Mark Wright has ruled himself out of this year’s Football Helpout due to a scheduling conflict.
MailOnline can reveal The Challenge: the 36-year-old UK presenter, who has been a fixture in the England squad for the past six years, is focusing on other television commitments in June, when the charity match takes place annual.
This includes promoting his new BBC series A Wright Old Adventure, which also stars his father and brother and sees the trio on adventures across the country.
In an exclusive interview, Mark said: ‘On a personal level, I have decided not to participate in Soccer Aid this year.
I’ve done it for six years in a row and I love it, I love the charity and I would love to be involved and continue to raise money for Unicef.
Mark Wright has ruled himself out of this year’s Soccer Aid due to a scheduling conflict
MailOnline can reveal The Challenge: The UK presenter, who has been a fixture in the England squad for the past six years, is focusing on other television commitments in June.
This includes promoting his new BBC series A Wright Old Adventure, which also stars his father and brother and sees the trio on adventures across the country.
“If I’m around, maybe I’ll still see the game, but I just need to stay free at that point.”
“I need to let someone else try and maybe I’ll come back next year, but for now I’m going to have a year off.”
The former TOWIE star says his retirement has nothing to do with a reported dispute with ITV, which broadcasts England’s clash against the rest of the world made up of celebrities and former professional footballers.
Last year, it was claimed that the broadcaster was upset by his decision to pull out of reality show The Games, but Mark says he is on “good terms” with the bosses.
Now Mark is the face of the streaming channel Paramount+, which airs his new show The Challenge: UK and stars brothers AJ and Curtis Pritchard, TOWIE’s James Lock and former Love Island contestant Arabella Chi.
And his wife, actress Michelle Keegan, 35, also works for a streaming giant, in her case Netflix, after confirming that she will star in the new thriller Fool Me Once, based on the best-selling novel.
Mark said: ‘I’m so, so proud of everything he does. She’s going from strength to strength and she’s just amazing. She is amazing to watch.
“You know your partner is a good actor when you see him on a show and you’re completely invested in his character, forgetting that he’s your wife.”
Michelle Keegan stars in Netflix’s new thriller Fool Me Once, with Mark saying he’s beyond proud of his wife and all her career accomplishments.
The former Coronation Street actress confirmed she is ‘over the moon’ to join the cast after she was photographed filming scenes as Maya Stern’s character on Monday.
Mark and Michelle, who married in 2015, both star in streaming platforms, and the former TOWIE star hosts The Challenge: UK on Paramount+.
“If she’s called Erin like in Brassic, then I’m completely into Erin as Erin and I’m really excited for this next project… this one is going to be good.”
He added: “The future is streaming sites, whether it’s Netflix, Prime or Paramount+, which is a massive new streaming site and it’s a huge milestone in my career that I’m hosting a show on a worldwide platform.
I am very proud of it. Michelle’s on Netflix, I’m on Paramount+, everyone’s a winner!’
After taking the US by storm by appearing on Extra TV, Mark thought he had already achieved his dream career aspirations.
But becoming the first host of The Challenge: UK, which already has a global fanbase after airing in the US and Australia, was another project he set his sights on, revealing that he is a workaholic and always looking for the next target.
He said: “In terms of my career, which I like to think is about presenting, whether it’s television or radio, The Challenge: UK is a dream show because it’s my passion and what these contestants are doing, I would love it.” . to participate with my friends.
“Everything I do I always describe as my dream because I am one of those people that when I want something and believe in it, I send it out into the universe and make it come true.
“It can be difficult, but at the same time it’s what drives me and keeps me alive and keeps me going every day.” Sometimes what happens is that I back up a lot of jobs in a row and they all show up at once, then suddenly I go crazy and feel like I need a break.
After taking the US by storm presenting on Extra TV, Mark thought he had already achieved his dream career aspirations, but then he became the presenter of The Challenge: UK.
Former Love Island star and model Arabella Chi is one of the contestants on The Challenge: UK, fighting brothers like AJ and Curtis Pritchard and TOWIE’s James Lock.
Challenge UK contestant James Lock suffered terrible bruises after being tasked with fighting Made In Chelsea’s Tristan Phipps in episode one of the new series.
“But as soon as I get that week or two break, I get bored and need to do it again. I think ‘what if working, being successful and being busy is what makes me happy? What if I enjoy it? I love to be busy.
Mark hopes that his commitment to hard work won’t have an aging effect on his appearance and admits that he would rather mature without the aid of cosmetic treatments like fillers or Botox, unlike many of his former TOWIE castmates.
He said: ‘I’m happy to grow old gracefully. Listen, no one wants to get old, but you are who you are, every man for himself to anyone who makes adjustments… I have no problem with that if it makes them look and feel better, that’s totally up to them.
‘Right now, I’m lucky I didn’t have to do anything, but I would never say never. I am happy aging as I am. I’ve heard that men get tougher with age, so I hope that happens to me.
‘I enjoy my life and love everything I have and my family and friends. The only sadness I have is aging, but it’s the only thing I can’t control, so I have to move on and continue to live life to the fullest. Turning 40, turning 50, whatever, you just have to hug it.
The Challenge: UK, which is available to stream in its entirety on Paramount+ now, sees a lineup of celebrities including Made In Chelsea’s Tristan Phipps and Love Islander’s Kaz Crossley compete in grueling physical tasks, which Mark likened to the hardcore Bush Tucker from I’m A Celeb. Evidence.
James Lock was pushed to the limit after fighting Tristan when the contestants were asked in the first episode to fight each other on a two-story plank over water, and the reality star then crashed to the ground, leaving him bruised and swollen face.
- The entire series of The Challenge UK is available to stream on Paramount+ now