Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright narrowly avoided an awkward run-in with his ex Lauren Goodger it’s been reported, just days before revealing they were expecting their first child.

The couple, both 37, announced their big news with a stunning photo on Sunday, showing the actress cradling her bump alongside her handsome husband on a secluded beach.

And according to The Mirror Mark and Michelle almost came face to face with Lauren the previous week while out celebrating his dad Mark Wright Sr’s 68th birthday in Essex.

The incident occurred at the large family bash at Sheesh restaurant that was also attended by sister Jess, 39, with entertainment provided by pal James Argent, 37.

However when the couple, who wed in 2015, realised Lauren was also enjoying dinner at the popular venue, after spotting her pricey Range Rover parked outside, they swiftly entered via a fire exit in order to avoid her.

MailOnline have contacted Michelle and Mark’s reps for comment.

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Pregnant Michelle Keegan and Mark Wright narrowly avoided an awkward run-in with his ex Lauren Goodger , just days before the couple announced they were expecting their first child

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According to reports Mark and Michelle, both 37, almost came face to face with Lauren, 38, the previous week while out celebrating his dad Mark Wright Sr’s 68th birthday in Essex

Mark first began dating Lauren, 38, when they were teenagers before they found fame on ITVBe reality series The Only Way Is Essex (pictured together 2011)

Mark first began dating Lauren, 38, when they were teenagers before they found fame on ITVBe reality series The Only Way Is Essex. After an on/off relationship which was heavily documented on the show, they split for good in 2012.

Back in September Lauren, who is mum to three-year-old daughter Larose, told MailOnline that Mark promised to build her their first home together before he married Michelle.

She recalls her ex-boyfriend talking about his dreams for the future and how she longed for marriage and children during their decade-long romance.

But Lauren says she was forced to watch Mark achieve his goal of building a property from scratch with wife Michelle, who he wed nine years ago.

Lauren believes the ‘love’ shared between childhood sweethearts never ‘goes away’ and she’s ‘proud’ of how Mark has furthered himself from reality star to TV presenter.

Lauren gave birth to her second daughter in July 2022 but the tot tragically passed away just minutes after she was born.

Despite her longing to have a civil relationship with ex Mark, Lauren she claimed the former couple don’t speak even though they attend the same gym and often see each other.

Lauren said: ‘I remember once he took me to this place near where we lived and said, “I’m going to have a house and I’m going to build it. Do you want that?”

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The incident occurred at the large family bash at Sheesh restaurant and was also attended by sister Jess, 39, with entertainment provided by pal James Argent, 37 (Wright family pictured)

However when the couple realised Lauren was also enjoying dinner at the popular venue they swiftly entered via a fire exit in order to avoid her

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Sheesh Restaurant in Essex pictured

‘Of course I do, because I want to have kids in it and I want to get married. And he has done it, but he’s moved on. It’s not with me.’

Mark married former Coronation Street actress Michelle over nine years ago and the couple live together in an Essex mansion, complete with gym and outdoor swimming pool, which the Heart Radio host has spent months refining.

Lauren added: ‘I don’t think that sort of love from childhood goes away.

‘I’m happy for him. I don’t have them feelings now, today, but I’m proud of him and he probably doesn’t even know that because the media have written so many things and he probably thinks it’s coming from me. I’ve never really spoken about him that much.’

Michelle and Mark told their family about their joyful baby news weeks ago, before announcing it to the world on Sunday.

The actress kept her pregnancy on the down low but started telling their loved ones in autumn and decided to keep the secret for as long as possible, according to The Sun.

A friend told the publication: ‘They kept their pregnancy quiet for a long time because they wanted to enjoy every second.

‘Starting a family has been something they have wanted to do for a long time. They are both in amazing places in their careers and their family home in Essex is all completed. The timing could not have been more perfect.’

Friends of the couple revealed that they took the photo in November during a winter break to Majorca, one of their favourite holiday destinations.

Michelle has been hiding her bump by wearing stylish oversized coats and chunky knit scarfs.

Despite being photographed out and about on a number of occasions, fans haven’t speculated a thing.

While she often shows off her model svelte physique with tight-fitting gym sets, Michelle has opted for slouchy attire in the past few weeks.

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Back in September Lauren told MailOnline that Mark promised to build her their first home together before he married Michelle  (pictured in 2010)

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The reality star is a mother to daughter Larose, who she says has saved her following the devastating loss of her second baby, Lorena

Michelle is also an avid user on social media, sharing glimpses into her private life but in recent months has kept quiet while she navigates the start of her pregnancy.

It’s not a shock to fans that Michelle prefers to stay in her home rather than go out as she previously said she favours a night in with her dogs.

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.’

Now in her nesting era, Michelle also said her and Mark had become ‘boring’, adding: ‘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’.

Pregnant Michelle previously revealed her ‘frustration’ at the constant questions she received about her baby plans.

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The couple , both 37, announced their big news with a stunning photo on Sunday, showing the actress cradling her bump alongside her handsome husband on a secluded beach

The star has said in the past how she has been left upset by the endless speculation about the couple’s plans during their nine years of marriage.

Speaking to You Magazine in 2021, she also said: ‘I’m used to people asking me but it’s no one else’s business.

‘Nobody else knows what goes on behind closed doors. I think that’s the reason that question affects me so much – it’s very private!

‘Mark is asked about it occasionally but I’m asked every single time.’

Asked whether her family still asked her about her plans, she confessed: ‘Not any more! People don’t mean any harm by it, but they know what the answer’s going to be.’

During a 2019 interview, Michelle, who was 32 at the time, spoke of her ‘frustration’ over being constantly asked, saying: ‘In this day and age, you shouldn’t ask questions like that.’

She said: ‘They don’t know the background of what’s happening. It’s no one else’s business.