Latest news with #FootballersWives
Daily Mail
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Ronnie O'Sullivan and Laila Rouass' tumultuous on-and-off again 14-year love story - as they finally tie the knot following major split ten months ago
Snooker pro Ronnie O'Sullivan and soap opera star Laila Rouass have finally tied the knot after a 14-year-on-off romance - and just ten months after their latest split. The couple made their long-awaited union official in a low-key London ceremony, with the Footballers' Wives actress, 54, announcing the news on Thursday in loved up Instagram post. Beaming on the front steps of St George's Town Hall in Shadwell, the newlyweds posed for a sweet photo with a whirlwind of confetti around them. Captioning the snap, Laila said the pair were pressing the 'refresh' button following their split in 2024 - when they claimed they were 'better as friends'. She added that the day was made extra special by the location of their nuptials, as she was born in the East End neighbourhood, on Cable Street, and it's 'where her heart belongs'. The couple's relationship has traversed many a rocky seas over the years, with two major breakups, metal health struggles and family hostility - with Ronnie's mother having once reportedly called Laila a 'prostitute'. However, it seems that the pair have very much found reconciliation, as news of the wedding comes just a week after it was claimed they were planning to relocate to Dubai for a 'fresh start' to see 'how it goes'. Taking off into the Emirati sunset may have likely provided some much needed respite for Ronnie and Laila, whose romance has made headlines since they first met by chance in 2011 and were engaged within four months of meeting. It seems that the pair have very much found reconciliation, as news of the wedding comes just a week after it was claimed they were planning to relocate to Dubai for a 'fresh start' to see 'how it goes'. Both pictured in 2023 They have split up and reunited several times; but starting afresh and leaving their rocky past behind in the UK, the pair were said to be pursuing a 'happy, quiet life' via their big move, insiders told The Sun. Fans have long feared for the future career of the seven-time world champion after he hinted that he was considering moving to Middle East following a poor run of matches earlier this year. The star told the BBC in May earlier this year that he was considering 'a new life somewhere else' but that he didn't know 'what the future will look like for me really'. It seems things are clearer for the snooker star now, with Laila, who hails from East London and is of Moroccan heritage. Dubai is also just two hours away from Riyadh, where Ronnie set up his snooker academy, and could form part of his relocation decision, a source said. His plans to leave the UK appear to be edging closer, with the eight-time Masters champion's £2million Epping Forest house up for sale and Laila back in his life. But it's not always been smooth sailing for the couple. The actress, who has starred in Holby City and EastEnders, previously described 'soul-destroying' struggles with Ronnie in the months leading up to their breakup last year - the second major split in their timeline. Their relationship began 14 years ago, when the snooker star made contact with Laila and asked her to view his house which he had recently put on the market. When she went to the viewing, his father Ronnie Sr. showed her around, while talking up his son. 'It happened by accident,' she previously said. 'I was shown around Ronnie's house by his father, who told his son about meeting me. Ronnie called the estate agent, a friend of mine, and asked me out via her. 'When he said he was a snooker player I said, 'yeah but what does he do for a living?' I'd never heard of him because sport doesn't interest me at all, although Ronnie's won me over to snooker.' They subsequently moved into a property in Essex together having dated for just four months - with also taking care of her daughter, Inez, who was born from a previous marriage. By February 2013, they were engaged. However, the nuptials didn't come in the next few years, and Laila told the Mirror in 2019: 'I'd have to really gear myself up for a wedding. At the moment we've put it on the back burner and we're enjoying our time so there's no rush.' In 2022 - after a decade together - Laila shocked fans when she announced their first major split. 'After nearly ten years of love and memories, Ronnie & I have parted ways,' she wrote on Instagram. 'Peace & love to you all. Laila X.' The separation did not last long, however, and by April of that year Laila was spotted wearing her engagement ring once again. By May, after a month filled with rumours and speculation, the pair confirmed their reconciliation, before jetting off on holiday. The actress said, that year, that open communication brought them back together after their split. 