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It was the social media whodunnit that captivated the nation and spawned a nine-day trial at the High Court – now the first images of Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story have been revealed.

The Disney+ documentary will be told by Coleen Rooney – who was dubbed Wagatha Christie on social media during the case – in a nod to the world-famous British crime novelist Agatha Christie.

Rebekah Vardy, wife of Leicester City soccer player Jamie Vardy, arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Britain, May 10, 2022. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls
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Rebekah Vardy at the Royal Courts of Justice during the trial


Images show Rooney, 37, revisiting the High Court, dressed in a black trouser suit.

In one shot she is shown sitting at a bench in the courtroom, ready to make notes, and in another she is holding a bag and tote, ready to head back into court.

While focusing on Rooney as the star player, the documentary will also feature interviews with family, friends and key people involved in the trial.

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It all started with a social media post back in October 2019

The real-life drama first came to public attention in 2019, when Rooney said in a social media post that she had carried out a months-long “sting operation” – and accused Rebekah Vardy of leaking “false stories” about her private life to the tabloids.

Rooney’s amateur sleuthing prompted Vardy to sue her for libel, with the case coming to a head in 2022 as the claim was heard at the High Court.

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Covered by news outlets around the world, it became one of the most talked about libel trials of the decade.

Vardy, 40, lost the case against Rooney, with the judge finding Rooney’s post “substantially true”.

Read more: Are high-profile lawsuits really worth it for celebs?

Coleen Rooney The Real Wagatha Story. Coleen Rooney as herself in Coleen Rooney The Real Wagatha Story. Cr. Ben Blackall/Disney+ 2023.
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Pic: Ben Blackall/Disney+ 2023

Coleen Rooney The Real Wagatha Story. Coleen Rooney as herself in Coleen Rooney The Real Wagatha Story. Cr. Ben Blackall/Disney+ 2023.
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Pic: Ben Blackall/Disney+ 2023

Now, this three-part series looks at the circumstances that led to Rooney’s infamous “It’s ……………. Rebekah Vardy’s account” Instagram post and leads viewers through the ins and outs of the two-week trial.

It will also explore how Coleen’s life has played out in public for the last 20 years, as the childhood sweetheart and then wife of former England footballer Wayne Rooney.

Vardy is the partner of another footballer – Leicester striker Jamie.

The Rooneys have four children together – sons Kai, Klay, Kit and Cass – and live in a £20m mansion in Cheshire.

The documentary, which is directed by Lucy Bowden, will be released later this year.

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Holly Willoughby fined after colliding with moped and injuring rider

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Holly Willoughby fined after colliding with moped and injuring rider

TV presenter Holly Willoughby has been fined in court after she admitted driving without due care and attention when her car collided with a moped, injuring the rider.

The star, 44, pleaded guilty by post to the charge at Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday but did not attend the hearing.

Willoughby was fined £1,653 alongside £130 in costs and a £661 victim surcharge and given six points on her licence, the Metropolitan Police said.

According to court documents, the incident happened on 28 August as she was driving her Mini Cooper near her home in Richmond, southwest London.

Police were called to Church Road, Barnes, following reports of a collision.

The rider of the moped, a 43-year-old man, was taken to hospital. His injuries were assessed as neither life-threatening nor life-changing.

Read more from Sky News:
Gavin Plumb loses appeal
Willoughby tells of ‘tough’ year

The presenter is best known for fronting Dancing On Ice as well as ITV daytime show This Morning, which she left in October 2023.

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Sabrina Carpenter hits out at ‘evil and disgusting’ White House video featuring her song

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Sabrina Carpenter hits out at 'evil and disgusting' White House video featuring her song

Sabrina Carpenter has hit out at an “evil and disgusting” White House video of migrants being detained that uses one of her songs.

“Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda,” the pop star posted on X.

The White House used part of Carpenter‘s upbeat song Juno over pictures of immigration agents handcuffing, chasing and detaining people.

It was posted on social media on Monday and has been viewed 1.2 million times so far.

President Trump‘s policy of sending officers into communities to forcibly round up illegal immigrants has proved controversial, with protests and legal challenges ongoing.

Mr Trump promised the biggest deportation in US history, but some of those detained have been living and working in the US for decades and have no criminal record.

Carpenter is not the only star to express disgust over the administration’s use of their music.

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Olivia Rodrigo last month warned the White House not to “ever use my songs to promote your racist, hateful propaganda” after All-American Bitch was used in a video urging undocumented migrants to leave voluntarily.

Read more from Sky News:
Pope urges Trump not to oust Venezuelan president by force

Government delays Chinese ‘super embassy’ decision

In July, English singer Jess Glynne also said she felt “sick” when her song from the viral Jet2 advert was used over footage of people in handcuffs being loaded on a plane.

Other artists have also previously hit out at Trump officials for using their music at political campaign events, including Guns N’ Roses, Foo Fighters, Celine Dion, Ozzy Osbourne and The Rolling Stones.

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Dame Joanna Lumley warns of ‘crisis hidden in plain sight’ – with 1.5 million older people set to spend Christmas alone

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Dame Joanna Lumley has warned of a “crisis hidden in plain sight”, with 1.5 million older people set to spend Christmas alone.

Age UK spoke to more than 2,600 people and found 11% will eat dinner alone on 25 December, while 5% will not see or speak to anyone the whole day.

Applied to the overall population, the findings suggest 1.5 million people will eat alone at Christmas, according to the charity.

Dame Joanna said the “silence can be deafening” for those left isolated and called it “a crisis hidden in plain sight”.

The actor and campaigner is now joining other luminaries including Dame Judi Dench, Brian Cox and Miriam Margolyes to back Age UK’s campaign against loneliness.

The charity says its volunteers made more than 70,000 minutes’ worth of calls to people during Christmas week last year and is urging people to donate.

‘A tragedy we don’t talk about enough’

Age UK said it also supports coffee mornings and festive lunches to give lonely people the chance to enjoy in-person interaction.

Dame Judi said: “For so many older people, Christmas can be a time of silence – days without conversation or company.”

Succession star Brian Cox called the issue “a tragedy we don’t talk about enough”.

He said: “Far too many older people are left spending the season in silence, when it should be a time of warmth, connection and joy.”

Brian Cox is another of the campaign's high-profile backers. Pic: PA
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Brian Cox is another of the campaign’s high-profile backers. Pic: PA

Margolyes, of Harry Potter fame, added: “Growing older shouldn’t mean disappearing into the background, we need to be seen, heard and celebrated.

“That’s what Age UK is striving for – they’re changing how we perceive age.”

Read more:
What counts as a white Christmas?
CCTV shows festive thief

The charity’s chief executive, Paul Farmer, said: “Your donation could bring comfort, friendship, and care to an older person facing loneliness this winter.

“From friendly, weekly calls to local lunch clubs, we’re here to make sure no one spends winter alone. But we can’t do it without you.”

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