Michelle Keegan’s TV return revealed after actress announces her first pregnancy with husband Mark Wright
MICHELLE Keegan will return to TV in Ten Pound Poms after announcing her first pregnancy with Mark Wright.
The couple, both 37, announced the happy news in a sweet post yesterday after keeping their baby joy under wraps for months.
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.
While she’s going to be swept off her feet with her upcoming arrival, fans won’t have to wait long to see Michelle on the small screen.
The former Coronation Street star filmed the BBC drama earlier this year, with the talented star seen reprising her role in stills from the channel.
Looking effortlessly chic with a headband in her hair, Michelle glowed as she took on the part of nurse Kate Thorne.
Written and created by BAFTA award-winning Danny Brocklehurst, the first successful series followed a group of Brits who migrated to Australia after WW2 in 1957 in the promise of a better life in Australia.
Kate (Michelle), Terry (Warren Brown) and Annie (Faye Marsay) risked everything for a chance of a new life down under.
The new series follows their adventure on the other side of the world and shows how each of them are determined against all odds to achieve their slice of the Australian dream.
The first series of the drama, which is produced by Eleven and co-produced by Stan and the BBC, was extremely well received and fans have been eagerly waiting for a second series.
Its new series will also introduce some exciting new characters, including the Skinner family, fresh from Ireland and the unscrupulous landlord Benny Bates.
Also returning for series two alongside Michelle, Warren and Faye are Australian actors Rob Collins as Ron, Leon Ford as Bill, Declan Coyle as Stevie and Stephen Curry as JJ.
Hattie Hook as Pattie, Finn Treacy as Peter, Emma Hamilton as Sheila and Cheree Cassidy as Marlene are likewise making a comeback.
Earlier this year, the BBC teased some more stills from the series two production.
These showcases Michelle beaming at the camera sporting a 1950s hairdo and donning a stripey, colourful top with wide-legged blue trousers.
In other snaps, the star is seen surrounded by her make-up and hair team, who are fixing her locks, while another image shows Michelle and Faye standing with one of the production team while reading their lines.
Series one of the post-WW2 migration drama became one of the nation’s most prominent new TV series to be launched last year, amassing a 28-day figure of 7.7 million viewers.
It was awarded two Golden Nymphs at the 62nd Annual Monte Carlo Television Festival for Best Series, with Warren’s portrayal of Terry winning Best Actor.
Speaking on the Ten Pound Poms revival at the time, producer Danny said: “The positive viewer response to Ten Pound Poms was a true delight.
“We tapped into a little-known part of our recent history and told stories which reflected the realities of the real Poms that made the trip.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled to be teaming again with the BBC, Stan and Eleven to continue our characters’ adventure down under.”
The show will return to BBC iPlayer and BBC One next year.
The first series is available to stream in full on BBC iPlayer.
Pals told The Sun the photo from Michelle’s pregnancy reveal was taken in Majorca early last month.
She and Mark 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.”
They kept their pregnancy quiet for a long time because they wanted to enjoy every second
A pal
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.”
Her 7.3million fans echoed this on last night’s Instagram post, with one writing: “You’ve both always had so many comments and pressure to have kids sooner.
“But you stayed true to yourselves and accomplished so much together now it’s time for you to enjoy your new chapter.”
Another said: “Lovely news. Thankfully people will now stop asking.”
You’re going to be amazing parents
James Argent
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.
Michelle played Coronation Street’s Tina McInytre for six years until 2014 before landing the leading role in BBC drama Our Girl.
She has starred in Sky’s Brassic and BBC period drama Ten Pound Poms. This year Fool Me Once was one of Netflix’s biggest ever hits, with nearly 100million viewers.
DJ Mark has guest-presented This Morning and featured in a TV series about his bid to revive his football career with Crawley Town.
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.