'We found our way back, we just worked it out. Back when I announced it, we hadn't been together for almost eight months at that time' she told Loose Women. 'Talking is so underrated. If you can sit down and say how you feel and what you want when you get older that is much easier to say too.' They have faced challenges relating to their families, with Ronnie's mother Maria having reportedly taken an 'instant dislike' to Laila and called her 's**g' during a bitter row, the snooker star's sister Danielle alleged in an interview. Speaking to The Sun in 2020, Ronnie's younger sister Danielle shared how his mother once labelled her 'a f***ing s***g'. She claimed: 'Ronnie has given Mum so much help in the past. But when he asked her for £15,000 last year, he told me she said, "I'm not giving you money for that f*****g s**g!" 'She has shown me Laila's number saved on her phone under "the revolving f***y" and allegedly told Ronnie that "she's just a prostitute - she'll sleep with anyone".' Maria, who served a year-long prison sentence for tax evasion back in 1996, was claimed to be a factor in her son's relationship with Laila deteriorating. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline in 2022, a female relative of Laila's, who did not want to be named, slammed Maria for her attitude, claiming that it did not help Laila and Ronnie's relationship. 'We are a big family with good values and believe in conducting ourselves properly and behaving and speaking decently,' they explained. 'I don't feel that it's respectful to talk about Laila in this way. 'Ronnie's mum's attitude in the relationship has not helped. She does not sound like a very nice person to me. It's probably better that Laila and Ronnie didn't get married because who would want a mother-in-law like that?' And though Ronnie and Laila have weathered many a storm, they have both acted as pillars of support during tense periods in each others lives. From the beginning, Laila been a stabilising influence for the seven-time world champion, whose struggles with depression, alcohol and drug abuse are well documented. 'I'm so proud of him and think he's very capable of handling his depression these days,' Laila said after Ronnie, who has three children from previous relationships, was awarded an OBE in 2016. 'He's been strong enough to seek help, and brave enough to talk about the problem, and is so positive and upbeat about life,' she told The Sun. 'I do support him - just as he supports me - and it's easy to support someone when you know what they're going through. You know what you should and shouldn't say - it's about creating a safety net around them. 'He's under an immense amount of pressure, he's always a favourite to win, which can be hard, and we have to take that on board. 'He lives a very healthy lifestyle these days and uses exercise, especially running, to help him keep his depression at bay. It's inspiring being with him to be honest.' Ronnie embraced the relationship equally wholeheartedly, forging a strong relationship with Laila's daughter Inez, who was born in February 2007. A desire to spend more time with her daughter prompted Laila to leave her role as Sahira Shah in the medical drama Holby City in 2012, and the willingness with which Ronnie embraced the role of step-father was crucial in cementing the relationship. 'Ronnie's lovely with his children, we see them often, and he's a fabulous step-father to Inez,' Laila told the Belfast Telegraph. 'He's such a good male role model for her and they're friends who laugh together as well. 'We're so lucky to have him. It was key to me that they got on because she's my priority.' Their relationship, which first blossomed in 2011, has traversed many a rocky seas over the years, with two major breakups, metal health struggles and family hostility - Ronnie's mother having once reportedly called Laila a 'prostitute'. Ronnie pictured in 1996 Ronnie, for his part, has credited Laila with toughening him up. 'Laila's just a bit more streetwise than me, a bit more savvy,' said the scorer of a record 15 maximum 147 breaks. The fiery love story however endured more turmoil, as in 2024, another break-up came, with rumours of separation first swirling in September after the actress was seen without her engagement ring during an appearance on This Morning. But then, days later, Ronnie was seen putting the bins out in his Y-fronts and slippers at the house they share in Essex. A few months on, in December, Laila addressed the rumours in an Instagram post as as shared an AI filtered image of herself alongside the caption: 'Break ups can strip you down to your essence.' However, she didn't directly name Ronnie. Insiders had also claimed at the time that while they tried their hardest to make it work, the couple struggled to persevere through their increasingly diverging lives. However, according to reports, Laila had chosen to remain in their family home while Ronnie had secured a new abode nearby - with the exes reportedly maintaining a friendship. Work commitments were said to have caused the pair to drift apart, although the split appeared amicable after they were spotted sharing an embrace during a dog walk. 