Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright have announced that they are expecting their first child together.
The actress and the television presenter, both 37 years old, confirmed the happy news on Instagram, sharing a sweet photograph along with the caption: ‘2025 is going to be special for us…’.
The couple’s romance blossomed in 2012, before they tied the knot in 2015 and have since gone from strength to strength as they build their careers and homes.
Heart Radio presenter Mark is already an uncle to footballer brother Josh’s two children, as well as his sister Jess’s son, and has expressed his desire to become a father many times over the years.
Their love story began 12 years ago, when they coincidentally met in Dubai while enjoying a separate holiday there for New Year’s and reportedly fell in love immediately.
Their reunion came just eight months after Michelle split from her ex-fiancé, The Wanted’s Max George, in April 2012.
As Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright announce they are expecting their first baby together, we take a look back at their fairytale romance.
The couple’s romance blossomed in 2012 before they tied the knot in 2015 and have since gone from strength to strength as they build their careers and homes.
Their love story began 12 years ago, when they coincidentally met in Dubai while enjoying a separate holiday there for New Year’s and reportedly fell in love immediately.
While Mark’s romances had been integral parts of his time on TOWIE, he dated co-stars Lucy Mecklenburgh and Sam Faiers amid his infamous on-off relationship with Lauren Goodger.
Michelle and Mark embarked on a whirlwind romance, and he popped the question just nine months later in the same Middle Eastern city where they met.
Michelle admitted that at first she thought her boyfriend was joking when he got down on one knee, before they both burst into tears.
Describing the romantic proposal to Hello! magazine, explained: “At first I thought he was joking and then he said, ‘come here.’
“I started crying and said yes, and then he started crying too. Then, as we were walking along the beach, I saw a table with lanterns, petals, and two glasses of champagne.
Mark added: “It didn’t take me long to realize that Michelle is everything I wanted. Michelle is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen in my life.
The reality star also admitted that the catalyst for him popping the question was having to spend three months apart from his girlfriend due to work commitments.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, he said: “I was desperate to see her, I missed her so much and that’s when I realised: ‘fuck, this is intense.’
Michelle and Mark embarked on a whirlwind romance, and he popped the question just nine months later in the same Middle Eastern city where they met.
Mark even went so far as to compare his relationship with Michelle to the epic romance between Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams’ characters in the love story, The Notebook (pictured).
“I couldn’t be away from her for that long, so I thought I’d take this flight and propose. I flew Michelle to Dubai and that’s where I told her I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her.
“Now I have, for the first time in my life, what I always wanted and what every boy dreams of: affection in a relationship, love, a best friend, a girl I like… all in one.”
Mark even went so far as to compare his relationship with Michelle to the epic romance between Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams’ characters in the love story, The Notebook.
And he added: ‘Everything you imagine and dream of falling in love with someone, I have now. I remember watching The Notebook and I honestly feel like what Noah has, I have.’
They said ‘I do’ in May 2015 in a £1million ceremony at St Mary’s Church in Bury St Edmunds, surrounded by their friends and family, including fellow TOWIE stars James Argent and Lydia Bright.
The lovebirds bought land in Essex for £1.3 million in October 2019, where they built their dream home from scratch.
They kept their fans up to date on all of the incredible renovations at the property with a special Instagram account, @wrightyhome.
The couple finally completed work on the luxurious £3.5million mansion in August last year and celebrated with a Coachella-inspired party in their huge garden.
They called the party ‘Marchella’ and enjoyed musical performances from close friend Olly Murs and Scouting for Girls, while comedian Russell Kane did stand-up and the night closed with an epic fireworks show.
They said ‘I do’ in May 2015 in a £1 million ceremony at St Mary’s Church in Bury St Edmunds, surrounded by their friends and family, including fellow TOWIE stars James Argent and Lydia Bright ( in the photo from 2014).
The lovebirds bought land in Essex for £1.3million in October 2019, where they built their dream home from scratch and kept their fans updated with their Instagram account, @wrightyhome.
The couple finally completed work on the luxurious £3.5million mansion in August last year and celebrated with a Coachella-inspired party in their huge garden.
Speaking about the moment she saw her dream home being built, Michelle told The Observer: “I was filming in Australia and hadn’t seen the house for months.
‘And when I came 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 started crying. It still excites me. Because we have worked very hard for it. “We have had to make many sacrifices.”
The impressive mansion features five bedrooms, a bar, cinema room, sauna, a custom-made kitchen, as well as a home gym, indoor soccer field or kitchen.
While in September, Michelle unveiled a new addition to the luxury mansion and a romantic tribute to her husband Mark.
Taking to her Instagram Stories on Saturday, the former Coronation Street star shared a snap of a white panel hanging in the couple’s kitchen, which read: “There’s a place in my heart that will never belong to anyone but you. ”
The Fool Me Once star admitted she got goosebumps just looking at the stunning piece created by artist David Howarth.
Paying loving tribute to the creator, Michelle captioned the photo of the artwork: ‘@davohowarth has done it again… I honestly get goosebumps every time I look at it.
‘A personal piece of art that I will treasure forever (like the one he created in my hallway a few years ago). So special.’
While in September, Michelle unveiled a new addition to the luxury mansion and a romantic tribute to her husband Mark, admitting she got goosebumps just looking at the stunning piece created by artist David Howarth.
However, the couple has faced difficulties in their marriage stemming from their intense workload, which has forced them to spend a lot of time apart in recent years (pictured in 2019).
Earlier this year, Michelle revealed the ‘big key’ to how they keep the spark alive during their long-distance relationship.
However, the couple has faced difficulties in their marriage stemming from their intense workload, which has forced them to spend a lot of time apart in recent years.
Earlier this year, Michelle revealed the ‘big key’ to how they keep the spark alive during their long-distance relationship.
She has traveled across the country and abroad to film numerous roles and revealed the effort it takes to keep her relationship thriving while on the road.
Appearing in the happy place On the January podcast, host Fearne Cotton asked Michelle what makes her and Mark so compatible.
The former Corrie star said: “I think we’re just best friends.” I think just being friends and having that relationship, I think we’re very fortunate that if I go north, he comes with me if he can and the same thing when I go south.
“We are located in the south, but if we travel, we go together and I think that really works for us.”
While that works in the UK, the couple are sometimes on different continents, so keeping each other company while traveling can be trickier.
The duo aren’t letting long distance get in their way, as Michelle revealed that while she was in Sydney in 2022 for work, she was alone for two months before Mark flew out and joined her for six weeks.
She recently confessed that she and Mark have entered the “boring phase” of their relationship after nearly a decade of marriage (pictured in September 2023).
She recently confessed that she and Mark have entered the “boring phase” of their relationship after almost a decade of marriage.
In October, the Ten Pound Poms star revealed the couple had swapped nights out for cozy nights together.
She said: ‘I’m happy to spend the evening on the sofa with our dogs watching TV and relaxing, but we still like to dress up and go out to dinner.
‘Before we went out to dinner and drinks until dawn. But now, after dinner, I look at my watch and say, “It’s 9:30 p.m., we’d better get home at bedtime.” It’s a bit more boring now.’