A reality TV turned broadcasting mainstay since 2010, Mark Wright's life is about to change pace. He is expecting his first child with his wife-of-10 years, Michelle Keegan, who happens to be Grazia's latest cover star, later this year and they have not long completed renovations on their dream home in Essex.
They are both career driven and fiercely supportive of one another, having defied their fair share of sceptics over the course of the past 10 years and become household names in the process. Keegan is currently gearing up to promote season two of her BBC drama Ten Pound Poms, which starts in March, while Wright hosts a weekly slot on Heart Radio and uses his Instagram platform of 1.9 million followers to promote his fitness company, Live Wright, which he runs with his brother Josh.
How, then, does Wright plan to balance his busy lifestyle with the imminent arrival of a new baby? 'I'm sure those first few weeks and months are going to be full on, so anything that makes like easier, I'm all over it,' he tells Grazia.
Anyone who follows him on social media will know that the former TOWIE star is a keen chef, often sharing his healthy recipes and meal prep ideas with his followers. 'I'm a massive foodie! With my schedule, I don't always have a huge amount of time to spend in the kitchen, so I love knowing I can enjoy something delicious without the hours of cooking.'
Doing the weekly shop is, rather surprisingly, one of Wright's favourite activities in the week. 'Michelle and I love food shopping together,' he adds. 'We love hosting our friends and family, and for us, cooking is such a huge part of entertaining. It's all about bringing everyone together.'
As all new parents can attest, the first few months of a baby's life do not lend themselves to slaving over the hob or trying out complicated recipes. As such, Wright has craftily timed his new role as M&S's food ambassador. The supermarket chain has a well-established reputation for offering the best quality products, as well as the tastiest ready meals...
'I'm obsessed with beef short ribs and lamb, especially the new lamb massaman shanks from M&S's slow cooked range. They do all the hard work for you,' the presenter tells us. 'I'm absolutely buzzing to be working with M&S, it's a dream job for me. Getting to extend my role with a brand I love – and they even let me do the sexy voice over for the social clip "this is not just..." that's a career highlight.'
They sound like dishes that will come in handy in the Wright household this summer when the busy couple are running on a few hours of sleep. 'I honestly can't wait,' he says about becoming a parent. 'It's the most exciting adventure ahead. Everyone keeps telling us to enjoy every moment.'
Having been repeatedly questioned about their plans to have children ever since they got married, Keegan and Wright have learnt to ignore the attention – as they should. 'Around the time we got married, I was open about the fact that I wanted to have a family but then, because we didn't choose to have children within a certain time, there was lots of speculation,' Keegan told Grazia in her cover interview.
It was reported that their relationship was on the rocks. 'And we can handle that but, at one point, there was a story every week,' she explained. 'My family was asking me about it, so I made the decision to not talk publicly about that side of my life. I’m going to be 38 this year and, as I’ve got older, I feel more confident about my boundaries.'
There's no doubt they will be the same once their baby arrives – keeping family life private and embracing this next chapter on their own terms. Luckily for this couple, they'll also have plenty of M&S meals in the freezer.