'I CAN'T SEE US EVER RETURNING TO TOWIE'

MARK WRIGHT ON THE JOY OF BEING AN UNCLE, RUNNING A MARATHON WITH HIS PARENTS AND BROTHER AND WHY THERE'S NO GOING BACK TO REALITY TV

- LISA BLAKE

Mark Wright has opened up to OK! about just how much he adores his three young nephews. Mark, 36, who is uncle to his sister Jess's son and his brother Josh's two boys, says life has definitely changed for the better since the babies arrived and that being an uncle is the "best feeling in the world".

The presenter and fitness fan, who has been married to 35-year-old Our Girl actress Michelle Keegan for eight years, chatted to us at the launch of Flora's Making Healthy Switches campaign alongside Josh, 33, and his parents, Carol, 63, and "Big" Mark, 67. All four are running this year's London Marathon on Sunday 23 April, but before we get into the details of their tough training regimes, Mark tells us of the joy the youngest additions to the family have brought him.

"I love being an uncle," he says. "I remember people telling me that being an uncle is the best feeling in the world and it really is. When they say you'll never feel love like when you have a child, I don't know how much more love you can get than being an uncle. Because it's just the best feeling ever becoming an uncle."

The past year has been busy for the Essex-based family, with Ebbsfleet United footballer Josh welcoming his first boy, also called Joshua, with his wife Hollie in February 2022. Last month, Hollie gave birth to their second son - who they have yet to name - 12 weeks early. The baby is currently in hospital receiving treatment.

Meanwhile, Mark's sister Jess, 37, became a mum to her first child, Presley, with her husband, businessman William Lee-Kemp, last May.

Speaking about her worries as a grandparent, Carol reveals the family has been through an extremely challenging time, with the early arrival of Josh's son.

"It was a worry, it always is with babies," she admits. "It was really scary at the time, but we knew he was always going to be a fighter and he's doing really well now."