'He kept posting pics of them online at home together and saying romantic things on special occasions, but that's all come to a halt,' one source told The Sun. 'They've tried so hard but they just can't make it work. There is a lot of love between them but they have been going in different directions and conceded it is over. 'Ronnie has spent months and months on the road this year doing snooker tours for big money in China and Saudi Arabia while Laila has been concentrating on her acting career.' An insider close to the pair also told MailOnline: 'There's no bad blood between them. They're getting on with their lives and continue to be close friends. There's no ugly fallout, that's for sure.' At the time of their breakup, a resurfaced clip from Ronnie's Prime Video documentary The Edge Of Everything indicated the couple had been battling troubles for a while, with a terse exchange showing Ronnie discussing his 'demons'. In the programme, Laila sat down with the snooker playerafter his 6-4 defeat to Neil Robertson at the Masters in 2022 where she described how 'hard' it was to watch him go through defeats. 'It's like so soul-destroying. But that's because I think you do love it, as much as you maybe hate to admit it,' she said. Their nuptials appeared to however, cement a new chapter for the love story. Laila, who is of Moroccan and Indian heritage, looked every inch the blushing bride in an elegant silk dress and black cowboy boots as she cuddled up to her new husband Ronnie in photos from their big day. She also sported a traditional Palestinian scarf, known as the Keffiyeh, in a show of support for the country, which she reiterated in a caption after previously calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. She penned: 'Palestinians have taught me so much, most importantly to honour human connection, make love your motivator and to keep refreshing it. 'So l suppose after almost a year was one way of pressing the refresh button. Ok... so it wasn't Venice... that was fully booked. 'It was Cable Street in Shadwell where I was born and where my heart belongs. It's where in 1936, local activists along with the Jewish community gathered together to demonstrate against the planned fascist BUF marchers. 'The Battle of Cable Street was used by my father as an example of how a community rooted in justice, can bring we all have a duty to fight for the freedom and rights of others. 'The East End is the land of the immigrants. Its vibrancy, diversity and working class roots is something I treasure. 'I was born there, I was educated there, today I was married there and I will be buried there because my roots are my roots. Free Palestine. Mrs O'Sullivan.'
Daily Mail
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Ronnie O'Sullivan and Laila Rouass MARRIED: Couple finally tie the knot 10 months after split in low-key town hall ceremony in Shadwell
Ronnie O'Sullivan has Laila Rouass have married, ten months after the couple had ended their on-off relationship. The pair officially tied the knot in a low-key London ceremony after 13years together. Taking to Instagram, the Footballers' Wives star, shared an image of she and the snooker star, smiling outside St George's Town Hall in Shadwell, East London, covered in confetti. Laila, 54 - who is of Moroccan and Indian heritage, penned, 'Palestinians have taught me so much, most importantly to honour human connection, make love your motivator and to keep refreshing it. So l suppose after almost a year was one way of pressing the refresh button. Ok... so it wasn't was fully booked. 'It was Cable Street in Shadwell where I was born and where my heart belongs. It's where in 1936, local activists along with the Jewish community gathered together to demonstrate against the planned fascist BUF marchers. 'The Battle of Cable Street was used by my father as an example of how a community rooted in justice, can bring we all have a duty to fight for the freedom and rights of others. The East End is the land of the immigrants. Its vibrancy, diversity and working class roots is something I treasure. I was born there, I was educated there, today I was married there and I will be buried there because my roots are my roots. Free Palestine Mrs O'Sullivan' First to congratulate the newly-weds was TV presenter, Lisa Snowdon, who wrote, 'Ahhhh congratulations guys!' Followed by former Loose Women panellist, Saira Khan, stated, 'Huge congratulations sister x' It is the seven-time World Snooker Champion's first trip down the aisle, but Laila married Abdeslam Rouass in 1990. The couple divorced in 2003, and he