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Mark Wright has ruled himself out of this year’s Soccer Aid due to a scheduling clash.
MailOnline can reveal The Challenge: UK host, 36, who has been ever-present in the England team for the past six years, is focusing on other TV commitments in June when the annual charity match takes place.
This includes promoting his new BBC series A Wright Old Adventure, which also stars his dad and brother and sees the trio adventure up and down the country.
In an exclusive interview, Mark said: ‘On a personal level I’ve decided not to do Soccer Aid this year.
‘I have done it for six years in a row now and I love it, I love the charity and would love to be involved and still raise money for Unicef.
Mark Wright has ruled himself out of this year’s Soccer Aid due to a scheduling clash
MailOnline can reveal The Challenge: UK host, who has been ever-present in the England team for the past six years, is focusing on other TV commitments in June
This includes promoting his new BBC series A Wright Old Adventure, which also stars his dad and brother and sees the trio adventure up and down the country
‘If I’m around I’ll maybe still watch the game, but I just need to keep myself free around that time.
‘I need to let someone else have a go and maybe I’ll come back next year but for now I’m going to have a year out.’
The former TOWIE star says his withdrawal has nothing to do with a reported row with ITV, who screen the England versus the Rest of the World clash made up of celebrities and former professional footballers.
Last year, it was claimed that the broadcaster was upset at his decision to pull out of reality show The Games, but Mark says he’s on ‘good terms’ with bosses.
Now Mark is the face of streaming channel Paramount+ which airs his new show The Challenge: UK and stars the likes of brothers AJ and Curtis Pritchard, TOWIE’s James Lock, and ex-Love Island contestant Arabella Chi.
And his actress wife Michelle Keegan, 35, is also working for a streaming giant, in her case Netflix, after confirming she’s to star in new thriller Fool Me Once, based on the best-selling novel.
Mark said: ‘I am so, so proud of everything she does. She goes from strength to strength and is just incredible. She is amazing to watch.
‘You know your partner is a good actor when you watch them in a show and you’re completely invested in their character, forgetting that’s your wife.
Michelle Keegan is starring in new Netflix thriller Fool Me Once, with Mark saying he’s beyond proud of his wife and all her career achievements
The former Coronation Street actress confirmed she’s ‘over the moon’ to be joining the cast after she was pictured on Monday filming scenes as character Maya Stern
Mark and Michelle, who married in 2015, are both starring on streaming platforms, with the former TOWIE star presenting The Challenge: UK on Paramount+
‘If she’s called Erin like on Brassic then I’m completely invested in Erin as Erin and I’m so excited for this next project… this is going to be a good one.’
He added: ‘The future is streaming sites whether it be Netflix, Prime, or Paramount+, which is a massive new streaming site and it’s a big milestone in my career that I’m hosting a show on a worldwide platform.
‘I’m so proud of it. Michelle is on Netflix, I’m on Paramount+, everyone’s a winner!’
After conquering the US by presenting 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 America and Australia — was yet another project he set his sights on, revealing he’s a workaholic and always looking for the next goal.
He said: ‘In terms of my career, which I like to think is about hosting whether it be TV or radio, then The Challenge: UK is a dream show to host because it’s my passion and what these contestants are doing, I would love to take part in with my friends.
‘Everything I do I always describe as my dream because I’m one of those people that when I want something and believe in it, I send it out to the universe and make it happen.
‘It can be tough but at the same time it’s what drives me and keeps me alive and keeps me going every day. Sometimes what will happen is I’ll back loads of jobs up in a row and they all come up at once, suddenly I’ll go insane and feel I need a break.
After conquering the US by presenting on Extra TV, Mark thought he had already achieved his dream career aspirations but then he became the host of The Challenge: UK
Former Love Island star and model Arabella Chi is one of the contestants on The Challenge: UK, battling it out against the likes of brothers AJ and Curtis Pritchard and TOWIE’s James Lock
Challenge UK contestant James Lock suffered horrendous bruising after being tasked with fighting Made In Chelsea’s Tristan Phipps in episode one of the new series
‘But as soon as I have that break for a week or two, I’m bored, and I need to get back to it. I think ‘what if working and succeeding and being busy is what makes me happy? What if I enjoy it? I just love to be busy.’
Mark’s hoping his commitment to hard work won’t have an ageing effect on his appearance, admitting he would rather mature without the help of aesthetic treatments such as filler or Botox, unlike many of his former TOWIE cast mates.
He said: ‘I am happy ageing gracefully. Listen no one wants to age but you are who you are, each to their own for anyone that does make tweaks… I have no issue with that if it makes them look and feel better that’s totally on them.
‘Right now, I’m lucky that I haven’t had to do anything, but I’d never say never. I am happy ageing as I am. I’ve heard men get more rugged with age so hopefully that happens to me.
‘I enjoy my life and love everything that I have and my family and friends. The only sadness I have is ageing but it’s the only thing I can’t control so I have got to get on with it and keep living life to the fullest. Turning 40, turning 50, whatever it is you just have to embrace it.’
The Challenge: UK, which is available to stream in full on Paramount+ now, sees a lineup of celebrities including Made In Chelsea’s Tristan Phipps and Love Islander Kaz Crossley compete in gruelling physical tasks, which Mark likened to I’m A Celeb’s tough Bush Tucker Trials.
James Lock was pushed to his limit after fighting Tristan when contestants were tasked in the first episode to wrestle each other on a two-storey plank above water, with the reality star later crashing to the ground, leaving his face bruised and swollen.
The Challenge: UK champion will compete against the winners of the American and Australian series in the World Championships, which has been filmed in South Africa, and will be available to watch on Paramount+ on March 9.
- The full series of The Challenge U.K. is available to stream on Paramount + now
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