British reality TV personality Jordan Wright was discovered dead in a drainage canal in Phuket, Thailand, authorities said. He was 33.
Wright’s body was found face down in stagnant water near Bang Tao Beach on March 14, 2026, at about 12:30 p.m. local time. A Myanmar worker harvesting morning glory vegetables came across the scene and alerted police. The former “The Only Way Is Essex” cast member had checked into Hotel COCO Phuket Bangtao alone and did not check out as planned on March 13. His body was located roughly a 20-minute walk from the hotel.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Suthirak Chuthong of the Choeng Thale Police Station said CCTV images captured Wright’s final hours. The footage reportedly showed him pacing erratically outside the hotel and then running from the property shortly before midnight on March 12, later heading toward a remote construction area where his body was recovered.
New CCTV footage reviewed by investigators reportedly shows Wright running wildly and glancing over his shoulder before making a sharp left at 11:25 p.m. on March 12, about 36 hours before his body was discovered. Guests at a nearby hotel said they saw Wright near the drainage channel soon after, shouting and acting frantically, then heard someone enter the water. Police say Wright was also heard arguing with an unknown person on his phone at the time, and are trying to identify who he was speaking to.
Investigators recovered Wright’s hotel key card from his pocket and found his iPhone on the canal bank; the phone did not appear to have gone into the water. He was found barefoot, wearing a grey shirt and black trousers. His body showed signs of having been submerged for some time. Authorities reported no signs of forced entry in his hotel room, but have not ruled out foul play. Lt. Col. Sutthirak Chuthong stated, “The circumstances leading up to the death are quite unclear. It is possible that other people were involved.”
Police estimate Wright had been dead for no more than two days before being found. Autopsy results from Vachira Phuket Hospital are awaited to determine the exact cause of death and whether drugs or alcohol played a role.
Wright made his reality TV debut on MTV’s “Ex on the Beach” in 2017, appearing in eight episodes of the show’s seventh series. The next year, he joined ITV’s “The Only Way Is Essex,” appearing in 17 episodes across seasons 22 and 23. The former firefighter became a fan favorite, particularly for his flirtatious storyline with cast member Courtney Green.
Wright’s stint on “The Only Way Is Essex” ended suddenly after accusations that he took paid sick leave from the London Fire Brigade to film. He later returned to firefighting before moving into financial investment. His LinkedIn lists his latest role as director of Hampton Gate Wealth, a London boutique focused on alternative investments.
His former manager, Alex Shafiq, recalled Wright to the Daily Mail as “a fun lad who lit up any room with his smile.” Friends say Wright’s main passion remained DJing, which he pursued alongside other work.
Wright relocated to Thailand in December 2025, hoping for a fresh start, and had told friends he expected “a very exciting year ahead.” His final Instagram post on March 6 included images and clips of him in an infinity pool, scuba diving, and exploring Phuket. “I’m Home,” he captioned the post, followed by a Thai flag emoji.
The news has left Wright’s friends and former colleagues from reality TV devastated. Fellow TOWIE cast member Chloe Brockett commented, “Rest in peace Jordan” on his last Instagram post. Liam “Gatsby” Blackwell, another ex-cast member, posted: “Miss you already, brother. Glad I got to see you in Thailand a couple of months ago.” Close friend and DJ Stuart Hart called Wright “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 heated on-screen confrontations. His attention toward Courtney Green led to a violent altercation with her then-boyfriend, Myles Barnett, who threw a smoothie at Wright before the two had to be separated by security. Barnett reportedly also shouted abuse at Green during the incident, prompting significant viewer backlash online.
Wright previously dated Vicky Pattison from “Geordie Shore”; their 2016 breakup was public. He appeared across several reality franchises before stepping away from television, later saying he felt “hugely unfulfilled” by his time in the spotlight.
A spokesperson for “The Only Way Is Essex” released a statement after 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 said British officials are involved. “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.