was later jailed for fraud. Recently, The Sun reported that Ronnie and Laila are hoping for a 'clean break' by ditching the UK for a new life in Dubai. They also alleged Ronnie, 49, is selling his £2 million home in Chigwell, Essex, and will relocate to the UAE with Laila. A source claimed Ronnie and Laila have been back together 'for a while.' They also added, 'The time apart gave them time to think about what they want and what is important to them — and that is being together.' Back in December, the Footballer's Wives star confirmed reports that the couple had decided to part ways for good. Earlier this month, publication reported that not only had they got back together, they were planning on ditching the UK for a new life in Dubai. Ronnie is reportedly selling his £2million home in Chigwell, Essex, and will relocate to the UAE with Laila. 'Ronnie is moving to the Middle East and Laila is going with him. They've talked about living in Dubai, which is just a two-hour flight from where Ronnie has his snooker academy in Saudi Arabia. 'They have had their issues in the past but Ronnie and Laila have worked through it and seem really happy again.' In December, Laila first broke her silence on her split from Ronnie, telling the Mirror: 'I am going to keep that under wraps for now until there is something to speak about. Last year, the actress took to Instagram to speak out for the first time after her split from the snooker legend. 'Break ups can strip you down to your essence,' she wrote. 'I got through mine by using pain as fuel to take control because no matter what, we will lose parts of ourselves in relationships. It's normal, don't beat yourself up. 'One thing I'm conscious of not doing is trying to get back where I was. No, I'm discovering who I've become. I've gone through various emotions... hurt, pain, anger but what I've realised about anger is that it's bottomless.' Laila's comments came after the couple put their £2 million Epping Forest home up for sale. Images show the luxury interior including Ronnie's favourite portrait of Raquel Welch on a crucifix which adorned the wall of a staircase. But despite the smart white carpeting and plush decor, O'Sullivan could never persuade his ex-love to agree to install a snooker table, friends revealed to Mail Online. One friend said: 'They had some very happy years there, Ronnie was successful in his snooker and Laila was in some great TV dramas like Footballers Wives and Life isn't all Ha Ha Hee Hee. 'They are selling the house together. It's all agreed and should work out financially without any problems. Ronnie has a new place and has got himself a snooker table there.' Suggestions that the couple's famously on-off relationship was back in trouble first emerged in September - but then days later Ronnie was seen putting the bins out in his Y-fronts and slippers at the house they share in Essex. The couple were also photographed together in the days that followed - but since then it's understood they have both accepted their relationship has run its course. Laila is continuing to live in the mansion and has installed a Christmas tree in the front window with glittering lights and daily takes her two dogs for walks in nearby woodland. Her relationship with Ronnie first blossomed in 2011 after the snooker champ called her up to view his house that was recently put on the market and was given a tour by his father Ronnie O'Sullivan Sr. They went on to have a relationship that lasted more than a decade and had planned to wed. In an old interview Laila previously explained how they had first got together: ''It happened by accident. 'I was shown around Ronnie's house by his father, who told his son about meeting me. Ronnie called the estate agent, a friend of mine, and asked me out via her. 'When he said he was a snooker player I said, 'yeah but what does he do for a living?' I'd never heard of him because sport doesn't interest me at all, although Ronnie's won me over to snooker.' They confirmed their whirlwind romance by getting engaged in the following year. Speaking of their long engagement, Laila, who has a seven-year-old daughter called Inez from a previous relationship, told The Mirror in 2019: 'I'd have to really gear myself up for a wedding. 'At the moment we've put it on the back burner and we're enjoying our time so there's no rush.' But the couple split up after a decade together with Laila making the announcement to shocked fans. 'After nearly ten years of love and memories, Ronnie & I have parted ways,' she wrote on Instagram in February 2022. 'Peace & love to you all. Laila X.' However, that separation did not last long and by April, Laila was spotted wearing her engagement ring once again. The following month, the pair confirmed their reconciliation, before jetting off on holiday. The actress said last year that open communication brought them back together after their split. Laila said: 'We found our way back, we just worked it out. Back when I announced it, we hadn't been together for almost eight months at that time. 