Mark Wright has swapped Essex for Los Angeles after landing a shiny new presenting job on US entertainment show Extra.
The former TOWIE star has relocated to sunny LA to film the programme – which is fronted by Saved By The Bell legend Mario Lopez aka AC Slater – and kick start his career in the States.
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It’s notoriously difficult to crack the lucrative US market but according to reports, Mark is leaving no stone unturned in his bid to impress viewers and TV bosses.
The Sun reports that Mark, 30, has been having elocution lessons to make his trademark Essex accent a little softer and easier for American audiences to understand.
Mark told co-host Mario: “It’s just to neutralise my accent, I speak quite regional.”
According to the paper, one of Mark’s new bosses jokingly pointed out that even though Mark has been trying hard to tone down his Essex twang, when he interviewed fellow Brits Mel B and Simon Cowell recently, the accent crept back in.
Senior executive producer Lisa Gregorisch-Dempsey reportedly quipped: “His accent was like Brad Pitt in the movie Snatch….
“That England accent is going to get you every time.
“When I’m around Eddie Murphy I don’t put on my Jersey accent!”
Mark flew to the US at the start of the month to join the Extra show as a showbiz correspondent.
Already he’s been on the red carpet, covering America’s Got Talent for Extra this week and rubbing shoulders with the likes of Mel B, Simon Cowell and Tyra Banks, and interviewing Mariah Carey.
“I feel so honoured to be given a job on such a massive show in America, interviewing the biggest stars in the world, and working alongside Mario Lopez who I watched and loved growing up,” said Mark.
“The UK will always be my home, but right now America is the path that has opened up for me, and I have to follow that.”
Mark’s move Stateside means he’s been separated from wife Michelle Keegan, who is abroad filming for BBC army drama Our Girl’s third series.
But she’s been fully supportive of his exciting new job, taking to social media last week to say she was “so proud” of her husband’s success.
Of course, being in a long distance relationship is nothing new for the couple, who celebrated their second wedding anniversary this year.
They were previously separated while Michelle filmed Our Girl in South Africa and Mark was in the UK working on his radio show and various presenting jobs.
As well as saying goodbye to Michelle, he’s had to move away from doting mum Carol and the rest of the Wright family.
The tight knit group turned out at the airport last week to bid Mark farewell, posing together for one last group shot ahead of his travels.
“It’s a goodbye for a while to this lot,” said Mark.
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“Jeez. That wasn’t easy. Nothing beats having a family like mine. All up at 5:30am to take me to the airport. I have the best family in world.
“The love and support we have for each other is beyond. Family and love is everything and now marrying into my beautiful wife’s family, I have 2.
“I feel like the luckiest man on the planet. I love you guys. See you soon.”
Good luck, Mark!