Joe Bonamassa

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

The Only Way Is Essex star Mark Wright turns training session with Jack Tweed into Rocky photoshoot

By ANDREA MAGRATH

Workout: The Only Way is Essex star Mark Wright was pictured during an outdoor training session today

His best friend Jack Tweed will have undoubtedly passed on some tips on how to work his newfound fame to his advantage.

And Mark Wright is clearly adapting to his B-list celebrity status quickly.

The Only Way is Essex reality star chose an outdoor setting to work on his boxing technique ahead of a fight this Sunday to be filmed for the series.

Friends: The reality star worked out with his best friend Jack Tweed, widower of Jade Goody

Playing up to the cameras, the 23-year-old club promoter worked up enough of a sweat to go topless for the training session in Essex, despite the chilly November morning.

Wright, who boasted on Twitter yesterday about his Heat magazine Torso of the Week plaudit, didn't seem to mind his rigorous workout being caught on camera as he worked through a series of Rocky-like exercises.

His housemate and new business partner Tweed, widower of Jade Goody, put the TV playboy through his paces as he prepares to meet co-star Kirk Norcross in the ring this weekend.

Wright has been out training ahead of the fight all week, while fans of the show will remember that Norcross began his training during the first episode.

Fight night: The 23-year-old is training for a fight this Sunday, which will be filmed for the ITV2 show

Nerves: Mark tweeted about being nervous ahead of the fight which will see him face co-star Kirk Norcross

While he is certainly the more buff of the two competitors, usually arrogant Mark has admitted to nerves as he faces up to the 22-year-old nightclub owner.

Wright wrote on Twitter last week: 'Cannot wait to get it over and done with and get drunk at the afterparty!! NERVOUS!!!!'

Surprisingly, Kirk - the nice guy on the series - seems to be the more confident man as the fight approaches.

Buff: Mark played up for the cameras, working through a series of Rocky Balboa-like routines

Heavy load: The usually arrogant TV playboy is looking forward to 'getting it over and done with'

Wright's ex-girlfriend Lauren Goodger asked Norcross on Twitter if he was 'nervous' about Sunday's fight, to which the latter replied: 'Na, can't wait to get in there.'
Today he added: 'The good looks and cheap talk won't help u in the ring! Research a bit more before u think I'm a push over in the ring! Lol x.'

Mark retorted, 'Can't wait 4 Sunday. Kirk is a friend but that's out the window in the ring and he's doing a lot of talking but we will see Sunday.'

The pair aren't only battling each other in the ring - they're rival bar owners.
While Norcross runs the Sugar Hut, a favourite haunt of the show's stars, Mark recently launched his own bar Deuces with Tweed as his business partner.

Oh, I didn't spot you there: Mark is adjusting to life in front of the cameras well

Partners: Mark and Jack Tweed recently opened Deuces bar in Chigwell together

But the pair have already suffered a setback after a suspected arson attack gutted the Chigwell venue hours after the cast attended a Halloween party there last Friday morning.

The fire brigade were called to the scene in Chigwell Road at 4.50am after a brick was thrown through a front window.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson told the MailOnline last week: 'At 4.50am there was a report of a fire at a licensed premiere in Chigwell Road, Chigwell.

Competitors: Mark will face co-star Kirk Norcross in the ring

'The Fire Brigade attended the dealt with the blaze. There was no injuries reported.
'Officers from Redbridge CID are investigating the fire, which is being treated as suspicious. No arrests have been made and enquiries are continuing.'

Tweed, 23, and Wright had planned a launch party for Friday night but were forced to postpone for repairs to the burnt out interior.

Sunday night's episode showed a devastated Wright inspecting the bar after the fire with his sidekick James 'Arg' Argent.

Mark has told his 9,673 Twitter followers that the launch will go ahead this Friday instead.

The Only Way is Essex, aired on Sunday and Wednesday nights on ITV2 has quickly attracted a cult following.

The show follows Wright and his circle of friends as they go about their lives in the Brentwood area of Essex.

Modelled on hit US MTV show The Hills, the series has viewers glued to the complicated romantic lives of the cast as well as their quests for fame as singers and glamour models.

The cast, which also includes Jordan wannabe Amy Childs, glamour model Sam Faiers and Mark's sister, singer Jessica Wright, have already experienced a taste of fame, attracting thousands of Twitter fans and posing for magazines including Closer, Grazia and Heat.