Honestly, this kind of programme isn't usually my bag, but I was just curious enough, especially after seeing something of her on this year's "I'm a Celebrity, Get me out of Here" series, to take a backdated interest in Coleen Rooney's very public feud with Rebekah Vardy. Both are the high-profile wives of prominent English professional footballers, Wayne Rooney and his sometime international teammate Jamie Vardy. Hence the demeaning term coined by the press of "WAG's" (Wives and Girlfriends) to collectively describe the players' spouses.
Mrs Rooney in particular has been a target for the British tabloid press for years given the lightning rise to fame of hubby Wayne, probably the best English player of his generation. The couple were childhood sweethearts and have a family of four young boys although his extra-marital behaviour down the years has put strains on their relationship, culminating in a brief separation. Happily reconciled, they live in the lap of luxury in grounds which look the size of ten Wembleys. Nevertheless she comes across as very grounded and nobody's fool either.
When she noticed that personal information she'd posted on Instagram to a group she believed to be private to family and friends was next ending up in the gossip columns of one of the British press's most notorious scandal sheets, she suspected Ms Vardy who she'd only added to her contact list more out of charity than any close feelings of friendship. So she set a trap for Vardy by planting a false story which she ensured only her prime suspect could see and when sure enough the bait was taken and the story published, she very publicly outed her. Vardy foolishly and naively responded with a libel suit which went to the High Court and also to the front page of the newspapers and top of the television news headlines.
Obviously, we only get one side of the story with Vardy and her staff not giving their points of view, nevertheless the question of guilt seems clear especially when redacted messages about Rooney between her and her agent are brought to light and that's before all that dubious stuff about Vardy's tablet malfunctioning and the agent's mobile phone ending up in the sea.
Rooney comes across as a cool and calm customer, unafraid to call out transgressions against her as well as following through on her convictions. The story is narrated pretty much by her with supporting contributions from her legal team, friends and family, including her slightly befuddled husband Wayne. We also get an insight into her personal life where even as she lives in their palatial £20 million property, she still shops at B & M, no doubt bargain-hunting.
She comes over very well in this three-part series, which cleverly teases out the key moments in the drama, even if the coverage does seem one-sided, although I don't see Ms Vardy rushing to her own defence any time soon with a programme like this. Like I said not the kind of programme I generally take in, but I did find it an interesting and entertaining look at how the other half lives and what happens when celebrities fall out.
