Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan in awkward restaurant reunion with Lauren Goodger

Mark Wright and his famous family celebrated Big Mark Wright's birthday in style - but Mark and his wife Michelle Keegan went to great lengths to avoid an awkward run-in with his ex-girlfriend Lauren Goodger

The Wright clan pulled out all the stops for Big Mark's birthday bash at Sheesh in Essex, with James Argent providing the evening's entertainment.

However, the festivities took an unexpected twist when Mark Wright and his wife Michelle Keegan discovered that Mark's ex, Lauren Goodger, was also at the venue. Mark's sister Jess Wright was seen making her way into the popular Essex venue, passing Lauren's parked Range Rover on her way in.

In a bid to avoid any awkward run-ins, Mark and Michelle made a discreet entrance through a fire exit, successfully dodging both Lauren and the paparazzi. Their UZU Range Rover was later brought around to the car park for a swift exit. Despite it being ten years since their split, it appears Mark is still keen to avoid any potential reunion!

Lauren and Mark dated on and off for over a decade with their relationship beginning as teenagers and way before appearing on The Only Way Is Essex together. The childhood sweethearts were engaged at one point but ended their romance for good in 2012. Mark went on to marry Michelle in May 2015.

Speaking earlier this year, Lauren revealed how her former fiancé goes to great efforts to blank her when they run into each other. She explained how she and Mark use the same gym but he gives her the cold shoulder so much so that they've even queued up side by side in silence.

Both became well-known through their appearances on the ITVBe series, yet it appears their shared past hasn't fostered a warm present-day connection. Lauren feels there's still a bond, describing it as a "sort of love from childhood" that never truly fades. Nonetheless, she concedes that while they are polite and cross paths frequently, casual conversation is off the table.

Lauren opened up about the odd dynamic in September, saying: "We do see each other, but we don't speak at all. It's very, very strange. I would happily say hello, but if I'm not wanted somewhere, I shut off," and further noted: "We go to the same gym and stuff, and we don't live far from each other. I've stood next to him in a queue before at the gym and it is awkward."

She continued: "Obviously, he's moved on with his life. He's got to respect that. And I respect that. But I would love to say, 'Hey, how are you?' Like, 'all good?' But it's never happened." She confessed they "don't speak at all" and that their paths have diverged to the point of no likely reconciliation.

Now a mother, Lauren, who shares daughter Larose with ex Charles Drury, recalled a promise Mark made long before his marriage to television darling Michelle. Looking back, Lauren remembered when Mark pointed out a location saying, "I'm going to have a house and I'm going to build it. Do you want that? " At the time, her answer was a keen "Of course I do".

Despite this shared vision of the past, she acknowledges Mark ultimately built his future with Michelle and having recently completed their dream £3.5 million Essex home together. Yet despite their past connection, Lauren feels no bitterness, insisting she's truly "happy for him" without any lingering romantic sentiment, even claiming to be "proud of him".

However, Lauren's emotional and moving chat on Paul C Brunson's We Need to Talk podcast didn't go down too well with her ex.

Lauren's raw interview failed to impress certain quarters online. One individual remarked: "I feel bad for her, she needs to leave him alone. There's no reason they would need to talk to each other." In the wake of the social media comments, a source close to Mark and Michelle spoke out.

According to an insider, "It's not that Michelle can't sympathise with Lauren or is cross with her, she doesn't know her at all, but she doesn't like what she reads when Lauren talks about her," while adding, "Mark also gets annoyed and he's very protective of his wife and family. He doesn't like them being brought up by Lauren, especially as it was so long ago. It's ancient history for him."

Lauren, starting her romance with Mark at just 15, confessed to Married at First Sight guru Paul that although she recognised her famous ex had "moved on with his life", she added sombrely: "I don't think that sort of love from childhood goes away."

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