Fans of drama, scandal, and football-themed chaos are in for a treat.
Footballers’ Wives, the iconic ITV series that first graced our screens in 2002, is reportedly set for a reboot two decades later.
The show has found new life after a resurgence in popularity on streaming platform ITVX, sparking excitement among longtime fans and new viewers alike.
Gary Lucy Teases Reboot Plans
Actor Gary Lucy, who played football star Kyle Pascoe from 2002 to 2006, revealed that ITV bosses are keen to bring the series back.
“They’re trying to do it, but it might be in a slightly different format,” he told The Sun. Gary added that he had suggested the idea of a reboot earlier this year, confident that it would “go down a storm.”
However, he clarified that he won’t be returning to play a footballer, joking that he’s “too old for that now.”
Despite this, he described filming the original series as “a lot of fun,” recalling that real-life footballers would sometimes approach the cast to say they were fans of the show.
A Show Built on Escapism and Scandal
The original Footballers’ Wives was known for its mix of money, champagne, and outrageous storylines, all centered around the fictional Premier League club Earls Park FC.
The drama offered pure escapism, allowing viewers to dive into a glamorous world far removed from their everyday lives.
Gary reflected: “People loved it. It was just escapism. You’d just watch it and forget about all the nonsense going on in real life.”
Star-Studded Cast and Memorable Characters
The show’s original cast featured Susie Amy as Chardonnay Lane-Pascoe, Zoe Lucker, Christian Solimeno, Katharine Monaghan, Nathan Constance, and EastEnders star Gillian Taylforth.
Laila Rouass, who played Amber Gates, joined in later seasons and delivered one of the series’ most infamous moments: crashing a party with a shotgun in a chaotic storyline involving footballer Bruno Milligan, played by Ben Richards.
Nostalgic Reunion Sparks Buzz
Earlier this year, the original cast reunited for a nostalgic interview on This Morning, marking 23 years since the series first aired.
Fans were treated to a glimpse of how much – or how little – the stars had changed. Co-host Ben Shepherd joked that the celebrities “had not changed, not remotely,” while viewers noticed the very different looks the cast now sported.
The reunion featured Laila Rouass, Susie Amy, Gary Lucy, and Alison Newman (who played sports agent Hazel Bailey).
The discussion highlighted the enduring appeal of the characters, from WAGs to ambitious agents, whose dramatic exploits captured viewers’ imaginations.
From Amber Gates to Ted Lasso
Interestingly, Laila’s character Amber left the show in series four to become an agent for her tennis player girlfriend, a role played by English actress Hannah Waddingham.
Today, Waddingham is widely recognized for playing football club owner Rebecca Welton in the hit Apple TV+ comedy-drama Ted Lasso – a show with a fictional club and similarly quirky, heartwarming storytelling.
With the show’s legacy still alive in streaming popularity and a potential all-star cast lined up, the Footballers’ Wives reboot could become one of 2026’s must-watch television events, offering a fresh mix of scandal, glamour, and football drama for both old fans and newcomers.