For someone who has never been far from the spotlight, Rebekah Vardy’s return to television was never going to be quiet.
The offer of a glossy, fly-on-the-wall reality show revealing her lavish family life was, according to insiders, simply too tempting to refuse. And for Rebekah, there may be more at stake than just cameras, lifestyle moments and a fresh television project.
After the bitter public battle with Coleen Rooney — a courtroom drama that ended in a bruising High Court defeat for Rebekah — those close to the situation believe she is now stepping back into the arena for what looks very much like round two.
The 44-year-old is set to appear alongside her footballer husband Jamie Vardy and their five children in a new ITV1 and ITVX reality series, The Vardys, which airs tomorrow.
The three-part programme follows the family as they leave their home in Lincolnshire, where Jamie had been playing for Leicester City, and begin a new chapter in Italy after he joins Cremonese to help the club fight for survival in Serie A.
On the surface, the show promises family change, luxury surroundings, school searches, personal challenges and the drama of an international move.
But behind the scenes, television insiders are already raising eyebrows.
Some have sharply described the programme as a “Poundland version” of Coleen Rooney’s upcoming Disney+ series, The Rooneys, which is currently in production.
And according to those watching closely, Coleen still appears to loom large over Rebekah’s story.
“Just look at the name of her show,” one source claimed. “Coleen’s show had already been confirmed as The Rooneys before Rebekah’s title was finalised. The choice feels very obvious.”
The insider added that it seems as though Coleen has been “rent-free” in Rebekah’s mind for years, even while Rebekah has been living a more private and picturesque life in Italy.
The tension dates back to the now-infamous Wagatha Christie saga.
In 2019, Coleen publicly accused Rebekah’s Instagram account of being the source of leaked stories about her private life with husband Wayne Rooney. Rebekah strongly denied wrongdoing and sued Coleen for libel.
But the case ended in 2022 with Mrs Justice Steyn ruling that Coleen’s accusations were “substantially true”. Rebekah was later ordered to pay £1.19 million toward Coleen’s legal costs.
For Rebekah, the defeat was deeply humiliating.
Friends say she is still struggling with the fallout from the case and the public damage it caused to her reputation.
Yet rather than using her new show as a quiet chance to reflect, rebuild and move forward, Rebekah appears determined to stand her ground.
In the programme, she makes it clear she has no intention of apologising.
“I’m living with the judgment the judge made but, still to this day, I believe she was wrong,” Rebekah says.
Addressing people who say an apology would change the situation, she adds: “I’m not apologising for something I didn’t do. It’s never going to happen. Hell will freeze over before I do that.”
For some observers, that moment alone suggests the past is far from over.
According to one associate, Rebekah had also hoped that her return to television might help her achieve another long-held ambition — appearing on the cover of Vogue, just as Coleen did in 2023.
“Becky has wanted a Vogue cover for a long time,” the associate claimed. “She knows her worth and she knows people are interested in her.”
However, sources connected to the publication suggested that opportunity has not come this time either.
One insider said it may seem “a bit snobby”, but added that the fact Coleen became a Vogue cover star has certainly not gone unnoticed.
The comparisons do not end there.
ITV is understood to have paid the Vardys a relatively modest fee for their involvement in the show, with one source claiming the series was “not a priority” for the channel.
By contrast, the Rooneys’ reported Disney+ deal was said to be worth around £10 million. Coleen’s series is also expected to run for ten episodes, while Rebekah’s ITV project has just three.
The one advantage Rebekah can claim is timing: her show will reach viewers first.
But not everyone is pleased to see the Wagatha story return to the headlines.
People who were drawn into the original legal battle are said to be dreading renewed attention. Some close associates reportedly feel they were “thrown under the bus” during the trial.
At the centre of that group is Caroline Watt, Rebekah’s former friend and long-serving manager.
Caroline was once extremely close to Rebekah, regularly exchanging messages with her and accompanying her to public events, including the National Television Awards in 2019.
But during the trial, their messages came under intense scrutiny.
Some exchanges were especially damaging, including insulting remarks made about Coleen.
One of the most memorable and controversial details in the High Court case involved Caroline’s iPhone, which ended up in the North Sea during a family boat trip. As a result, lawyers were unable to access it during proceedings.
In her ruling, Mrs Justice Steyn said it was “likely” Caroline had passed information to The Sun newspaper and that Rebekah “knew of and condoned” the behaviour.
Caroline and Rebekah parted ways soon after.
Friends of Caroline say she was devastated by what happened and has since stepped away from the showbusiness world, feeling badly let down by someone she once considered a close friend.
Now, those close to Caroline are said to be furious that the saga is being brought back into public conversation through Rebekah’s show.
One friend claimed: “To return all these years later with this kind of aggressive stance is astonishing. It’s the sort of thing only Becky could do.”
The source added that Rebekah tried to place blame elsewhere at the time, something they say neither the judge nor many others accepted.
They continued: “Despite the case costing her more than £3 million in legal fees, she seems to be trying to shift blame again. Caroline is trying to live quietly now. She never wanted fame, but ended up right at the centre of the case.”
The friend said the renewed attention could cause Caroline significant anxiety.
Rebekah herself has spoken about how difficult that period was.
In a recent interview, she described the time around the case as “horrendous” and revealed that she had questioned the point of continuing during her darkest moments.
However, The Vardys is not only focused on the Wagatha fallout.
The show also gives viewers glimpses of a more vulnerable side to Rebekah and her family life.
At one point, she opens up emotionally after burglars broke into the family’s Italian home and stole belongings worth around £80,000.
Rebekah says the experience left her feeling “violated” and constantly on edge.
“It has always been one of my biggest fears,” she explains, adding that she now feels alert “24/7”.
The series also shows the impact of the family’s move on their children, including their ten-year-old daughter Sophia, who struggles after leaving behind her school and friends.
Rebekah also speaks about the relief of living away from the intense scrutiny of cameras and public judgment.
“It’s been a way to reset and move on because I’m almost anonymous out here,” she says.
But the Italian chapter may already be coming to an end.
Following the announcement that Cremonese are being relegated, sources say the Vardy family are preparing to return to Britain.
According to family friends, Jamie is determined to enjoy “one final hurrah” in English football before he retires.
“They are definitely coming back to Britain,” one source said.
What seems certain is that Rebekah is unlikely to disappear quietly.
Although her alcoholic drinks brand SKTL, launched with former Chelsea striker Dennis Wise, failed to make a major impact, those who know her say she is not the type to walk away from fame easily.
In an effort to rebuild her public image, Rebekah has hired publicist Ben Todd, a former showbusiness journalist who has also worked with music mogul Simon Cowell.
One former associate said: “She can’t help it. Once she got a taste of fame, she wanted more and more. She loves the limelight.”
And despite the critics, Rebekah still has one important supporter firmly by her side: her husband Jamie.
A friend joked that Jamie knows his wife enjoys the attention and is happy she has something to focus on.
“As long as it doesn’t cost him millions all over again,” the friend added, “he’ll be fine.”
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/
