Mark Wright's mother Carol Wright has opened up about her approach to being a mother-in-law, revealing she consciously restrains herself around daughter-in-law Michelle Keegan to prevent coming across as overwhelming.
The 63-year-old former The Only Way Is Essex (Towie) star addressed the topic on the family podcast Wright at Home after her daughter Jess read out a listener's dilemma about feeling like she had "stolen" her husband from his mother.
"It's a hard one because everyone's sons are like, you know, they're your sons and... a woman comes along and they do take your son," Ms Wright explained.
However, she noted her own behaviour differs from the stereotype: "But I'm a bit different because I actually hold back because of that reason."
Carol Wright opened up about being a mother-in-law
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The mother-of-four acknowledged that new partners joining the Wright family might find the large clan intimidating, prompting her deliberate decision to give them space.
Jess expressed her frustration at the perception that her mother is some kind of "evil mother-in-law," insisting this characterisation is entirely inaccurate.
"It's nothing like me, I'm totally the opposite," Ms Wright responded firmly.
During the podcast discussion, Jess referenced what she called a damaging "narrative" that had built up around her mother, telling her to be careful with her words as some portrayed her as "the worst mother-in-law in the world."
Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright have been married since 2015
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Ms Wright maintained she would only consider intervening in her children's relationships under specific circumstances.
"If I thought that my son was going to marry somebody that wasn't right for them, and you knew they weren't right for them, and you knew it was never going to last... Of course a mother-in-law should step in a little bit," she said.
"Because you don't want them to be unhappy. You want them, once they get married, to be happy and stay married forever."
The perception of Ms Wright as a difficult mother-in-law may stem from her Towie days, when she appeared somewhat frosty towards Mark's former girlfriend Lauren Goodger in scenes that included an awkward supermarket encounter.
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Michelle Keegan is best known for roles in Coronation Street, Brassic, and Fool Me Once | PAWhen Mark and Lauren eventually parted ways, Ms Wright admitted feeling "relieved" as she believed they were not suited to one another.
Her view of Michelle, however, has always been markedly different.
Speaking to new! magazine around the time of Mark and Michelle's 2015 wedding at St Mary's Church in Bury St Edmunds, Ms Wright declared the actress was the "perfect partner" for her son.
"She's just the girl next door. She's so down to earth. She's so much like Mark. They're really similar and suited," she said.
Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan welcomed their baby daughter last year
|Michelle has previously referred to Carol as her "second Mummy."
The couple's relationship began in Dubai at a New Year's Eve party in 2012, with Mark proposing in the same location the following September.
Mark and Michelle, both 38, welcomed their daughter Palma Elizabeth Wright on 6 March 2025, announcing the arrival on Instagram with a black and white photograph of their newborn.
The family recently enjoyed their first festive season as a trio, gathering with the entire Wright clan for Christmas dinner at the couple's £3.5 million Essex mansion.
Photographs shared on social media showed baby Palma dressed in a red velvet outfit with a bow-embellished headband, playing with her cousins beside a personalised dollhouse bearing her name.
Jess Wright was pictured holding her niece beside a decorated tree, captioning the images: "I feel beyond lucky to be surrounded by family."