'Talking is so underrated. If you can sit down and say how you feel and what you want when you get older that is much easier to say too.' However, this time there doesn't seem to be a way back for them. The actress, who featured in the 2009 series of Strictly Come Dancing, surprised her 68,000 Instagram followers last week by revealing her new optimistic outlook on life in what it's now clear was her first detailed post as a single woman. She posted: 'How are you all? I'm slowly dipping my toe back into Instagram. I took a much-needed break from socials to get my s*** together because these last few months have been testing to say the least.' Laila continued: 'The thing is, stepping back has been nothing short of magical and I think that's largely because I've found faith. 'I don't necessarily mean the religious kind, although that does make up part of my faith journey, I mean actually discovering what faith can do for me and how it's always been there, l've just not given it the acknowledgment it deserves. What's struck me is how faith is so much bigger than I am, so much more powerful and so much more effective. 'You can call it God, Allah, Buddha, nature, energy, frequency, it doesn't matter. What matters is the perspective and peace it gives you. 'l've realised how faith controls so much more than I ever could and that was an epiphany for me. It's had the most profound effect. 'I feel so much lighter and I feel as if my heart has really, truly and fully opened. 'I have been approaching things with an open heart and mind because I really do have faith that things will work themselves out. That life will be good and to enjoy what l have because as good as life is, it's also fickle. 'Truly understanding faith has given me so much freedom to make choices that are not always safe. She continued: 'It's liberating to just let go of the bullshit and anything or anyone that's a thief of joy.' 'I wanted to share this with you because I'm entering a new chapter of my life and it's terribly exciting. Exciting because I don't feel alone. 'I have my faith right next to me and it's taught me that life is infinitely more richer when it's lived in honesty and trust.
Daily Mail
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Ronnie O'Sullivan 'reunites with ex-fiancée Laila Rouass 10 months after split as they ditch the UK for a shock new life abroad'
Ronnie O'Sullivan has reportedly reunited with his ex Laila Rouass, 10 months after the couple ended their decade-long relationship. In December, the Footballer's Wives star confirmed reports that the couple had decided to part ways for good. However, The Sun are now reporting that not only are Ronnie and Laila back together, they are hoping for a 'clean break' by ditching the UK for a new life in Dubai. Ronnie, 49, is reportedly selling his £2 million home in Chigwell, Essex, and will relocate to the UAE with Laila, 53. Sharing that Ronnie and Laila have been back together 'for a while,' a source told the publication: 'They have been back together for a while. 'The time apart gave them time to think about what they want and what is important to them — and that is being together. 'Ronnie is moving to the Middle East and Laila is going with him. They've talked about living in Dubai, which is just a two-hour flight from where Ronnie has his snooker academy in Saudi Arabia. 'They have had their issues in the past but Ronnie and Laila have worked through it and seem really happy again.' MailOnline has contacted representatives for Ronnie O'Sullivan and Laila Rouass for comment. In December, Laila first broke her silence on her split from Ronnie, telling the Mirror: 'I am going to keep that under wraps for now until there is something to speak about. Last year, the 53-year-old actress took to Instagram to speak out for the first time after her split from the snooker legend. 'Break ups can strip you down to your essence,' she wrote. 'I got through mine by using pain as fuel to take control because no matter what, we will lose parts of ourselves in relationships. It's normal, don't beat yourself up. 'One thing I'm conscious of not doing is trying to get back where I was. No, I'm discovering who I've become. I've gone through various emotions... hurt, pain, anger but what I've realised about anger is that it's bottomless.' Rouass' recent comments came a month after the couple put their £2 million Epping Forest home up for sale. Images show the luxury interior including Ronnie's favourite portrait of Raquel Welch on a crucifix which adorned the wall of a staircase. But despite the smart white carpeting and plush decor, O'Sullivan could never persuade his ex-love to agree to install a snooker table, friends revealed to Mail Online. One friend said: 'They had some very happy years there, Ronnie was successful in his snooker and Laila was in some great TV dramas like Footballers Wives and Life isn't all Ha Ha Hee Hee. 