Missing British TV personality found dead near Phuket beach

A 33-year-old former British reality television performer has been found dead in Phuket after going missing from his hotel earlier this month.

The body of Jordan Wright, who previously appeared on The Only Way Is Essex in 2018 and Ex on the Beach in 2017, was found near Bang Tao Beach on March 14 by a Myanmar national working in a nearby vegetable plot.

Police said the body was found face down in a drainage canal, wearing a grey shirt and black trousers but no shoes. The body

showed signs of prolonged immersion in water.

Officers from Cherng Talay Police Station found Wright’s mobile phone on the bank of the canal, while his hotel key card was still in his possession.

There were no signs of physical assault or struggle.

CCTV footage from the hotel showed Wright behaving restlessly before leaving the premises. He was later seen running out of the hotel, which is located about a 20-minute walk from where his body was found.

Hotel staff told police that Wright had checked in alone and was due to check out on March 13, but failed to do so.

After being unable to contact him, staff reported him missing. A search of his room found no signs of disturbance or irregularities.

Police believe Wright had died no more than two days before his body was discovered.

His body has been sent to Vachira Phuket Hospital for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death, including whether alcohol or drugs were involved.

Following news of his death, friends and acquaintances from the entertainment industry expressed their condolences on social media.

A representative of The Only Way Is Essex said the show’s team extends “their deepest sympathies to Jordan Wright’s family and friends during this tragic time.”