EXCLUSIVE: “I’m no longer scared of FOMO” – In his latest interview, Mark Wright, 38, opens up about first-time fatherhood after wife Michelle Keegan, 37, gave birth to daughter Palma – Reveals fresh worries as he nears 40!

Mark Wright talks fatherhood, turning 40, and why he doesn’t want to be pigeonholed

Since his wife Michelle Keegan gave birth to their baby daughter Palma back in March, life has been a whirlwind for former TOWIE star Mark Wright. As well as adjusting to being a new dad, Mark, 38, has transitioned from OG TOWIE cast member to various other reality roles – including A Wright Family Holiday with his dad Big Mark, and brother Josh.

Michelle and mark ©Getty

As for what comes next in his telly future, Mark tells heat, ‘At the moment, there is no big plan. I don’t like to pigeonhole myself. If something new comes up, I’ll give it a go. I’m someone who likes to keep moving and do different things. When it comes to TV, I love doing all sorts of projects. Whether it be hosting a dating show – which I’ve done twice – or sports, which I’ve done on Sky, or travelling the country with my dad and brother, and now my building renovating programme. I like to mix it up, and I can never tell you what’s coming next, because it’s a surprise to me, let alone anyone else.’

However, Mark – who married Michelle, 37, in 2015 – is more than happy to stay true to his reality TV roots, telling us he won’t be turning his hand to acting projects any time soon. ‘I’ve been asked to audition for a couple of different roles in the past,’ he says. ‘But I’ll leave that to the wife! I like hosting and travel shows, but maybe one day, who knows?’

the wright family ©getty

Back in 2017, Mark spent a year-and-a-half in LA working as a roving reporter for Extra on the E! channel, but now that he’s a dad, he’s content to stay put in Blighty. He tells heat, ‘I’ve sort of got my dream scenario at the moment, because I still work with Extra TV and do stuff for them over here in England, so I get to keep my feet on the ground in my homeland, which I love so much. I’ve done it now, so I don’t really get the FOMO, and luckily the door has been left open.’ He’s also kept hold of those celebrity connections, revealing, ‘I still keep in touch with [Extra presenter] Mario Lopez, I spoke to him just a few days ago.’

Of course, no career highlight will outshine becoming a dad for Mark. He previously opened up about becoming a first-time father on his Heart breakfast show to his co-host and longtime pal Olly Murs. He said, ‘My little baby Palma, I love you so much and I can’t wait to spend my life with you. It’s the best feeling in the world – I wake up every morning just so excited to see her face. That first moment when I held her in my arms, I suppose everything else goes out the window.’

While Mark has everything he could dream of, we’re surprised to learn he’s still petrified to turn the big 4-0 in a couple of years. He admits, ‘If my thirties are anything to go by, then I’m worried, because I cried the day I turned 30. It just felt like an age where shit was getting real. My twenties were such a whirlwind – I’d just turned 23 when I first got on television – and everything sort of happened for me. I was still partying and having fun, and when I turned 30, I just felt more responsible. But I shouldn’t have cried, because I’ve loved my thirties, they’ve been incredible. I already feel like I’m 40 with the way I live my life. I’m settled down and I’m in bed by 9pm every night, so I don’t think it’s going to change much.’

He adds, ‘My dad always says to me life begins at 40. So, if life is going to step up even more than it already has for me, then I will be extremely happy, because I feel very blessed to have an amazing life.’