'They are selling the house together. It's all agreed and should work out financially without any problems. Ronnie has a new place and has got himself a snooker table there.' Suggestions that the couple's famously on-off relationship was back in trouble first emerged in September - but then days later Ronnie was seen putting the bins out in his Y-fronts and slippers at the house they share in Essex. The couple were also photographed together in the days that followed - but since then it's understood they have both accepted their relationship has run its course. Laila is continuing to live in the mansion and has installed a Christmas tree in the front window with glittering lights and daily takes her two dogs for walks in nearby woodland. Her relationship with Ronnie first blossomed in 2011 after the snooker champ called her up to view his house that was recently put on the market and was given a tour by his father Ronnie O'Sullivan Sr. They went on to have a relationship that lasted more than a decade and had planned to wed. In an old interview Laila previously explained how they had first got together: ''It happened by accident. 'I was shown around Ronnie's house by his father, who told his son about meeting me. Ronnie called the estate agent, a friend of mine, and asked me out via her. 'When he said he was a snooker player I said, 'yeah but what does he do for a living?' I'd never heard of him because sport doesn't interest me at all, although Ronnie's won me over to snooker.' They confirmed their whirlwind romance by getting engaged in the following year. Speaking of their long engagement, Laila, who has a seven-year-old daughter called Inez from a previous relationship, told The Mirror in 2019: 'I'd have to really gear myself up for a wedding. 'At the moment we've put it on the back burner and we're enjoying our time so there's no rush.' But the couple split up after a decade together with Laila making the announcement to shocked fans. 'After nearly ten years of love and memories, Ronnie & I have parted ways,' she wrote on Instagram in February 2022. 'Peace & love to you all. Laila X.' However, that separation did not last long and by April, Laila was spotted wearing her engagement ring once again. The following month, the pair confirmed their reconciliation, before jetting off on holiday. The actress said last year that open communication brought them back together after their split. Laila said: 'We found our way back, we just worked it out. Back when I announced it, we hadn't been together for almost eight months at that time. 'Talking is so underrated. If you can sit down and say how you feel and what you want when you get older that is much easier to say too.' However, this time there doesn't seem to be a way back for them. The actress, who featured in the 2009 series of Strictly Come Dancing, surprised her 68,000 Instagram followers last week by revealing her new optimistic outlook on life in what it's now clear was her first detailed post as a single woman. She posted: 'How are you all? I'm slowly dipping my toe back into Instagram. I took a much-needed break from socials to get my s*** together because these last few months have been testing to say the least.' Laila continued: 'The thing is, stepping back has been nothing short of magical and I think that's largely because I've found faith. 'I don't necessarily mean the religious kind, although that does make up part of my faith journey, I mean actually discovering what faith can do for me and how it's always been there, l've just not given it the acknowledgment it deserves. What's struck me is how faith is so much bigger than I am, so much more powerful and so much more effective. 'You can call it God, Allah, Buddha, nature, energy, frequency, it doesn't matter. What matters is the perspective and peace it gives you. 'l've realised how faith controls so much more than I ever could and that was an epiphany for me. It's had the most profound effect. 'I feel so much lighter and I feel as if my heart has really, truly and fully opened. 'I have been approaching things with an open heart and mind because I really do have faith that things will work themselves out. That life will be good and to enjoy what l have because as good as life is, it's also fickle. 'Truly understanding faith has given me so much freedom to make choices that are not always safe. She continued: 'It's liberating to just let go of the bullshit and anything or anyone that's a thief of joy.' 'I wanted to share this with you because I'm entering a new chapter of my life and it's terribly exciting. Exciting because I don't feel alone. 'I have my faith right next to me and it's taught me that life is infinitely more richer when it's lived in honesty and trust.
