Inside Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright's self-proclaimed 'Notebook' romance - as the couple announce they are expecting their first child

Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright have announced they are expecting their first child together.

The actress and the TV presenter, both 37, confirmed the happy news on Instagram, sharing a sweet photograph alongside the caption: '2025 is going to be a special one for us…✨'.

The pair's romance blossomed in 2012, before they tied the knot in 2015 and have since gone from strength to strength as they build their careers and homes.

Heart Radio host Mark is already an uncle to footballer brother Josh's two children as well as sister Jess's son and has voiced his desired to become a father himself many times over the years.

Their love story began 12 years ago, when they coincidentally met in Dubai while enjoying separate holidays there for New Year's and they reportedly fell in love immediately. 

Their meeting came just eight months, after Michelle had split from her former fiancé, The Wanted's Max George, in April 2012.

While Mark's romances had been integral parts of his time on TOWIE, with him dating co-stars Lucy Mecklenburgh and Sam Faiers amid his infamous on-off relationship with Lauren Goodger.

Michelle and Mark embarked on a whirlwind romance, with him popping the question just nine months later in the same Middle Eastern city where they met.

Michelle admitted she thought her boyfriend was joking at first when he got down on one knee, before they both burst into tears.

Describing the romantic proposal to Hello! magazine, she explained: 'I thought he was joking at first and then he said "come here".

'I started crying, and said yes, and then he started welling up as well. Then as we walked further down the beach I saw a table set up with lanterns and petals, and with two glasses of champagne.'

Mark added: 'It didn't take me long to realise that Michelle is everything I wanted. Michelle is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen.'

The reality star also admitted the catalyst for him popping the question was having to spend three months apart from his girlfriend due to work commitments.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, he said: 'I was desperate to see her, I missed her so much and that's when I realised, "f*****g hell, this is intense".

'I couldn't be away from her for that long, so I thought I'm going to get on this flight and propose. I flew Michelle to Dubai and that's where I told her I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her.

'I've got now, for the first time in my life, what I've always wanted and what every boy dreams of – affection in a relationship, love, best friend, a girl I fancy… everything rolled into one.'

Mark even went so far as to compare his relationship with Michelle to the epic romance between Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams' characters in love story, The Notebook.

He added: 'Every single thing you imagine and you dream about falling in love with someone, I've got now. I remember watching The Notebook, and I honestly feel like what Noah has got, I've got.' 

They said 'I do' in May 2015 in a £1million ceremony at St Mary's Church in Bury St Edmunds, surrounded by their friends and family, including fellow TOWIE stars James Argent and Lydia Bright.

The lovebirds went on to purchase a stretch of land in Essex for a cool £1.3million in October 2019, where they built their dream home from scratch.

They kept their fans updated with all the incredible renovations on the property with a special Instagram account, @wrightyhome.

The couple finally completed the work on the lavish £3.5million mansion in August last year and celebrated with Coachella-inspired party in their huge garden.

They called the bash 'Marchella' and enjoyed musical performances from close friend Olly Murs and Scouting for Girls, while comedian Russell Kane did stand-up and the night closed with an epic fireworks display. 

Speaking about the moment she saw their dream home come together, Michelle told The Observer: 'I was filming in Australia and hadn't seen the house for months. 

'And when I walked in, Mark had lit all the candles and… I couldn't speak for five minutes. He was like, "What do you think?"

'I couldn't find the words to say how I felt, because I was so overwhelmed. I just burst out crying. It still gets me emotional. Because we've worked really hard for it. We've had to make a lot of sacrifices.'

The jaw-dropping mansion features five bedrooms, bar, cinema room, sauna, a custom-built kitchen, as well as an at-home gym, a five-a-side football pitch or the kitchen.

While in September, Michelle unveiled a new addition to the luxury mansion and a romantic tribute for husband Mark.

Taking to her Instagram stories on Saturday, the former Coronation Street star shared a snap of a white panel hung in the couple's kitchen, reading: 'There's a place in my heart that will never belong to anyone but you…' 

The Fool Me Once star admitted she had 'goosebumps' just looking at the stunning piece crafted by artist David Howarth.

Paying a fond homage to the creator, Michelle captioned the artwork shot: '@davohowarth has done it again…honestly I get goosebumps every time I look at it. 

'A personal piece of art that I will cherish forever (just like the one he created in my hallway a few years ago). So special.'

However, the pair have faced difficulties in the marriage stemming from their intense workloads, which have required them to spent a lot of time apart in recent years. 

At the start of the year, Michelle revealed the 'main key' to how they keep their spark alive during their long-distance relationship.

She has travelled across the country and abroad to film numerous roles and revealed the effort it takes to keep her relationship thriving while on the road.

Appearing on the Happy Place podcast in January, host Fearne Cotton asked Michelle what makes her and Mark so compatible.

The former Corrie star said: 'I think just being best friends. I think just being friends and having that relationship, I think we are really lucky where if I go up north, he comes with me if he can and same when I go down south.

'We are based down south but if we travel, we go with each other and I think that really works for us.'

While that works in the UK, the pair sometimes find themselves on different continents, so accompanying one another while travelling can be trickier.

The duo doesn't let long distance get in the way, as Michelle revealed that while she was in Sydney in 2022 for work, she was alone for two months before Mark flew out and joined her her for six weeks.

She recently confessed that she and Mark have entered the 'boring phase' of their relationship after nearly a decade of marriage.

In October, the Ten Pound Poms star revealed that the couple have swapped late nights out for cosy nights in together. 

She said: 'I am happy to have a night on the sofa with our dogs watching TV and relaxing, but we do still like getting dressed up and go out for dinner.

'In the old days we'd go out for dinner and drinks until the early hours. But now after dinner, I'll look at my watch and say, "Its 9.30pm, we'd better get back home for bedtime". It's a bit more boring now.'