Mark Wright has admitted training for Strictly Come Dancing is tough on his relationship with Michelle Keegan.

The former Corrie actress is in Manchester filming new BBC drama Ordinary Lies while TV presenter Mark has to spend much of his time in the dance studio in London practising for the reality show.

Mark told the Daily Mirror: “Yes, it’s difficult. We’re both very busy at the moment, it’s not been easy.

Michelle Keegan Mark Wright
(Ian West/PA)

“But our relationship is special, so when I see her, it’s like meeting her for the first time. I’d like to see her every day but we can’t, so we try not to let it pressure us.

“We speak whenever we can. If I am on a break I’ll pick the phone up and if she is on a break she calls me. We keep in contact a lot.”

The 27-year-old made his name on reality show The Only Way Is Essex – whose cast are famous for their fake tans. But Mark claims before signing up to the BBC dance show he had never had a fake tan.

Karen Hauer Mark Wright
(BBC)

Mark said: “I’m into the Strictly spirit. I’d never had a fake tan but producers told me I looked white compared to everyone else. Three weeks ago, I lost my spray tan virginity – I like them.”

He also revealed he has lost a stone in weight since he began his dancing training with professional partner Karen Hauer in September.

Mark said: “A lot of it is muscle as I used to spend a lot of time in the gym – five times a week, with weights.”