Mark Wright is conspicuously absent from the Soccer Aid 2022 line-up – after previously being tipped as one of the stars of the event before he enraged ITV by allegedly quitting a TV show via text message.
Reports last month suggested that the 35-year-old reality star’s name is now “mud” at ITV after he allegedly quit The Games via text message at the eleventh hour leaving show bosses scrambling to replace him and with a headache on their hands over how to edit him out of already filmed scenes.
It was suggested that Mark would be banned from working on future ITV projects, while his involvement in Soccer Aid was suggested to be his final appearance.
But now ITV have announced the “full line-up” of stars taking place in the televised charity football match – which raises funds for UNICEF – and Mark’s name is nowhere to be seen.
In a very clearly worded statement, ITV writes: “for England, in full: Harry Redknapp (Manager), Liam Payne (Captain) Lucien Laviscount, Tom Grennan, Chunkz, Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Fara Williams, Joe Cole, Alex Brooker and David Seaman (Goalkeeper Coach).”
And the release goes on to state: “For the Soccer Aid World XI FC, in full: Arsène Wenger (Manager), Usain Bolt (Captain) Martin Compston, Mo Gilligan, Chelcee Grimes, Patrice Evra and Robbie Keane.”
However, the statement does also state that: “Many more famous faces are set to be announced in the coming weeks.”
When asked for comment on Mark's glaring absence from the initial announcement, an ITV spokesperson told the Mirror: "We’ve only announced a few names in this first release - more to come shortly.”
It is unclear if not including Mark in their first announcement was designed to be something of a snub to the ex-Towie star.
Last month it was suggested that Mark had burned his bridges at ITV after allegedly quitting The Games via text message.
A source told The Sun at the time: “Mark’s name is mud at ITV at the moment. Bookers who are working on shows aren’t going to be approaching Mark to appear.
“The only show they are happy for him to be on is Soccer Aid as he is one person in a sea of faces and has been a part of the event for years.”
However Mark himself has denied he quit the show via text message and claims he has projects with ITV in the pipeline.
He declared in a social media post this month: "Refrained from commenting on this nonsense story for over a week because it's nonsense and there's plenty much more important stories to worry about in the world.
"Because it's constantly being repeated, here's my comment. I'm absolutely not banned from ITV, in fact I'm doing a show for ITV three months from now.
"The show that 'I quit' hadn't even signed a contract for!
"I 'called' the producer not text to tell her I'd had a change of heart on the show because I realised I'd had too many other commitments already to make it work.
"The media outlet who wrote this are not to blame. They can only believe what the person who is making this up is telling them."
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