Where the cast of Footballers’ Wives are now – from shock pub punch-up to Strictly race-row scandal

ITV drama Footballers’ Wives was a staple viewing in the noughties, known for its outrageous moments, wild sex scenes and shocking deaths. Following the lives of the footballers at Earls Park Football Club and their partners, last year it was announced that the series could be making a comeback – much to the delight of fans. Footballers’ Wives originally aired on ITV from 2002 to 2006 Credit: Alamy It was a massive hit in its heyday and drew huge guest stars, including Joan Collins (pictured with Zoe Lucker, who played Tanya Turner) Credit: Shed Productions Gary Lucy, who played footie ace Kyle Pascoe, said: “We’re trying to bring it back but it might be in a slightly different format. I can’t say too much about it. “But I won’t be a footballer in it, I’m too old for that. But in some capacity, yes I’ll be in it, definitely. We had a great time filming it, it was a lot of fun. Footballers used to come up and say they watched the show, but not so much now. I mean, it was a long time ago.” Sign up for the TV newsletter Thank you! From cocaine-snorting and sexually abusive nurses to deadly drunken bawls and high-profile court cases, the scandalous show featured over-the-top storylines that fans could not get enough of. While the drama was outrageous, the cast could give their characters a run for their money with imprisoned exes, sex scandals and unprovoked attacks. Here, we take a look at what the stars have been up to since the series last aired. Susie Amy Susie is unforgettable as the show’s very loud and tacky WAG Chardonnay Credit: Shed Productions Susie recently tied the knot with her partner of eight years Credit: @.susieamy/Instagram In Footballers’ Wives, Chardonnay Lane-Pascoe was the glamour model who refused to give up her career to become a trophy wife despite husband Kyle’s fame and fortune. But in real life, Susie has put family first ahead of her career after giving birth to two daughters – Noa, seven, and Rosie, five, with partner Raphael Bar. During her time on Footballers’ Wives, Susie was dating actor Max Beesley but the couple split after four years together. Most read in Soaps She later dated Irish rugby player Rob Kearney, but they parted ways in 2012 after struggling with the long distance between them. Luckily, the 45-year-old found her one and only in Raphael – whom she married earlier in July. Susie went on to star in Hollyoaks, Hotel Babylon and Doctors and became a regular panellist on The Wright Stuff. Laila Rouass Laila Rouass played sex siren Amber Gates Credit: Getty She was embroiled in a TV scandal in 2009 with her Strictly pro partner Anton du Beke Credit: BBC Laila’s life off-screen has been almost as crazy as her alter ego Amber Gates’ life on it, having gone through two failed marriages, an ex-husband sent to prison, surviving a terror attack and being the centre of a TV scandal. Laila, now 55, was just 16 years old when she married her first husband, family friend Abdeslam Rouas, in 1990. The couple moved to India where Laila worked for the BBC and hosted an Indian version of Blind Date. But their union was in name only and they divorced in 2003, with Laila citing that they never had sexual relations. On her return to the UK she found love with businessman Nasie Khan and they held a lavish wedding party, although the ‘marriage’ was never official. The couple share daughter Inez, but split after just 14 months when Laila accused him of having an affair with her cousin. Khan was then jailed in 2011 for nine years for his role in a £250million VAT fraud. Laila – who also starred in Hollyoaks, Holby City and Spooks – took part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2009, where she was paired with Anton du Beke. But the couple became embroiled in a Strictly scandal when Anton called her a ‘P***’ after she had a spray tan. Anton made a public apology and Laila defended her dance partner. Three years after Strictly, she started dating snooker star Ronnie O’Sullivan after Laila viewed his mansion when she was house-hunting. They briefly split in 2022 but got back together and wed earlier this year. In 2017 Laila and daughter Inez were caught up in the devastating Barcelona terror attack which left 14 people dead and 80 injured when a van ploughed into pedestrians on Las Ramblas, the city’s busiest shopping street. Laila revealed she and her daughter hid in a restaurant freezer during the attack, fearing for their lives. Gary Lucy Gary – pictured with his on-screen wife Susie Amy – found fame as footballer Kyle Pascoe on the show Credit: Getty After splitting from wife Natasha Grey, he appeared on Celebs Go Dating in 2022 Credit: Getty Gary welcomed daughter Bonnie with Love Islander Laura Anderson in 2023, but the pair have since had a bitter falling out Credit: instagram/@lauraanderson1x Footballer Kyle Pascoe and his wife Chardonnay were at the centre of some of the show’s most dramatic storylines – from the WAG being set on fire at her hen do, to murder, gambling and illegal fight clubs. And recently, TV regular Gary has had more than his fair share of drama. Gary – who also starred in Hollyoaks, EastEnders, The Bill and Casualty – was wed to Natasha Grey for 14 years and they share children India, 21, Elvis, 15, Sadie, 11, and Theodore, eight. Following their split, he appeared on Celebs Go Dating, then got together with former Love Islander Laura Anderson, 37, who fell pregnant with the couple’s daughter Bonnie. The pair broke up during Laura’s pregnancy, before briefly getting back together after the birth then parting for good. The couple’s relationship since then has been rocky to say the least, with a very acrimonious and public war of words. Gary, 44, has branded Laura a ‘narcissist’ and Laura revealed that she has his name saved as ‘Lucifer’ in her phone. Gary has claimed Laura blocks him from seeing their daughter, and in return she says she has bonded with his ex-wife Natasha, with Laura describing Natasha as her ‘rock’ and the two women ensuring that their children get to know each other. Zoe Lucker Zoe – pictured with her on-screen husband Ben Price – won a legion of fans as