Mark Wright revealed he was ready to have kids to ‘slow down’ his life as wife Michelle Keegan announces pregnancy
MARK Wright has revealed two years ago that he was ready to become a dad – as wife Michelle Keegan announces her pregnancy.
The couple, 37, announced the news in a sweet post after keeping the pregnancy under wraps for months.
Fool Me Once actress Michelle shared a photo showing off her bump with Heart DJ Mark on a beach, with both all in white. She added a baby emoji to the post.
Back in 2022, the former The Only Way Is Essex star told listeners of his Heart Radio show that having kids with might “slow down” his week.
Mark reacted to text messages sent in by his fans, including one from a mum struggling with the school holidays.
“Feels like this week has been going on forever with the kids off on school holidays, it’s taking so long to get to the weekend,” he read a text from listener Sharon.
Mark couldn’t help but disagree, and said that he felt his week was going by too “fast”, before offering up his own solution.
“Sharon, I disagree, I feel like this week has gone so quickly covering for JK and Kelly,” he replied to the fan live on air.
“I think maybe that’s telling me that I need to have children or something to slow my weeks down because I’m like a kid!
“When I was a kid it felt like my life went so slowly, but as you get older it feels like it goes so quickly, so Sharon I need to be like you.”
“Get kids, let it slow down,” he concluded of his plan of action.
Baby surprise
Pals told The Sun the photo was taken in Majorca early last month.
They own a property on the Spanish island and count it as their second home.
On November 10, Michelle posted pictures from a trip to Majorca and said: “A couple of days in our favourite place before the Christmas build-up begins.”
Michelle and Mark, who have been married for nine years, started telling close friends in the autumn.
A pal added: “They kept their pregnancy quiet for a long time because they wanted to enjoy every second. Starting a family has been something they have wanted to do for a long time.
“They are both in amazing places in their careers and their family home in Essex is all completed.
“The timing could not have been more perfect.”
Michelle and Mark were seen on a date at The Ivy in London on December 21, with Michelle covering her bump with a scarf.
Last week, they were spotted out in Essex with Michelle’s family. The friend added: “Their immediate family have known for a while. They took the pregnancy picture in Majorca.
“It is such a special place to them. Michelle and Mark always knew they wanted a family and the time has never been more right.”
In September 2022, the couple moved into their new Essex home, which took three years to build.
The friend went on: “They are settled and happy and will be starting the New Year with a baby.”
Pals were quick to congratulate them last night. Mark’s best pal Towie star James Argent wrote: “I love you and I’m so happy for you both.
“You’re going to be amazing parents.”
Model Kelly Brook added: “This is amazing news.”
Actress Helen Flanagan wrote: “So happy for you both.”
Michelle has previously hit back at “sexist” questions about when they would start a family.
She said this year: “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. 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.”
The couple met backstage at The X Factor in 2011. A year later Mark asked Michelle out on a date. They married at St Mary’s Church in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, in 2015.