Rebekah Vardy reveals why she's returning to the limelight and responds to in-person abuse: "I think it's so misogynistic"

Jamie and Rebekah Vardy are letting fans into their lives in an intimate reality series, as cameras follow them leaving Leicester City after 13 years for a new life abroad.

Following the family on their move to Italy, it offers a closer look at Rebekah Vardy as she attempts to juggle it all – but it isn’t exactly what she had in mind.

As teased by ITV, Vardy manages the emotional and physical upheaval of the new move, as she reflects on her recent challenges in the UK, intent on putting the ‘Wagatha’ drama behind her and focusing on an exciting new chapter.

Ahead of the series launch, Radio Times sat down with Rebekah Vardy to discuss the new series…

 So tell us, why did you want to make a reality TV show about your new life in Italy?

“ Do you know what? I think this is the million dollar question, actually. We’ve been approached so many times to do shows like this, and it just never felt like it was the right time. But I think off the back of Jamie filming the Netflix documentary, it just felt like it was the right kind of transition, and it was the perfect opportunity because we had something new to talk about.

“We had something new in terms of we were moving to Italy, uprooting our whole family, and it was just like, ‘If we’re gonna do it, now is the perfect time to do it.'”

 And how have you been able to adapt to your new Italian life?

“Adapting to Italian life has been a mixture of incredible, but challenging at times as well. We looked at how we could balance the whole excitement of a new journey, but also dealing with the emotional turmoil of massive change as well. Obviously being at Leicester for so long, it was very emotional, and I think you kind of get really nervous because it’s like stepping into the unknown. We’ve never had to do that before. We’ve been so privileged and so lucky to be in one place for so long.

“ So when the opportunity for Jamie to play in Italy arose we were over the moon. It was exciting. It was gonna be a new challenge, and challenge accepted.”

 How’s your Italian?

“ Mm, poco.”

 You mentioned that the media have created a persona of you, as they do for so many people. Do you feel that this is an opportunity to rectify that, to get to correct that interpretation of you?

“I think there are a lot of misconceptions about people in the public eye, in the press, and I’ve dealt with it for so long now. But I thought this was the perfect opportunity to kind of open our lives up, as well as being protective, because obviously the kids are still really young, but actually to let people into our real lives and see that it’s not all glamorous.”

This represents the calm after the storm in some ways. Was it a lovely opportunity to have that on camera as well?

“ Definitely. It was a rest and reset for all of us, really. It was a chance to kind of escape the glare of the tabloids and the British public with the opinions and judgments, and it was just a real good opportunity to get away, to kind of reflect on what’s really important for us as a family, and spend some more quality time together, which, you know, has been amazing. It’s been great, but I’m back.”

 We know what you’re up against when you’re on those terraces. How do you armour yourself? Where do you go? How do you find that fuel to keep a smile on your face?

“I think it comes from a place of resilience. And I think throughout my whole life I’ve come across situations where I have been really uncomfortable. My childhood, the kind of environment that I was brought up in, where you kind of get told to shut your emotions down. So a lot of the time I do understand why I may come across as that really hard face – resting bitch face, as they like to call my persona.

“ But actually, do you know what? That couldn’t be further from the truth. That is not me at all. It’s just the armour that I put up. It’s the guard that I have because no one’s free from any criticism, are they? And that’s life. We have to take the good with the bad. But I think when you’re in the public eye, it’s intensified massively.”

Yeah, but I mean, when you’re standing there, it’s, what, 10,000 people, chanting your name. I just wonder what your trick was. I mean, something that we could all learn from.

“ Do you know what? I actually don’t think I have one. And when I’m going through times like that, and if I’m at away games, the home fans or the away fans balance out the noise. So I don’t tend to hear a lot of it which is actually quite nice. And I just think abuse in anything directed at anyone is not acceptable in any form. I think it’s disgusting, and I think it’s so misogynistic. But at the end of the day, I’m human. Of course it bothers me sometimes but in the tough times, I remind myself why I put myself in those situations, and that’s because I’m there to support my husband and that alone.”

 And you can see as well the support network around all of you, when the Inbetweeners come over. I got the impression, I don’t know if this is true, but you’ve probably had to have been quite long suffering over the years with them, and yet suddenly you couldn’t wait to see them. They were like a little bit of familiarity.

Do you know what? I love them. They are the most kind people you’ll ever come across, and I actually nicknamed them The Inbetweeners many years ago when I first met them. I was like, ‘You lot remind me of something. You are so chaotic.’ And I thought, ‘Yeah, that is it. Inbetweeners.’ And then the name stuck ever since. But they humble you real quick. Real quick. And I think that’s just what I love about them so much, there’s no airs and graces. They don’t care if they upset you because it’s constructive. When they criticise, it’s constructive. Like, if Jamie’s had a bad game, they will be the first on the group WhatsApp chat saying, ‘You’ve had a crap game,’ basically.”

How much control do you have over your family life?

When it comes down to football, I have absolutely no say whatsoever. That’s Jamie’s job. And he makes those decisions. And there’s been a few times where I have seen stuff where it’s been said, ‘Oh, she controls this, she controls that’. I don’t. I have nothing whatsoever to do with football. But yeah, we’re in the position we are, and we have the life we have because of what Jamie does. His job has given us the most incredible, you know, lifestyle. I’m my own worst critic. I could never sit here and say, His success is my doing. I just helped along the way.”

You’ve helped him at some key moments?

“His success is his doing. You can only lead a horse to water. You can’t make it drink. And I tried to just say to him, ‘Look, your life’s spiralling out of control. You need to make a decision and whatever that decision is, you need to make it for the right reasons. And I care because I want you to be successful within your own mind. And whether that’s with me, whether that’s with someone else, you have to do it for you.’ So I was very much the calm behind the craziness.

“Italy’s been really nice because it’s given me the chance just to be a mum. And just to focus on my family. And look after the kids and learn, you know, enjoy a new culture and meet new people.”

The last decade has been a rollercoaster – what’s next? Is Jamie going to stay in Italy? Will you be staying in Italy with him? Your children are reaching a different school age now. What is coming?

“I have no idea. That really is the million dollar question. Anything’s possible in football, and I think you just have to take each day as it comes. And I think what I’ve learned about this journey is we are so resilient as a unit. I think whatever challenges and whatever opportunities arise next, we’re ready to take them on.”

 Did you enjoy having the cameras in your house following you around? Did it keep you company? How did it feel having that first year journaled?

“Do you know what? It really was quite difficult. I’d gone for so long without having cameras around. It was different, but I think when you agree to doing something like that, you have to be so willing and honest and open, and everything has to be organic. Nothing is staged. Nothing is manufactured in any way. What you see is really what you get.

“And I just think that was the right time for us to do it. It was something to talk about, it was something new and our crew was amazing. They were brilliant. We had such a laugh while we were filming. It wasn’t all fun and games. There’s some quite emotional and traumatic parts to that. But all in all, it’s been an amazing experience. I’ve loved it.”

At the centre of it is your great union, Rebecca and Jamie. I mean, it’s an unusual and enduring love story for a footballer and his WAG. What’s the secret?

“How did you know you got it right when you first spotted each other? Well, we didn’t get it right. We got it very wrong. at the beginning. Our wedding anniversary, our 10-year anniversary is next Monday, actually. I think you just have to learn how to balance each other, how to communicate. Do things together. But most importantly, you need to support each other. And whether that’s Jamie off doing something that he needs support on, or I’m off doing something, I think you have to complement each other in every single aspect of your life. And I think communication is the biggest key as well. Without that, you don’t have a relationship.”

The Vardys begins on Tuesday 2 June at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

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