Mark Wright makes fresh bid to crack America — and wife Michelle Keegan’s going with him
MARK Wright’s dream of cracking America ended in 2019 when he returned to the UK, but now he is preparing to give it another go.
I’ve learned the Heart FM DJ has been tapped up by telly bosses Stateside to film a pilot for a new TV show which will air across the Pond.
Mark previously spent two years living in Los Angeles while he was a roving reporter on US show Extra but is now hoping a new programme will give him his big break.
He filmed the pilot last month and his team hope it will lead to bigger and better opportunities in America, after he proved a hit with audiences there.
And his wife Michelle Keegan will even consider relocating to the States if things really take off.
An insider said: “Mark is a natural in front of the camera and the American audience loved his cheeky persona and his Essex accent.
STRUGGLED LIVING APART
“He was chosen to front a new pilot by a TV network in the US who are keen to see if they can get him back on screen.
“Obviously the dream would be to become as big as his pal James Corden, who landed his own chat show out there on CBS.”
Mark returned from Los Angeles two years ago after admitting he had struggled with living apart from Michelle.
The pair barely saw one another during Mark’s stint abroad as Michelle was also filming overseas for BBC1’s Our Girl.
Now the pair are back in Blighty and building a multi-million pound mansion in Essex.
But those close to the couple said they would make things work if the right opportunity did come up.
The insider added: “Mark and Michelle have the strongest bond and support each other’s dreams.
“If the right chance did come up they’d see if they could make it work but they would never want to live apart for long periods again.
“For the moment they are just hoping this pilot makes it overseas as that will help build Mark’s profile in the States.
“Anything that comes from it is a bonus and they will make the decisions as and when they come.”
Since he came back to the UK Mark has struggled to find a big TV gig over here, so I’d definitely be keeping the US in mind if I were him.
He’s got that charm the Americans love and all he needs is one lucky break.
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DEMI LOVATO credits actor fiancé Max Ehrich for pulling her out of her depression during lockdown.
Mentioning meditation and writing in a journal as coping tactics, she said: “I just started picking up on the things he does.”
Ed’s baby name put on ice
THE book of random celebrity baby names received a new addition this week when Ed Sheeran announced the birth of daughter Lyra Antarctica Seaborn Sheeran.
But sadly for the singer, he faces a long wait to make the name official. Suffolk County Council has a backlog of 1,500 births to register and new parents can only make appointments for babies born up to and including June 2020 due to Covid-19.
Which will mean Ed and wife Cherry will have to put a visit to the council offices in Woodbridge, close to their home in Framlingham, on hold.
Ed confirmed the baby’s safe arrival after I revealed last month he was going to be a dad. He posted a pic on Instagram of a tiny pair of blue sock on a knitted blanket.
He wrote: “I have some personal news . . . Last week, with the help of an amazing delivery team, Cherry gave birth to our beautiful and healthy daughter . . . we are completely in love with her . . . We hope that you can respect our privacy at this time.”
It’s believed the middle name Antarctica is a nod to where the tot was conceived as Ed and Cherry visited the South Pole nine months before the birth. He can’t have been wearing plenty of layers.
Is it a red leather day, Kim?
I’M not used to seeing Kim Kardashian covered up but there was no chance of missing her in these red leather trousers.
The reality star was spotted in Malibu on Tuesday, just as husband Kanye West made more comments which landed him in hot water – reigniting his feud with Taylor Swift.
He brought up the moment when he interrupted Taylor’s Best Female Video award speech at 2009’s MTV VMAs and claimed Beyonce should have won, insisting God told him to do it.
The born-again Christian said: “If God ain’t want me to run on stage and say, ‘Beyonce had the best video,’ he wouldn’t have sat me in the front row . . . I’d never heard of this person.”
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Country strife is not for ABZ
ABZ Love isn’t feeling the, er, love. The former 5IVE singer quit city life six years ago to start a rural business on a Welsh farm – but he hasn’t had much luck.
