Mark Wright has revealed he was playing "a character" during his years on TOWIE and much of the drama and explosive scenes was created through acting.
The reality TV star also dropped the bombshell that he purposely created drama with his ex and co-star Lauren Goodger, 35.
The fellow 35 year old, who is now married to actress Michelle Keegan, 34, and the couple were recently spotted enjoying a post-LA brunch date, even went as far as to admit that he acted like a womaniser "playboy" deliberately.
The savvy show favourite quickly realised exactly what would make TOWIE popular and knew his behaviour and rakish persona would garner ratings from hungry viewers eager to see the dramatic moments unfold.
Mark had relationships with Lauren as well as Lucy Mecklenburgh and Sam Faiers during his time on the series, before he quit three years in.
While his actions may have been successful, as Mark became one of the most well-known and popular stars in reality TV in his time, going on to win I'm A Celeb and expand his career, it also backfired in other ways.
The cheeky Essex lad started getting abusive messages on his social media accounts, and he rapidly became divisive on the show.
As a result, Mark has now revealed he asked producers to bring in his Nanny Pat and friend James "Arg" Argent so he could be "normalised".
Speaking on the No Boundaries Podcast with Aaron Mclean, Mark recalled: "I played a character on the show that was… It's real life but also you dramatise your real life moments and I knew what this show needed to be popular – it needed drama.
"The way you create drama is people being upset and arguing," the TV star continued, opening up on the truth of his experience. "I had a couple of girlfriends on the show, I had to create drama, so I was playing up to this playboy character.
"I was only young, I was a bit of a cheeky chap, yeah, but I was playing up to it more.
"But of course people don't like that because you're upsetting people and I was aware of that," the fan-favourite went on. "Thats' why I said to them, I want Nanny Pat to be on the show because she needs to humanise me.
"And, a very clever move I did looking back, I wanted Arg to be my mate. I didn't want one of my other cheeky chap, club promoter mates to be on there.
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"I wanted him to show I have a normal, nice side as well. That is how I balanced it," Mark added.
The star explained that while he had never wanted to be "famous" when he agreed to be on the show back in 2010, his main aim was to use the reality series to get his Essex nightclub business off the ground.
He wanted a successful business as an entrepreneur, and the platform ended up giving him so much more.
While Mark was known for his on-off relationship with Lauren on TOWIE, after the initially loved-up pair got engaged on-screen, Mark is now blissfully happy with wife Michelle as they continue to do up their lavish mansion in Essex.
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