Mark Wright admits it was harder to win over wife Michelle Keegan than it was to ‘crack America’

Mark Wright has admitted it was harder to win over wife Michelle Keegan than it was to ‘crack America.’

The former TOWIE star, 36, revealed that the actress, 35, ‘gave him the elbow’ for a full year before agreeing to a date in a hilarious confession on Tuesday.  

Speaking on the Private Parts podcast to host Jamie Laing, Mark gave a rare insight into his relationship. 

The couple first met backstage at The X Factor and then crossed paths again three days later at a Manchester United charity dinner. 

The following week they both attended the National Television Awards, with Mark previously confessing Michelle caught his attention when she said he was ‘fit’ during a red carpet appearance.

He recalled: ‘I chased her for a while. Basically she gave me the elbow for about a year and then finally I got my way, after a lot of work.

‘I don’t know who was harder to crack actually, her or my American boss. Probably her, and that’s saying something.’  

‘Then about literally a year later of us bumping into each other I finally sort of asked her out and it went from there.’

In 2017, Mark started his year-long contract presenting a late night segment for Extra alongside Mario Lopez at Universal Studios in Los Angeles. 

Media personality Mark reportedly quit his job after two years, after struggling to be apart from the former Corrie star. 

Speaking about his experience he added: ‘It was tough. I’m married and my wife was filming a lot back in the UK, Europe and South Africa at the time.’

‘So she couldn’t be with me full time and I’m a married man, living in Hollywood, but without my wife.

‘After a while you start to think, ‘What’s most important? Your dreams or your happiness?'”

History: The former TOWIE star revealed that the actress, 35, ‘gave him the elbow’ for a full year before agreeing to a date in a hilarious confession on Tuesday

The couple first began dating in 2012 and went on to marry in 2015 at St Mary’s Church in Bury St Edmunds. 

Mark and Michelle have since been busy moving into their ‘dream’ Essex mansion after years of extensive renovation work. 

But they aren’t stopping there, as the duo are also creating the perfect home away from home in Spain too.

Former TOWIE star Mark jetted over last week to work on renovating their Mallorca apartment as he transported materials from the UK to make his vision come to life.