Michelle Keegan Reveals Why She Called Off £250k Wedding with Max George Amid Baby News with Mark Wright

Michelle Keegan has joyfully announced that she and Mark Wright are expecting their first child together, but long before she found happiness with her TOWIE star husband, the actress was once engaged to Max George, the singer from The Wanted, according to OK! Magazine. The 37-year-old actress and the 36-year-old pop star had an intense romance that ended in 2012, just months after they became engaged.

The couple began dating in 2010, and their relationship quickly became official. In December of that year, Max shared his admiration for Michelle, telling New! magazine: “She’s just beautiful. She’s an awesome girl. She’s a funny girl – and I love her accent too… it’s early days though.” Their whirlwind romance led to a proposal just six months later in June 2011. However, by January 2012, the couple had called off their plans for a lavish £250,000 wedding, citing their hectic work schedules as the primary cause for the breakup, reported by the Manchester Evening News.

Rumors of Max’s infidelity also surfaced, particularly after he was photographed kissing a blonde fan during a night out in Newcastle. Max later admitted that his struggles with alcohol played a significant role in the collapse of their relationship. Speaking candidly to The Sun, Max revealed: “I had a real problem with drinking too much and that was, without doubt, the downfall of our relationship. I was drinking more to forget the fact I was with someone who wasn’t making me that happy.” He went on to clarify that there was no cheating involved, saying: “Michelle is seen as like Britain’s Sweetheart nowadays. I understand it might have looked as if there was something to hide, [but] there was no betrayal in terms of cheating.”

Reflecting on their short-lived engagement, Max added: “I tried to kid myself it would work out OK, but the moment she said she didn’t want to be engaged anymore, I knew that something was wrong. It was a whirlwind. I don’t regret it because you shouldn’t regret anything you do. You learn.”

Since their split, Michelle has found happiness with Mark Wright, marrying him in a stunning £1 million ceremony in 2015. The couple recently announced their pregnancy on December 29, 2024. Meanwhile, Max has moved on with EastEnders star Maisie Smith, who is 13 years his junior. The pair started as friends during Strictly Come Dancing in 2020 before their relationship blossomed during the 2022 Strictly tour. Max and Maisie are set to perform together in The War of The Worlds arena tour in 2025, though Max has stated that they “won’t be getting married yet,” while Maisie describes their romance as “feeling like a movie.”