Footballers' Wives stars reflect on starring on the most LUDICROUS show in TV history as the cult classic is FINALLY added to streaming service after years of fan demand
- Footballers' Wives is finally headed to a UK streaming service, with the ITV drama set to be added to Britbox next week
- To celebrate, Gary Lucy, Laila Rouass and Ben Richards, who played Kyle Pascoe, Amber Gates and Bruno Milligan respectively, appeared on This Morning
- Much to the devastation of devoted fans, Footballers' Wives came off-air after five seasons in 2006, following its 2002 launch
- Footballers' Wives made Noughties history thanks to its absurd themes and storylines, spawning memes lasting years and also pop culture references
Footballers' Wives is finally headed to a UK streaming service, with the ITV drama set to be added to Britbox next week.
To celebrate the news, Gary Lucy, Laila Rouass and Ben Richards, who played Kyle Pascoe, Amber Gates and Bruno Milligan respectively, appeared on This Morning on Wednesday to discuss the surreal feeling of appearing on the show.
Much to the devastation of devoted fans, Footballers' Wives came off-air after five seasons in 2006, following its 2002 launch, with the programme reaching icon status due to baby-swapping, murder and cheating storylines.
It's back! Footballers' Wives stars Gary Lucy, Laila Rouass and Ben Richards, who played Kyle Pascoe, Amber Gates and Bruno Milligan respectively, appeared on This Morning on Wednesday to discuss the surreal feeling of appearing on the show
Footballers' Wives made Noughties history thanks to its absurd themes and storylines, spawning memes lasting years and also endless pop culture references.
Gary was one of the original stars of the show, playing slick Kyle with his pin-up fiancée Chardonnay Lane, with their storylines including raising his hermaphrodite half-brother as his son and becoming involved in illegal underground boxing.
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Speaking about appearing on the show, he said on Wednesday: 'I wanted to be a footballer, so it was nice to have that life for a bit to drive the Ferraris as such...
'Going on Personal Appearances the response was ridiculous it was the closest you could get to being a pop star. I filmed Hollyoaks at the same time too. I was very blessed, it was a once in a life time opportunity.'
YESS! Footballers' Wives is finally headed to a UK streaming service, with the ITV drama set to be added to Britbox next week (L-R: DONNA WALMSLEY (KATHARINE MONAGHAN), JACKIE PASCOE (GILLIAN TAYLFORTH) CHARDONNAY LANE-PASCOE (SUSIE AMY) AND TANYA TURNER (ZOE LUCKER) in 2003)
Changes: Gary appeared on the show from 2002 to 2004 and appeared in 25 episodes
Gary appeared on the show from 2002 to 2004 and appeared in 25 episodes.
Laila meanwhile played troubled Amber, whose storylines included having her baby swapped with her arch nemesis Tanya Turner's child. Her pet pug smothered the child in its crib, leading to Amber digging up the baby's grave.
She starred on the show from 2004 to 2006.
Speaking about the show, she said: 'I was desperate to do it when I was offered, I left my job a month early it was nice to be part of a glamorous show in the sun with the big houses. The ladies loved Gary, he went from hunk to hero!'
Touching: Footballers' Wives made Noughties history thanks to its absurd themes and storylines, spawning memes lasting years and also endless pop culture references
Changing: Laila meanwhile played troubled Amber and starred on the show from 2004 to 2006
Ben played the wicked Bruno, whose abusive control over his wife Lucy led her into the arms of a murderous, obsessive doctor who tried to kill her and their daughter.
Speaking about the show ending, he said: 'We were so shocked by the storylines but the footballers were doing worse! I was told your life will change people will notice you and I didn't believe it but it did happen...
'I loved playing Bruno he's a true bad boy.'