Queen Bee Tanya Tucker Credit: ITV She’s since admitted she blushes at some of her more explicit moments on TV Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Pictured with her daughter Lilly in 2018 Credit: Instagram/_zoelucker Zoe played Queen of the WAGS Tanya Turner who was never happier than when she was snorting cocaine and plotting the downfall of others. Tanya was involved in some of the most scandalous Footballers’ Wives storylines from planning to bonk football manager Frank Laslett to death – using a cocktail of cocaine, Viagra and champagne – to swapping babies with Amber Gates and even applying fake tan to the tot so it had a darker skin colour. Tanya became such an iconic character it bagged Zoe a legion of fans who continued to support her as she took on roles in EastEnders, Hollyoaks and Waterloo Road, before a stint on Strictly Come Dancing in 2009. In real-life Zoe, now 52, prefers a much quieter life and admits she struggles to watch some of Tanya’s more X-rated scenes, saying: “I can’t believe I did some of those sex scenes – I’d never do that now. I was semi-naked most of the time!” She took a step back from acting in 2016 to spend more time with husband James Herbert and daughter Lily. “I’ve been in a space the last few years where I’ve taken a step back from it all. I’m not saying I’m not ever going to act again, but I don’t look at myself in roles at the minute,” she told Attitude magazine last year. John Forgeham John played ruthless footie manager Frank Laslett Credit: Shed Productions He died in 2017 after a shock fall at his nursing home Credit: Alamy RADA-trained John starred alongside Michael Caine in the 1969 Italian Job movie. But his most iconic role was that of ruthless wheeler-dealer football manager Frank Laslett. John died suddenly in March 2017 aged 75 from internal bleeding after breaking his collarbone falling out of bed in his nursing home. His daughter said his later years had been plagued by depression after acting work dried up. A newspaper story in 2006 outed him for having cyber sex with other women while his 26-year-old wife Arlene, from the Philippines, was away. Gillian Taylforth Gillian was already a massive name in soapland before landing the role of Jackie on Footballers’ Wives Credit: Shed Productions Pictured at The British Soap Awards earlier this year Credit: Getty Gillian was already a soap icon thanks to her role as EastEnders’ long-suffering Kathy Beale when she landed the part as matriarch Jackie Pascoe Webb in Footballers’ Wives. While raunchy Jackie had a penchant for sex on top of a snooker table, Gillian’s off-screen love life had already come under the spotlight. Gillian, now 71, and her partner Geoff Knights had a tempestuous relationship, with Gillian kicking him out in 2005 amid claims he had cheated on her with a barmaid, before she took him back. Following their split he was banned from contacting the star, and was later charged with breaching the order. He passed away in 2013. Jesse Birdsall Jesse played football manager Robert Webb on the sitcom Credit: ITV He’s married to iconic Only Fools and Horses actress Gwyneth Strong Credit: Alamy Jesse had rose to fame as womanising hardman Marcus Tandy in Nineties soap Eldorado before landing the role of football manager Roger Webb in Footballers Wives. But before his stint on the cult show, Jesse, no 63, had twice been in trouble with the law. He narrowly avoided prison in September 1999 after attacking a businessman in an unprovoked attack. The judge spared him time inside because prisons were “full enough”. He had to pay a £1,000 fine. The conviction came after the court heard how animosity between Birdsall and company director Brian Morgan flared into violence in an East End pub. Mr Morgan was knocked from his bar stool and sent crashing to the floor after he was struck by Birdsall “with an awful lot of power”, according to one eyewitness. Judge Jeffery Rucker told the actor there appeared to be blame on both sides, but that it was Birdsall who has resorted to violence. He had previously been convicted of actual bodily harm in 1981. Since Footballers’ Wives he also appeared in Holby City, EastEnders and Hollyoaks. In 2000 he married Only Fools and Horses actress Gwyneth Strong, who played Cassandra in the sitcom, and the couple share two children. Peter Ash Peter – pictured with guest star Katie Price – played footie prodigy Darius Fry Credit: Shed Productions Peter won an NTA in 2024 for his role as Paul Foreman on Corrie Credit: PA Pictured with his partner, caring nurse Amy Shawcross Credit: Instagram/peterash_85 Way before finding fame and critical acclaim for his role as Paul Foreman in Corrie, Peter played teen football sensation Darius Fry in Footballers’ Wives. The actor was just 17 and studying for his A Levels when he landed the role as the football prodigy with a crush on much older Tanya Turner – and he was soon getting his kit off with his team captain’s wife. After Footballers’ Wives ended Peter, now 41, spent time appearing on stage before landing the role of Paul in Coronation Street, David Platt’s prison cellmate. He later turned up on the cobbles and was revealed as Gemma Winter’s estranged twin brother. His character died as part of a heartbreaking motor neurone disease storyline, with Peter winning the NTA for outstanding serial drama performance. Alison Newman Alison played football agent Hazel – pictured with Zoe Lucker on the show Credit: Shed Publications Alison’s since won plaudits for her role as DI Samantha Keeble on Eastenders Credit: BBC She was the ruthless red-headed football agent who didn’t care who she trampled on to get her way. Hazel Bailey lied and cheated to get her own way and even bedded Tanya Turner before leaving after falling in love with a tennis player. Alison went on to star in Call the Midwife, Doctors and Casualty before landing the role of DI Samantha Keeble in Eastenders. But off-screen she was involved in a Twitter spat wit rapper Azealia Banks after calling her out for referring to the LGBT community as ‘the gay KKK’. It led to a bitter exchange between the soap star and Azealia, who told her to “Botox those frown lines. Juvederm those lips. Get a tan. YIKES!”