She was hit with a brutal seven-figure legal bill at London’s High Court last week, marking the end of the long-running Wagatha Christie libel battle with Coleen Rooney. But Rebekah Vardy has finally had some good news.
The Mail on Sunday can reveal that the controversial WAG, who is married to Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, has landed a fly-on-the-wall Netflix documentary which will chart the family’s lives.
The new show is described by insiders as ‘life after Leicester’, as her husband plays his last match for the club today.
Conveniently, it is said to be netting her more than £1 million, which could not come at a better time for the beleaguered mother of five, given her courtroom battle left her with a £1.4 million legal bill.
Her new show will again pit her against Coleen, who is making a rival reality show for Disney+.
A Netflix crew followed Mrs Vardy and a group of friends at a Nottingham pub last weekend, where she watched her husband’s side draw 2-all with Nottingham Forest. Onlookers at the Brewhouse bar, which was packed with rival fans, joked the notoriously tough 43-year-old was ‘bloody brave’ as she mingled with opposition supporters and even agreed to pose for photographs, despite the potentially hostile environment.
One pub-goer said: ‘Fair play to her. Becky is recognisable enough on her own but she was being followed around by a Netflix crew so it couldn’t have been more conspicuous – but she took it all in her stride. She joined in with the football banter and posed for some pictures when people came over.’
They said they understood the programme was ‘a fly-on-the-wall-style reality show following her life and whatever they do next with Jamie leaving Leicester’.
Rebekah Vardy is said to be netting more than £1 million from a new fly-on-the-wall Netflix documentary series for Netflix – after her courtroom battle with fellow WAG Coleen Rooney left her with a £1.4 million legal bill
The show will chart the lives of Rebekah and her family, including her husband Leicester striker Jamie Vardy, and is described by insiders as ‘life after Leicester’, as her husband plays his last match for the club on Sunday
If Vardy was to end up at Wrexham – a club he has been extensively linked to and which has a documentary series of its own on Disney+ – it would be the perfect opportunity for his wife to befriend Hollywood actress Blake Lively, whose husband is co-owner Ryan Reynolds
Jamie, 38, joined Leicester City 13 years ago and it remains unclear what he will do next.
Sources close to the Vardys say the Netflix deal means a move to Saudi Arabia, where players such as Cristiano Ronaldo are now commanding vast salaries, looks increasingly unlikely.
They add that a move to America’s Major League Soccer appeals ‘significantly more’ – though there is thought to be interest from rising Championship outfit Wrexham, which is owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, and Birmingham City, which is part-owned by American football superstar Tom Brady.
‘There was always a lot of talk about Saudi but the truth is they’re not desperate to move out there, especially with their young kids,’ the source added. ‘They checked it out but it doesn’t really suit their lifestyle.
‘If they’re to go abroad, America is much more likely as they’ve spent time a fair amount of time there and love the way of life. But actually, a UK move would mean they could stay in their family home, which they love, and some of the Championship clubs with glitzy star appeal would definitely appeal. Wrexham have their own show on Disney+, so that could make things interesting.’
If Vardy was to end up at Wrexham, it would be the perfect opportunity for his wife to befriend Reynolds’ wife Blake Lively, who recently lost her best pal Taylor Swift after the singer was dragged into the sexual harassment lawsuit Lively is bringing against former co-star Justin Baldoni, who denies the allegations.
Sources say Mrs Vardy ‘loves the glitz and glamour’ so would be ‘thrilled’ at the idea of her husband signing for the club.
She will also be keen to move on from the disastrous court case which has overshadowed her life since she sued Coleen Rooney, wife of former England captain Wayne, for accusing her of leaking stories about her to the Press. She lost, with a judge ruling the allegations were ‘substantially true’.
Rebekah has also hired Simon Cowell’s former PR guru, Ben Todd, to help repair her battered reputation. ‘Ben is one of the best in the business, and he’s got years of experience working with Simon so there’s not much he hasn’t handled,’ a source says.
‘He’s not cheap, but Becky obviously recognises there’s a lot of work to do to turn the public perception around, but she’s smart. This is all part of a long-term plan. She hopes one day the court battle will be a distant memory.’
The lucrative Netflix deal means a similar show rumoured to be in development for UK channel W has been shelved.
Netflix previously announced a separate documentary about Jamie’s football career.
