Mark Wright teams up with Saved By The Bell star Mario Lopez backstage in his new TV presenter role on US show Extra
MARK Wright was seen bonding with his new work colleague Mario Lopez backstage as they filmed US TV show Extra yesterday.
It's Mark's first week on the job as a showbiz reporter for the series and he already seems to be making friends on set.
The 30-year-old is on the show with Saved By The Bell star Mario, who played hunky AC Slater, and they have been pictured bonding on set.
The pair looked pally as they chatted backstage during breaks in filming and they were even seen having a good laugh together.
Mark, who was wearing double denim, looked happy and relaxed as he shared a joke with his new colleague.
The pair were impeccably groomed in smart shirts, slicked back hairstyles and big smiles.
Reality star Mark was seen on set after it was revealed he is being touted as "a soccer hero" and "international DJ" in a trailer for Extra.
Mario introduced him to US TV viewers this week by bigging up his achievements, calling him a "cover model" and "ninja warrior who swims with sharks".
Mark's stint on Strictly Come Dancing and even his yogurt adverts were mentioned in the clip, there was absolutely zero reference to his reality show origins in Essex.
Narrated by Extra frontman Mario, the effusive advert declares: "This season, Extra is bringing in a British import with three million Twitter followers and more than one million followers on Instagram."
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"Mark's one of the biggest stars in the UK," enthuses Mario.
"When he isn't globetrotting as an international DJ, Mark gets hearts racing as an in-demand cover-model, starring in commercials for everything from sports apparel to yogurt - bet he sold a lot of yogurt."
As footage of Mark playing at Soccer Aid 2016 rolled on screen, Mario said: "Mark is even a soccer hero, scoring this epic goal for England in an international charity tournament."
The ebullient trailer goes on to note: "He boxes, he dances - both of us competed on Dancing With The Stars - and he swims with sharks."
It also plays up his friendship with another UK export, James Corden, who describes Mark as "the man" at one point.
But among all that effervescent praise there was no room for any mention of Towie - the reality show that made Mark famous - his stint on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! or of his marriage to Michelle Keegan.
Wife Michelle is filming Our Girl but plans to join Mark in the US at the end of the year.
Mark found fame on The Only Way Is Essex before quitting in 2011, although he has made a handful of cameo appearances since then.
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He went on to finish runner-up on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! that same year, before landing a presenting role on Take Me Out: The Gossip.
A short-lived reality show called Mark Wright's Hollywood Nights followed, and another called Party Wright Around The World.
He finished in fourth place on Strictly Come Dancing in 2014.
Other work has included a hosting role on CBBC's The Dengineers, appearance in E! TV drama The Royals, and his own Heart Radio show.
He's also enjoyed a DJ residency at BH Mallorca, collaborated on a Littlewoods fashion campaign, and been the face of Oykos yogurt.
In 2016, Mark took part in the Soccer Aid football match for UNICEF at Manchester United's Old Trafford football ground, scoring a goal and winning Man of the Match.
Mark landed the plum US TV job in August, and jetted over to LA this week to start work on the Extra set.
"I feel so honoured to be given a job on such a massive show in America, interviewing the biggest stars in the world, and working alongside Mario Lopez who I watched and loved growing up," she said.
"Lisa G, the boss at Extra, didn't know me before meeting her. I asked for a meeting, and she believed in me from seeing my showreel.
"She gave me a chance by allowing me to interview Mariah Carey and from that she has now given me this amazing opportunity to work on the show full time. It's all a bit surreal.
"The UK will always be my home, but right now America is the path that has opened up for me, and I have to follow that."