The first trailer for the Disney Plus series has landed.
It was one of the UK’s most high-profile High Court defamation cases of recent years, with drama that gripped the nation.
And now, for the first time ever, Coleen Rooney is set to open up about the famous libel case involving Rebekah Vardy, dubbed Wagatha Christie, in a new three-part Disney Plus series.
In the latest trailer for Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story, Coleen is seen giving her account of the saga, which began with an internet-breaking tweet from Coleen in October 2019 – who is married to former footballer Wayne Rooney – in which she accused Vardy of leaking stories about her family to the press.
In the footage, she explains how she had to set a trap to find out who was sharing stories to the press, saying: “Don’t play games with a girl who can play better.”
The trailer also shows stock footage of both women arriving to the High Court last year with their husbands on their arms.
With interviews from Rooney herself, as well as her legal team and friends and family, The Real Wagatha Story is surely one not to be missed.
Read on to find out everything we know so far about the documentary.
Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story release date
Disney Plus has announced that Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story will be available to stream on Wednesday 18th October.
Coleen Rooney speaks for the first time. Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story, a three-part documentary series, will premiere on Wednesday 18 October on Disney+. pic.twitter.com/CsJzycxcCU
— Disney+ UK (@DisneyPlusUK) September 29, 2023
Is there a trailer for Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story?
Yes, watch below:
The trailer shows Coleen opening up about the saga for the first time ever.
Talking about the circumstances that led to her laying out a trap to discover who was sharing her stories to the press, she says: “It was just constantly on my mind. I was struggling. My dad said to me, ‘You’re just not you any more.'”
She continues: “Don’t play games with a girl who can play better.”
What is Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story about?
Back in 2019, the nation was gripped when a tweet from Coleen Rooney went viral, in which she accused former friend and fellow WAG Rebekah Vardy of leaking information about her family to tabloid newspapers.
In an amateur sting operation, Rooney had shared stories to her private Instagram page, but limited who could see them to just Rebekah. From there, the fabricated tales – including that the Rooneys were travelling to Mexico to “make a baby girl”, and that Coleen planned to appear on Strictly Come Dancing – appeared in The Sun newspaper.
In a lengthy statement, Rooney (who was subsequently dubbed Wagatha Christie by fans thanks to her ‘sting operation’) wrote: “For a few years now someone who I trusted to follow me on my personal Instagram account has been consistently informing the Sun newspaper of my private posts and stories. There has been so much information given to them about me, my friends and my family – all without my permission or knowledge.
“After a long time of trying to figure out who it could be, for various reasons, I had a suspicion. To try and prove this I came up with an idea. I blocked everyone from viewing my Instagram stories except one account. (Those on my private account must have been wondering why I haven’t had stories on there for a while.)
“It’s been tough keeping it to myself and not making any comment at all, especially when the stories have been leaked, however I had to. Now I know from certain which account/individual it’s come from.
“I have saved and screenshotted all the original stories which clearly show just one person has viewed them. It’s … Rebekah Vardy’s account.”
Rebekah Vardy, who is married to England striker Jamie Vardy, was quick to deny the claims. Vardy went on to sue Rooney for defamation in June 2020, and there was renewed interest in the case when the trial was brought to the High Court in May 2022, where Vardy lost her claim.
This has been a burden in my life for a few years now and finally I have got to the bottom of it...... pic.twitter.com/0YqJAoXuK1
— Coleen Rooney (@ColeenRoo) October 9, 2019
The documentary will be told through Coleen Rooney herself, as well as interviews with her loved ones and key players involved in the trial.
As well as the case, the series will explore how Rooney has had her life played out publicly for the last 20 years, after first meeting eventual England football legend Wayne when they were both just 12 years old.
Who won the court case between Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy?
In July 2022, Justice Karen Steyn ruled that Coleen Rooney’s social media posts accusing Rebekah Vardy of leaking stories to the tabloid newspaper were “substantially true”.
Vardy faced estimated legal costs of approximately £3 million. At a subsequent hearing, Mrs Justice Steyn ordered her to pay 90% – around £1.5 million – of Rooney’s costs, with the first instalment of £800,000 to be paid by 15th November 2022.
Rebekah’s own legal costs were estimated to be similar, meaning the libel case may have set her back her more than £3 million in total.
Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story will air on Disney Plus. Sign up to Disney Plus for £7.99 a month or £79.90 a year.
Check out more of our Documentaries coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on.
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