Bad boy: Ben starred as Bruno from 2004 to 2006
Shock: Ben played the wicked Bruno, whose abusive control over his wife Lucy led her into the arms of a murderous, obsessive doctor who tried to kill her and their daughter (Ben pictured with on-screen wife Helen Latham in 2005)
In 2019, Footballers' Wives hit headlines when Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy's story leaking 'Wagatha Christie' scandal was likened to a storyline from the show.
When the news came to light one of the show's writers and producers, Liz Lake appeared on BBC Radio 4's Today programme to discuss the spat during which, she joked about a reboot.
As well as Liz's discussion, stars of the show Laila and Sarah Barrand, who played Shannon Donnelly-Lawson, shared throwback clips making reference to the row.
In October 2019, Coleen released an incredible social media statement aimed at Rebekah revealing how she set up an elaborate sting on Instagram to 'catch' her leaking fake stories - in a move that sparked mass scandal.
The scandal has been dragged to the High Court and is ongoing.
Way back when: The show made TV history with its outrageous goings on
In one of many discussions in the national news, Liz chatted on the Today show where host Nick Robinson opened up the chat with: 'It's one of those examples where truth is stranger than fiction I bet you wish you'd dreamt up this as we speak'.
Much to the joy of fans, Liz said: 'I'm typing as we speak! Wouldn't [another series] be nice? Coleen. We used to get accused of being hyperbole you know!
'I can tell you there were times we were writing stories where honest to God there'd be news stories on the radio where I'd have to stop what I was doing because the writing happened prior to shooting and by the time it went out it would look like we had stolen the story on the radio'.
Shocker: In 2019, Footballers' Wives hit headlines when Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy's story leaking 'Wagatha Christie' scandal was likened to a storyline from the show (pictured together in 2017)
She said: 'I remember one time I had to call a producer saying "What do I do? Do I write this because it will be old news by this time?'
Shedding light on the show and it's empowering ways, she went on: 'I'll make no mistake it was subversively feminist...
'It was a fabulously fertile ground where we could explore this zeitgeist moment when celeb magazine culture was growing beyond the vanity pieces for actors singers and royals. It was't just OK! Magazine anymore smoothing feathers...
'It was Heat Magazine being b****y. Big Brother was still a phenomenon, the internet was finding its feet and among this was a world of vast footballers salaries and youngbuck athletes...
Wow! Stars of the show Laila and Sarah Barrand (left-right) who played Shannon Donnelly-Lawson, shared dramatic throwback clips making reference to Wagatha Christie
'Then there were their girlfriends and wives who could buy new faces and bodies to become these alpha females against these alpha males. that's a massively complex thing to want to examine but basically a load of thinking feminists'.
In a fantastic twist, Nick then demanded that she 'get back to writing'.
With social media awash with memes and videos, Laila and Sarah delighted fans by getting in on the action by sharing clips from the show.
Laila shared a memorable scene in which Zoe Lucker's character Tanya Turner was surveying video footage to catch out her love rival Amber after the Bollywood actress faked her own kidnap in a bid to win the heart of her husband Conrad Gates.
Shocker: Laila shared a memorable scene in which Zoe Lucker's character Tanya Turner was surveying video footage to catch out her love rival Amber
Hitting back: She later shared another video while brawling with Tanya with the words: 'Actual footage of the players' lounge at the next England game', while adding the caption : 'Waaaaaay ahead of our time'
Footballers' Wives: The most ludicrous show EVER?
Season One, 2002: A sexual predator nurse, coma-inducing attack, burnt breasts and a LOT of romps
Here come the girls: The original stars of the show included Zoe alongside Katharine Monaghan, playing Donna Walmsley, Gillian Taylforth, as Jackie Pascoe, and Susie Amy, playing Chardonnay Lane Pascoe (left-right)
Frank's attack: After Jason Turner (Cristian Solimeno) is lied to about a new recruit on the team, he and wife Tanya attack Earls Park's chairman Frank Laslett (John Forgeham). After passing off the attack as a car accident, they frequently visit him in court, where Tanya discovers manic nurse Jeanette Dunkley (John Forgeham) has been raping the boss, who wakes up and discovers Tanya and Jason's deceit.
