showroom, it followed the employees' dark secrets. Her character, Tracy, was involved with drug trafficking.
- Our Girl: Michelle played Georgie Lane, the main character in this BBC military drama from series two to four. Created by Tony Grounds, Michelle starred in the series from 2016 to 2020.
- Tina and Bobby: Based on the relationship between Bobby Moore and his first wife Tina Dean, this three part series aired in 2017. Lorne MacFadyen starred in the role of Bobby, opposite Michelle as Tina.
- Brassic: Created by Joe Gilgun and Danny Brocklehurst, this comedy crime-drama follows the lives of Vinnie O'Neill and his friends living in Hawley, a fictional town. Michelle plays the open-minded and fiery Erin Croft.
- Ten Pound Poms: First airing on ITV in 2023, this historical drama depicts Brits moving to Australia after the Second World War, in search of a better life. Michelle plays the role of Kate Thorne in this series.
- Fool Me Once: Debuting in January 2024, Michelle portrays Maya, a woman who, after her husband's murder, installs a nanny cam to watch over her young daughter. However, she sees her seemingly murdered husband in the footage, visiting their daughter.
"In the old days, we'd go out for dinner and drinks until the early hours."
However, things have now changed as she humorously remarked: "But now, after dinner, I'll look at my watch and say, 'It's 9:30pm, we'd better get back home for bedtime! It's a bit more boring now!"
The pair live in Essex, round the corner from Mark's beloved family and fellow Towie stars including Jess Wright and mum Carol.
‘Best friends’ and their ‘Notebook’ romance
Whilst their romance, which initially started 12 years ago, might be ‘a bit boring’ now, according to the brunette beauty, being ‘best friends’ is the key to their strong relationship.
When asked what makes her and Mark so compatible, Michelle told Fearne Cotton's Happy Place podcast: "I think just being best friends. I think just being friends and having that relationship.”
Not only are the couple best pals, but Mark has even gone as far to compare his relationship with Michelle to the epic romance between Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams' characters in love story, The Notebook.
I remember watching The Notebook, and I honestly feel like what Noah has got, I've got
Mark Wright
Speaking to the , Mark previously revealed: “Every single thing you imagine and you dream about falling in love with someone, I've got now.
“I remember watching The Notebook, and I honestly feel like what Noah has got, I've got.'”
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And keeping the spark alive is key for these TV stars, as Michelle previously told : “I was filming in Australia and hadn't seen the house for months. And when I walked in, Mark had lit all the candles and… I couldn't speak for five minutes. He was like, "What do you think?"
“I couldn't find the words to say how I felt, because I was so overwhelmed. I just burst out crying. It still gets me emotional. Because we've worked really hard for it. We've had to make a lot of sacrifices.”