Jess Wright shares a series of throwback snaps with her brother Mark for his 34th birthday

Jess Wright declared she is ‘very proud’ of her brother, Mark, as she posted a series of family snaps to acknowledge his 34th birthday on Wednesday. 

The former TOWIE star, 35, shared a collection of images as she honoured the UK’s third lockdown by wishing him a ‘great day’ over social media instead of in person. 

The brother and sister duo recently revealed they watched their parents, Carol and Mark, suffer from ‘severe health complications’ after contracting coronavirus.

In the first photo uploaded to her Instagram, Jess rocked jeans and a black vest, revealing her bronzed complexion, as her brother wrapped his arm around her for the photo opportunity.  

The brunette beauty returned the favour as she rested her arm on Mark’s shoulder in a separate picture from their childhood. 

The pair appeared to try their hand at make-up as they sported wobbly lipsticks and spots of blush on their cheeks while clutching toys. 

A hair roller dangled at the front of Jess’ chestnut locks as she beamed for the camera. 

The reality star also uploaded two different red carpet snaps including one alongside their younger sister, Natalya, 20. 

Jess highlighted her hourglass silhouette in a sculpted gown complete with striped sheer fabric and shoulder pads. 

Natalya also showed off her stunning decolletage in a ruffled off-the-shoulder mini dress, meanwhile Mark looked dapper in a navy three-piece suit.

Jess also made sure to include a couple of photos alongside their mother, 60, and one vintage photo which featured their father, Mark. Snr, 64.

She penned in the accompanying caption: ‘Been posing together since day 1 Happy birthday @wrighty_.

‘You have been my bestie / annoyance for 34 years now & I’m very, very proud of you. Keep smashing it love you, have a great day ❤️’. (sic)

Last week, Mark, said that their father is still ‘not completely better’ and that his family ‘worried for his life’ while he was in hospital battling coronavirus.

The former TOWIE star’s parents announced on New Year’s Eve they had been struck down by Covid-19, but Mark. Snr has since returned home.  

Mark also revealed that two of his uncles are currently in hospital due to the virus with his uncle Eddie, 65, the father of his reality star cousin Elliott, in a coma and intensive care unit (ICU).  

Speaking on his Heart Evening Show last Monday night, the presenter made an impassioned plea for people to observe government guidelines to stop the spread of coronavirus. 

Mark also revealed that he had tested positive for Covid-19 last year but said it didn’t affect him like it has his family.   

The emotional reality star said: ‘I want my life back. I want my family to be well again. I don’t want my family to have to worry anymore. 

‘I don’t want you to worry anymore. If you want to get your life back, the only way this will happen is if we obey by the government rules.’  

Mark noted that people obeyed the government guidelines and rules ‘so much better’ during the first lockdown compared to the third lockdown, which was imposed in England towards the start of January. 

He said: ‘Now last time when this happened, last year’s lockdown, I saw such a difference. Everybody was sticking to the rules so much better than it feels this time and it’s coming back to bite us, harder, faster and tougher.  

‘Do you want to see your family members go through what I’m seeing right now? I understand if it hasn’t affected your family like it has affected mine, bloodlines are different, I don’t know the science of it.  

‘But what I do know is that my father, my dad was suffering in hospital and we worried for his life for two weeks, he’s now home, he’s not completely better, he knows that and we know it. 

‘My other uncle, his brother, is in hospital right now, receiving oxygen, and their other brother, my uncle Eddie who I love dearly is currently in a coma in the ICU.’  

Mark admitted that he wasn’t trying to get ‘too dark’ but by sharing personal information about how it has impacted his family, it will highlight how important the guidelines are.

He continued: ‘Now I’m trying not to be too dark but I’m trying to give you a personal from me, because I am seeing first hand, and I know if you haven’t seen it and you haven’t felt it the way I have, I understand it’s hard to believe it. 

‘It’s easy to sit and think, “You know what, it’s just for people that have got real underlying health issues, they were going to die of something anyway.” That’s not the case.   

‘A) that shouldn’t be a good excuse anyway because they don’t deserve to take this badly just because they’ve got an underlying health condition. And b) it’s not just that. My dad is a healthy man, so are my uncles.’ 

He added: ‘So look, I want to move on from this subject, but I just wanted to clear it up because it’s made a bit of the headlines from what I said on Good Morning Britain. 

‘My dad is doing okay, and I want him to know I love him very much. But look, please going forward, we stick together, we do this together and we do what we can to get us back to normal. 

‘Get us back to holidays, get us back to seeing our friends and dancing on the dance floor.’

Mark also admitted that he understands it’s a ‘tough situation’ and that he is aware that the virus affects everyone differently.   

He continued: ‘It is a tough situation, I understand, because there’s so many conspiracy theories that you hear from people. 

‘Many people that don’t believe how real what is going on actually is, and I hear it first hand from friends of mine, very close friends of mine.

‘”Oh it’s just like a cold, it’s just like a flu,” “I know someone who had it,” “I had it, I was just tired, it didn’t hurt, it was fine” and I know that. We know that. It doesn’t affect everybody to the point of the way it affects some.’

He continued: ‘It didn’t affect me when I had it back last year, the way it affected my family members, the way it is affecting my family members. 

‘I’ve always done my best to stand by what the government say, and the reason I do that is because I know the experts working with the government, are the best experts we have and that’s why they’re working for the government.’   

Jess also took to Instagram towards the start of January to share her experience with the virus. 

She wrote: ‘Covid has ripped through my family in the past month and it has been absolutely horrendous. Please stay safe everyone, stay home, wear masks and also check on loved ones regularly.   

‘The fight isn’t over for us yet, we are taking every day as it comes and praying a lot. This new strain seems to be spreading like wildfire. 

‘Thank you the well wishes for those who have known, for my family members that have been hospitalised by this awful, awful virus.’ 

Jess added it was important to also focus on mental health and help build others up as the nation navigates the third lockdown.