Chardonnay's inferno: While celebrating her hen do before marrying Kyle Pascoe (Gary Lucy), glamour model Chardonnay Lane (Susie Amy) is approached by a group of drunken admirers wielding a candle stick. While attempting to light a cigarette, one of the gentlemen accidentally sets fire to the festive lei garland Chardonnay is sporting. Her chest is left severely burnt, leading to a breakdown for the model.
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Season Two, 2003: A hermaphrodite baby with a half-brother for a father, a fake rape allegation and a Champagne cliffhanger
Jackie and Jason's baby: While breaking what was described as: 'Rule one in the s***gers handbook', Jason was indulging in one of his endless affairs - with his best friend Kyle's mum Jackie. When Jackie discovers she's pregnant, a mix-up meant Chardonnay believed it was she who was expecting. After much confusion, the family make the bold decision for the couple do adopt Jackie's baby - although know one yet knows Jason is the father. Once it is announced, the family discover baby Paddy is a hermaphrodite - much to Jason's disgust.
The Frank, Jason, Tanya Saga continues: In a bid to get away with their crime in the previous season, Tanya accuses Frank of raping her, however they are soon forced to settle outside court, much to the chairman's chagrin.
Jason's shock death: As the series concludes and Jason makes more and more enemies, he and Tanya decide to renew their wedding vows however she breaks up the ceremony by screaming at her husband. He then drunkenly heads to the roof where the menace suffers a slip, only for one of his many enemies to push him off using a Champagne bottle.
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Season Three, 2004: Death by anorexia, the introduction of the Gates clan and Frank's being killed 'by s**ging'
Chardonnay's death: The show opens with Chardonnay's funeral after she died having fallen victim to anorexia however it is later revealed that she was Jason's killer and was also riddled with guilt.
Frank's murder: In a bid to get rid of her beau Frank, after marrying in episode one, Tanya begins feeding him a lethal combination of Viagra, alcohol and cocaine before getting involved in energetic romping session - one of which eventually ends with his death - however he has the last laugh by piercing holes in their condoms and getting pregnant.
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Season Four, 2005: Baby swapping, a rapist's kidnap and an Internet lover's suicide pact ambitions
Oh dear: The baby swapping storyline was panned by critics
Baby swapping: Tanya swapped her own baby son, Troy with Amber's son Pundarik when they were expecting at the same time - supposedly with Conrad Gates' baby, yet after Frank's dying revenge of impregnating, Tanya must push to make people believe Conrad is the father.
Darius gets his comeuppance: When the Earls Court gents go on holiday, it transpires one of the team raped one of the shot girls they partied with. Darius is unveiled as the rapist, so his victim Katie goes undercover as a nanny for Tanya before she kidnaps Darius on a boat to get her revenge.
Lucy's botched escape attempts: When newbie Lucy Milligan attempts to get away from her controlling husband Bruno, she falls into the arms of a murderous doctor she met online. He tries to kill her in a suicide pact following his own wife's death. When Conrad and Bruno try and save Lucy, Bruno accidentally shoots Conrad in a horror scene.
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Season Five, 2006: A VERY super star cast addition, a model's destroyed good looks and a cannibalism scandal
Joan Collins arrives: Joining the cast was Joan Collins, who played Eva de Wolffe, the girlfriend of Earls Court's latest bright star Paulo Bardosa. Tanya begins an affair with the hunk, shortly before she realises his bizarre relationship with Eva - as it transpires rather than be his lover, she is more an owner after rescuing him from a Brazilian orphanage.
Shattering news: Newbie footballer Tremaine Gidigbi and his stunning girlfriend Liberty Baker caused ructions when they entered the scene however their romance was shaken to its core when she starred in an advert in Japan which depicted her as a cannibal. After the controversy of the commercial, she is glassed in a nightclub - putting her modelling career in jeopardy
