Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story - Release date, first look and latest news
The first trailer for the Disney Plus series has landed.
Following hot on the heels of Channel 4's dramatisation of the 2022 High Court battle between Rebekah Vardy and Coleen Rooney, titled Vardy v Rooney: A Courtroom Drama, a new documentary exploring the saga has landed on Disney Plus.
Titled The Real Wagatha Story - after it was revealed Vardy had trademarked the phrase 'Wagatha Christie' - the docuseries sees Rooney speak out for the first time on how she conducted a secret sting operation when she became certain one of the followers on her private social media account was selling her stories to the tabloids.
The three-part documentary also explores Rooney's successful defence in the high court after Vardy sued her for defamation, as well as delving into her personal life and how she went from the girlfriend of Manchester United player Wayne Rooney to obtaining celebrity status in her own right.
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 and how to watch
Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story became available to stream on Disney Plus on Wednesday 18th October.
Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story trailer
Watch the Disney Plus trailer below:
The video shows Coleen opening up about the saga for the first time ever, which began with an internet-breaking tweet from Coleen in October 2019, 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.
Talking about the circumstances that led to her laying out a trap to discover who was leaking information, 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.
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.
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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.
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