TOWIE’s Mario Falcone lets fans know he is back in the UK with homebound snaps

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He was recently caught living it up in Dubai during Britain’s lockdown while posting old photos online, giving the impression he was still in the UK.

And Mario Falcone took to his Instagram Stories on Sunday to share a series of clips from his home in Essex to let his followers know he was back from his travels. 

The former TOWIE star, 32, posted snaps of himself relaxing on his sofa in front of the TV and cuddling with his son Parker, two.

Mario also uploaded a clip of himself giving Parker a bath as well as a video of his fiancée Becky Miesner and Parker painting at the kitchen table.

Another clip showed Mario speaking to the camera with some framed family photos visible in the background.

The reality star made no mention of his recent trip to Dubai, where he and Becky stayed at the £250-a-night 5-star Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Hotel.

Mario and Becky were seen enjoying the sunshine in the emirate with Parker but continued to upload images taken at their Essex home.

On Thursday, Becky posted a photo of her wrapped up in a warm winter coat and Wellington boots – just as she and Mario were spotted enjoying the beach wearing shorts and sunglasses in temperatures of 27C.  

In a video clip filmed that same day and exclusively obtained by MailOnline, Mario can be seen standing on a boardwalk next to the sand, looking relaxed.

Mario and Becky stayed at the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Hotel – despite giving the impression to their followers that they were still in Essex.

A guest at the hotel told MailOnline how they spotted Mario, who’s the brother of I’m A Celeb winner Giovanna Fletcher, 36, enjoying a beach day.

The onlooker said: ‘It’s bad enough the influencers who are out here trying to defend themselves as some have.

‘But to slip over here and leave all your Instagram followers thinking that you’re back home shivering with everyone else in England during lockdown is outrageous.’

Boutique owner Lou Spearpoint tagged the couple in an Instagram story as they visited a salon in Dubai on Thursday, where they posed on video alongside model Lottie Tomlinson.

A tanned Mario is seen grinning at the camera before pulling a silly face as music pumps in the background.

His presence on the beach came a day before posting an image of himself in his garden in Essex with the caption ‘chilling.’ Less than 24 hours ago Becky shared a picture of her dressed for winter.

A representative for Mario declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline.

But a friend of the couple insisted Becky was in Dubai for a meeting linked to her beauty business and that Mario had gone for the 48 hour trip to look after Parker.

Their journey to Dubai came as UK remained in national lockdown, with the government enforcing rules to stay at home to limit the spread of coronavirus.

Under strict law, UK citizens are only advised to leave home for essential reasons, such as exercising with someone from your household.

Ministers recently stepped up their war against illegal foreign holidays with a new ad campaign telling Britons not to travel – as influencers continued to live it up in Dubai.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office launched adverts warning ‘going on holiday is currently illegal’ amid a clampdown on illicit trips.

It is believed Mario checked out of his Dubai hotel early on Friday morning and had already returned to the UK with his family, meaning he will have to quarantine for ten days.

On Friday afternoon, he posted an Instagram story of Peppa Pig being played on his large TV screen at home in Essex, with someone snuggled under a blanket on the sofa.

The Government’s enforced ban on all direct flights from the UAE started at 1pm on Friday. 

The only way influencers can come back to the UK now from Dubai is to fly via third hub, including Doha, Amsterdam or Paris.

Those who made the flight back before 1pm will have to quarantine at home for ten days.

Earlier this week, Mario voiced concerns on Twitter at the prospect of travellers having to isolate in a hotel after returning from overseas trips.

Mario suggested in a series of tweets that the Government should introduce ‘stricter checkups’ on people quarantining at home rather than putting people in hotels.

He tweeted: ‘So with this ‘hotel quarantine’ idea.

‘Will lorry drivers bringing food in have to? Football teams in the European cups?

‘Pilots and cabin crews? What stops people just leaving? A fine? By force?

‘Are the hotels ventilation systems not going to pass the virus around?

‘Sure it makes sense to have stricter check ups on people quarantining at home? Tag people? Airport rapid tests?

‘What if people actually travel for work? Or are travelling for an ill relative etc?’

Mario is the latest reality star to be criticised for travelling abroad. 

Models, social media ‘personalities’ and reality TV stars have defiantly stayed at the poolside in Gulf resorts after thousands of other British travellers raced home to beat the travel ban, which began on Friday afternoon. 

Under lockdown rules in place since the start of the month Britons ‘going on a foreign holiday is not a valid reason to leave home,’ one official said, adding that it ‘increases the risk of spreading the virus and puts people in danger.’

Due to border closures caused by Covid-19, Dubai to London was the world’s busiest international route in January with 190,365 scheduled seats this month. In normal times the busiest route to and from London is New York City. 

Many Britons are staying out in Dubai because they know they will only have to quarantine at home for ten days upon their return and a rule forcing them to stay in a hotel will not come in until February 8 at the earliest.