FICTIONAL drama Footballers’ Wives came out in 2002 – and the British public loved it so much that some of the stars who found fame on the pitch went on to become soap icons just years later.
The ITV series, which was based on real stories written by WAG Shelley Webb, gave viewers a glimpse into what being a footballer’s other half really looks like.
The cast of Footballers’ Wives shot to fame after the series[/caption]
Several went on to become soap stars[/caption]
It was so popular that even when it stopped airing four years after it started, cast members did not need to worry about being out of a job for long.
Many of the actors went on to find new roles in another British television staple: soap operas. Here is a list of five Footballers’ Wives stars who went from WAGS to wiches – or at least to Weatherfield.
Susie Amy (Chardonnay Lane-Pascoe)
Susie Amy played troubled wife Chardonnay[/caption]
She went on to join the cast of Hollyoaks[/caption]
Susie played Kyle Pascoe’s troubled wife, whose untimely exit from the show at the beginning of season three left fans devastated.
The character died of anorexia after a long feud with her mother-in-law Jackie.
She became a household name thanks to the role, and even won the New TV Talent Award from the Television and Radio Industries Club.
Susie went on to reunite with her on-screen husband – played by Gary Lucy – when she joined Hollyoaks in 2018.
Zoe Lucker (Tanya Turner)
Zoe Lucker played Tanya Turner and it became her breakout role[/caption]
As the scheming queen bee of Footballers’ Wives, Tanya Turner became infamous for her dramatic antics – from backstabbing to bed-hopping, and even murder.
Her twisted character was so popular that Zoe reprised the role in the prison drama Bad Girls.
Following her success in both shows, the actress transitioned to mainstream soaps.
She started off by playing Max Branning’s lover Vanessa Gold in EastEnders for a year.
Zoe then went on to star in Hollyoaks as crime family matriarch Reenie McQueen.
Gary Lucy (Kyle Pascoe)
Soap heartthrob Gary Lucy played Kyle[/caption]
This actor is one of the exceptions, as he was already a household name when he joined Footballers’ Wives.
Gary previously starred in Hollyoaks as footballer Luke Morgan, where his character’s powerful storyline involved being raped by a rival.
Before stepping into the glitzy world of Earls Park, Gary also appeared in the football drama Dream Team, making him a natural fit for the role of Kyle.
He went on to have a stint on EastEnders as Investment Consultant Danny Pennant from 2012 to 2014.
Then, after a 15 year break from the soap, Gary finally went back to Hollyoaks in 2017.
Gillian Taylforth (Jackie Pascoe-Webb)
Soap veteran Gillian Taylforth played Jackie[/caption]
She spent 15 years starring in EastEnders as Kathy Beale[/caption]
Gillian was also in the same boat as Gary, and had an illustrious career playing Kathy Beale on EastEnders for 15 years before going on Footballers’ Wives.
She played Kyle’s mother Jackie who secretly got pregnant by Tanya’s husband Jason, the Earls Park champion striker.
However, much to the surprise of viewers, she went on to marry the club’s manager.
Some time after Jackie and Kyle headed off to Australia together, Gillian went on to get a part in Hollyoaks as nurse Sandy Roscoe.
Peter Ash (Darius Fry)
Peter Ash played Darius[/caption]
He went on to become a household name on Coronation Street as Paul Foreman[/caption]
Peter kicked off his career as Tanya Turner’s 17-year-old toyboy lover on the ITV drama.
His character Darius was an up-and-coming football star, but nowhere near as good at the game as his older and more experienced teammates.
However, after Footballers’ Wives ended the actor really struck gold with his career shaping performance as Paul Foreman on Coronation Street.
Fans of the cobbles were recently left in tears as Paul passed away after a long struggle with motor neuron disease (MND) – a rare condition which affects the brain and nerves.
Peter was awarded the National Television Award for Best Newcomer for the role in 2020.
The actor also had a stint as Ron in Hollyoaks for a few months in 2018.
Soap stars that found fame on Footballers’ Wives
Chardonnay Lane-Pascoe – Susie Amy (Hollyoaks)
Tanya Turner – Zoe Lucker (EastEnders, Waterloo Road, Hollyoaks)
Conrad Gates – Ben Price (Coronation Street)
Kyle Pascoe – Gary Lucy (Hollyoaks, EastEnders)
Jason Turner – Cristian Solimeno (Hollyoaks)
Hazel Bailey – Alison Newman (EastEnders)
Darius Fry – Peter Ash (Coronation Street, Hollyoaks)
Bruno Milligan – Ben Richards (Hollyoaks)
Jackie Pascoe-Webb – Gillian Taylforth (EastEnders, Casualty, Hollyoaks)
Amber Gates – Laila Rouass (EastEnders)
Tremaine Gidigbi – Charles Venn (EastEnders)
