The Only Way is Essex-Mark makes his dramatic exit from the show

Mark left Essex for the jungle on last night’s TOWIE. He told his parents, Mark Senior and Carol, that he is thinking about getting away, more to be fair to Lauren. ‘I’ll miss you and Arg obviously and will carry on seeing Sam’, he said.

However, when Mark spoke to Sam at the fireworks party where he said his final goodbyes, she told him he has got too much going on in his life to have a girlfriend.

After Mark poured his heart out to Sam, she confessed she wasn’t sure if she felt the same, ‘You’re my friend, but I can’t trust you’, she said.

‘I like you. We have a great bond’, said a confused Mark. ‘I want us to be more than friends. The way you are talking you don’t. If you don’t want it tell me now.

‘I don’t want it’, said Sam, before walking away.

Tying up loose ends, Mark also spoke to ex Lauren before his departure from the show. He told her that everytime they argue it gets him down and can’t see her hurt anymore.

‘I love you, but don’t love you like that anymore.’

Lauren replied that she lover Mark also, but didn’t like him.

‘It breaks my heart, but I could never get back with you’, she said.

The pair agreed it’s over and said goodbye.

But Mark’s most difficult break-up was having to end his bro-mance with best mate Arg. Between tears, Mark told Arg there are things he wants to change in his life and that his love life if almost ‘ridiculous’. He said he’s going to get away for a bit and do his own thing-meaning going into I’m a Celebrity Get me out of Here?

‘Essex isn’t right for me now’, confessed Mark, but is the jungle ready for Mr Wright?

Arg said he had a feeling something wasn’t right, telling Mark he would love to join him but he understand he needs to do it by himself.

‘Where does that leave us’, he questioned.

‘You will be in my heart forever I promise. I will never leave you. That’s what’s so hard’, said Mark.

‘I can’t do anything without you’, cried Arg, before Mark reassured him he would be back.

Also on last night’s episode

-Lucy got on stage at the fireworks party to stop the gossip surrounding her and try and win Mario back.

She said she hates public speaking and has made the biggest mistake of her life. She apologised to everyone for lying and told Mario she loves him so much and will do anything to get him back.

After her speech, Lucy said to Mario tat she wanted to do something that meant a lot as he knows she is terrified of speaking in public. Mario said he still loved Lucy, but it would take a lot to forgive and forget.

The Only Way is Essex-Sam gets the Wright approval

Sam was welcomed into the Wright family on last night’s episode as Mark’s mum Carol in invited her to dinner.

However, while out buying the ingredients for the dinner, Carol bumped into Mark’s ex Lauren at the supermarket. To make things more awkward, she revealed to Lauren that she was cooking a big dinner for Sam with the family. ‘Their dating, their just friends’, she insisted. ‘She’s requested shepherd’s pie.’

‘She’s taking my space’, joked Lauren. ‘You gave enough over the years’, replied Carol. Lauren suggested that if there were any left-overs she would come round the following day to polish them off.

But despite the light-hearted conversation, Lauren was more upset than she let on to Carol, telling friends Lauren P and Gemma that she was hurt as Carol had been more of a mum to her than her own mum. Gemma told her that from Carol’s point of view if Sam makes Mark happy then she will cook her shepherd’s pie.

At the Eright family meal, which Mark confirmed to Sam was a date, he said he wished ‘courting’ was like how it was in the old days as Nanny Pat told them what it was like when she was young. Mark said he felt girls were too ‘loose’ now and he wanted to go back to when couples just held hands. He went on to say that it’s terrible how many girls throw themselves at him and he says no everytime to them-as if?!

Mr Wright also revealed that he felt him and Sam were more than friends.

‘What is it you and me?’ he said to Sam. ‘When I left your house (after skiing) I was like fuck-how do I feel about her, maybe I’m falling for her? I don’t want to be in a serious relationship, but I don’t want you seeing other people and I won’t either. I think we’re more than friends?’ ‘Yes we are’, said Sam.

Also on TOWIE

• Arg considered getting his teeth whitened for Lydia and to look sexy and feel more confident as a singer. He told his dentist at a consultation he wanted a white shade between Hollywood and Brentwood.
• Mark visited Sam and sister Billie after they were attacked in a nightclub. Mark told Sam she was still beautiful even with two black eyes. He also admitted he got nervous around her.
• Harry asked Chloe for relationship advice with his potential new boyfriend who is part German.
• At a salsa class some of the group went to, Gemma told Arg, who was her dancing partner, that if Lydia ever broke up with him to come to her.
• Joey revealed that he likes Cara, however Kirk said he wasn’t interested in Cara, and Joey said he didn’t want to break up team Jerk but going on a date with just Cara.

The Only Way is Essex-Mark's family welcome Sam while lauren G feels rejected

Mark’s mum Carol gave Sam her approval for dating her son on last night’s The Only Way is Essex as the gang celebrated the launch of Lydia’s new store Bella Sorella.

Carol told Sam she’s glad Mark has found someone to have fun with and suggested hey try dating and see how what happens. She even invited the blonde store owner over for dinner.

Having overheard their conversation, Mark’s ex Lauren G, told new best mate Lauren P that in the 10 years she was with Mark she tried to make an effort with his family, and Carol has immediately invited Sam over for dinner.

An angry Lauren G confronted Sam about her and Mark and told her she was shocked about them going out together as she felt they (Sam and Lauren G) were friends. ‘What’s going on?’, said Lauren. ‘Nothing happened’, replied sam. ‘If it did I would want you to tell me’, said Lauren.

Mark echoed Sam’s comments after telling Arg that his and Sam’s relationship is ‘harmless’, they get on well and there is nothing there yet. However, his actions suggested otherwise with the flowers he sent to Sam’s home and the night out he planned for the two of them, preparing food in a restaurant’s kitchen , followed by a romantic meal. Only last week Mark told Sam if it was a date he would wine and dine her???

During the meal Mark told Sam that they were ‘friends with benefits’, and he had always had feelings for her and still does.

‘I’m not saying we’re friends and that’s it’, he said. ‘Something could happen.’

Then Mark asked Sam if she felt them same and if she gets nervous butterflies when she sees him. Sam said she did and Mark revealed that he feels ‘homely’ around her and she is basically the female version of her. He added, ‘It’s nice to go for dinner, who knows where it will take us?’

He ended the date by dropping Sam back at home and giving her a peck on the check which she reciprocated, although Mark clearly wanted more.

Also on last night’s TOWIE:

• Joey and Kirk took Cara and Billi on a date to Hollywood Bowl. Joey stole a kiss from Cara and a cheeky grope, while Kirk and Billi appeared awkward.
• Mario invited Lucy to an Italian meal to get to know his family. Mario also invited Lydia, Arg and Debbie, who is half Italian. Mario’s dad-Mario Senior, told Lucy an Italian wife must cook and clean for her husband and always be ready for him! At the meal Debbie also revealed she was disappointed when Lydia came home with James, but he’s grown on her. When Arg said that he makes Lydia happy, Debbie said that he just made Lydia upset and stressed.