British reality television star Jordan Wright has been found dead in a drainage canal in Phuket, Thailand, authorities confirmed. He was 33 years old.
Wright’s body was discovered face down in stagnant water near Bang Tao Beach on Saturday, March 14, around 12:30 p.m. local time. A worker from Myanmar harvesting morning glory vegetables stumbled upon the grim scene and immediately alerted police. The former star of “The Only Way Is Essex” had checked into Hotel COCO Phuket Bangtao alone and never checked out as scheduled on March 13. His body was found approximately 20 minutes’ walk from the hotel.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Suthirak Chuthong of the Choeng Thale Police Station revealed that CCTV footage captured Wright’s troubling final hours. The footage showed him pacing erratically outside his hotel before sprinting from the grounds shortly before midnight on Thursday, March 12. His movements eventually led to the remote construction site where his body was later discovered.
Investigators found Wright’s hotel key card in his pocket and his iPhone on the canal bank nearby. The phone had not fallen into the water. Wright was wearing a grey shirt and black trousers but no shoes when discovered. His body showed signs of having been in the water for some time, though authorities found no evidence of physical assault or forced entry in his hotel room.
Police believe Wright had been dead for no more than two days before the discovery. Autopsy results from Vachira Phuket Hospital are pending to determine the exact cause of death, including whether drugs or alcohol were present in his system.
Wright made his reality television debut on MTV’s “Ex on the Beach” in 2017, appearing in eight episodes during the show’s seventh series. The following year, he joined the cast of ITV’s “The Only Way Is Essex,” appearing in 17 episodes across seasons 22 and 23. The chisel-jawed firefighter quickly became a fan favorite, particularly for his flirtation with cast member Courtney Green.
However, Wright’s time on “The Only Way Is Essex” ended abruptly. He was reportedly axed from the ITV series amid allegations he had taken paid sick leave from the London Fire Brigade to film episodes. Wright subsequently returned to his career as a firefighter before later transitioning into financial investment. According to his LinkedIn profile, his most recent role was as director of Hampton Gate Wealth, a London-based boutique firm specializing in alternative investments.
His former manager Alex Shafiq remembered Wright fondly, telling the Daily Mail: “He was a fun lad who lit up any room with his smile.” Friends say Wright’s true passion remained DJing, which he pursued alongside his other ventures.
Wright moved to Thailand in December 2025, seeking what he described as a fresh start. He had told friends he was looking forward to “a very exciting year ahead.” His final Instagram post on March 6 featured photos and videos of him relaxing in an infinity pool, scuba diving, and exploring Phuket. “I’m Home,” he captioned the images, accompanied by a Thai flag emoji.
The news has devastated Wright’s friends and former colleagues in the reality television world. Fellow “The Only Way Is Essex” star Chloe Brockett wrote “Rest in peace Jordan” under his final Instagram post. Liam “Gatsby” Blackwell, another former cast member, commented: “Miss you already, brother. Glad I got to see you in Thailand a couple of months ago.” Close friend and DJ Stuart Hart described Wright as “a really lovely boy, always happy and fun to be around.”
Wright’s time on “The Only Way Is Essex” included one of the show’s most explosive on-screen confrontations. His flirtation with Courtney Green sparked a violent clash with her then-boyfriend Myles Barnett, who hurled a smoothie at Wright before the two men squared up and had to be pulled apart by security. Barnett also screamed abuse at Green during the incident, calling her vile names in the street. The scene generated significant backlash from viewers on social media.
Wright previously dated Vicky Pattison, star of the reality series “Geordie Shore.” Their 2016 split played out publicly before Wright’s television career took off. His journey spanned multiple reality franchises before he deliberately stepped away from the spotlight, later revealing he had felt “hugely unfulfilled” by his time in television.
A spokesperson for “The Only Way Is Essex” released a statement following news of Wright’s death: “Everyone at TOWIE sends their deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Jordan Wright at this very sad time.”
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed British authorities are engaged. “We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Thailand and are in contact with the local authorities,” a spokesperson said.
Thai authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Wright’s death. Police confirmed that CCTV footage remains part of the case file and cannot be released while the investigation continues. Friends and relatives with concerns have been directed to contact the Choeng Thale Police Station directly.
The case remains open pending the completion of autopsy and toxicology results from Vachira Phuket Hospital.