Abz – real name Richard Breen – revealed: “The animals just all died, the plants weren’t growing any more – I’m a rubbish farmer.
“There was another plan for me, so I’m back in London.”
Abz has formed supergroup Boyz On Block with fellow Nineties and Noughties legends Shane Lynch, from Boyzone, Another Level’s Dane Bowers, and Ben Ofoedu from Phats & Small.
They are making music together, but Abz hasn’t given up on his agricultural dream.
The singer, who starred in BBC2’s documentary Country Strife: Abz On The Farm, said: “It’s still naturally what I want – have a little land, a dog, let my beard grow.”
God loves a trier.
bizbit
ROBBIE Williams’ eldest daughter Teddy has his ego.
Explaining how she wanted to be a pop star too, Rob told Radio 2: “I said, ‘When you’re older do you want to sing with Daddy?’ and she went ‘No Daddy, you will be singing with me’. ”
Dan back in spotlight
DANIEL Bedingfield had a string of hits here in the early Noughties and now, almost two decades on, he’s back.
The singer has teamed up with Aussie duo Hermitude for a song called Spotlight, out Friday.
It’s one of just a handful of tracks from the star since his second album Second First Impression in 2004.
He’s worked as a songwriter since then but after helping pen house tune Spotlight, he decided to sing it, too.
And its lyrics hint at a proper return to music as he sings: “I need to make something of my life.”
It will feature on a deluxe edition of Hermitude’s Polly- anarchy album, out in November. I’m hoping this gives Daniel a boost to get moving on his own album.
bizbit
BLURRED Lines singer Robin Thicke is to be a dad for a fourth time after fiancée April Love Geary revealed she’s pregnant.
He has a son Julian, ten, with his ex-wife Paula Patton as well as toddlers Mia and Lola with April.
Instaglam
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NICK GRIMSHAW and his boyfriend Meshach Henry are quarantining on opposite sides of his London home after Mesh came into contact with someone with Covid-19. The Radio 1 DJ is cooking all their meals and added: “I’m suggesting on Sunday when we’re allowed out that Mesh stands in the street and claps for me.”
DAVE and producer Fraser T Smith scooped the Best Contemporary Song Award at today’s Ivor Novello Awards for the rapper’s stirring tune Black. The ceremony, celebrating the best in British songwriting and screen composition, gave the Best Album prize to London rapper Little Simz’ Grey Area.
GEMMA COLLINS says plants are “like little humans” which she can save by talking to them. Speaking on her podcast about some dead plants, she said: “A week of watering them and telling them how beautiful they were, even though they were half- dead, they came back alive. I am definitely the flower whisperer.”
LANA DEL REY has shot two new videos but disappointed fans by confirming her new album Chemtrails Over The Country Club won’t be out Thursday, as planned. Instead she says the record and title track, which she filmed the video for this week, will be out “soon” and added: “I just want to let you know that I love the record.”
Maya’s glove story
MAYA JAMA looks a real knockout in these boxing gloves.
The TV host turned up for the launch of heavyweight champ Anthony Joshua’s Hugo Boss fashion line in London’s West End.
But as soon as she got dressed in this all-white suit she was regretting it, as she was convinced she would spill her black coffee.
She told her Instagram followers: “Active morning.
“Taking my coffee to-go in a white suit. See how long this lasts.”
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Maya went one further by dancing with it in a taxi.
Very brave.
Metallica on track
METALLICA are on course to land their fourth No1 album Thursday with S&M2, but it’s all to play for.
The US heavy metal giants were just 1,500 sales ahead of jazz star Gregory Porter’s release All Rise today.
If they do pull it off, it will be the rockers’ first No1 in 12 years, having last topped the charts in 2008 with Death Magnetic.
James Hetfield and Co have team up with the San Francisco Symphony for the album.
And it will make them one of just four acts to have hit No1 with a live album in the past 25 years, joining George Michael, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Liam Gallagher.
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