Marchelle party at their new pad

Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan celebrated moving into their lavish new mansion with a festival-themed pool party, Marchella, which was designed to silence their critics

- Mitya Underwood

Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan are finally settled in their M dream home after years spent creating their perfect pad.

When the couple threw their no-expense-spared lavish Marchella housewarming bash last week, it wasn't just a way to show off their £3.5 million Essex mansion, it was also a "restart" for their life together, a source told new after the party.

"They're really proud of the house and wanted to show it off, but they also wanted to show to the world that they are strong and it's a restart for them," said the source. "They've realised they have to spend more time together and this house is going to do that for them. The party was a bit of a way to show people that and show how strong they are."

The project has been a long and rocky road for the couple, who married in May 2015, and was made more difficult by battles with planners, personal health scares and the constant speculation that they are living separate lives.

But demonstrating that they're finally settled in their plush new home - complete with its neutral-coloured decor, his-and-hers bespoke dressing room and cinema room - former Coronation Street actress Michelle and former TOWIE favourite Mark, both 36, went all out for their party with live performances by Olly Murs and comedian Russell Kane, as well as plenty of fizz and fireworks.