Daily Mirror
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Ronnie O'Sullivan and former fiancee Laila Rouass agree deal to seal clean break
The snooker icon, 49, is now understood to be planning to quit the UK and move to the Middle East where he has a snooker academy Ronnie O'Sullivan and Laila Rouass have agreed a deal to sell their former home, as they prepare for a clean break. The former couple, who announced in December they had split after an on-off 12-year relationship, put the five-bed home up for sale for £2million earlier this year. A source told the Mirror: "The property has now been sold, subject to contract." Seven-time world snooker champ Ronnie, 49, and former EastEnders and Footballers Wives actress Laila, 53, jointly bought the house, in Woodford Green, east London, for £1.35million in June 2018. The dad-of-three is now understood to be planning to quit the UK and move to the Middle East where he has a snooker academy. Speaking after being knocked out of the World Snooker Championship, which ended last month, Ronnie admitted: "There's going to be a few changes in my life. I think I'm going to be moving out of the UK. "I'm going to start a new life somewhere else. I'll still try to play snooker, but I don't know what the future looks like for me, really. "Am I not playing again? I'm not saying anything. I've said it so many times. I'm not saying anything other than I'm moving away soon. There's a lot more important things in life to worry about than a game of snooker." Ronnie and Laila, who got engaged in 2013 but never married, first got together in 2012 after she was shown around a previous house of his while she was property hunting. He later asked her out via the estate agent, who was a pal of hers. Their relationship was rocked by claims Ronnie's mum Maria had called Laila "a prostitute" and the couple initially split in February 2022. They reconciled just months later, but then parted ways again last year. Laila confirmed she and Ronnie had decided to split for good following months of speculation after she was seen without her engagement ring during an appearance on This Morning in August last year. She later wrote on Instagram: "Break ups can strip you down to your essence. "I got through mine by using pain as fuel to take control because no matter what, we will lose parts of ourselves in relationships. It's normal, don't beat yourself up. "One thing I'm conscious of not doing is trying to get back where I was. No, I'm discovering who I've become. I've gone through various emotions... hurt, pain, anger, but what I've realised about anger is that it's bottomless. "The thing about break ups... It doesn't have to be a sad time. It doesn't have to be hard. It can be the beginning of new adventures, new learnings. "It can be a wonderful teacher. Using self-compassion and manifesting a new life without someone you love can still lead you to a place of joy."
Daily Mirror
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Footballer's Wives cast now from Corrie to trauma that made star quit fame
From burned boobs and swapped babies to bonking the manager to death, there was no shortage of drama on ITV's iconic Footballer's Wives, but what happened to stars including Zoe Lucker and Susie Amy once the cameras stopped rolling? Back in the early Noughties, Footballers Wives was a riot of cocaine snorting, bed-hopping and murder - with a hefty amount of back-stabbing thrown in for good measure. The plotlines were outrageous - like the time chief WAG Tanya Turner (Zoe Lucker) decided to 'sh*g' the manager of Premier League club Earls Park FC to death. Or when Chardonnay (Susie Amy) let bad egg Jason Turner (Cristian Solimeno) plunge to his death after he rejected his son Paddy for being born an hermaphrodite. On Tuesday, May 7, fans were delighted as some of the cast reunited on the This Morning sofa for a nostalgic interview 23 years after the salacious drama first hit our screens. Joining presenters Ben Shephard, 50, and Cat Deeley, 48, were Laila Rouass, 53, and Susie Amy, 44, who played WAGs Amber Gates and Chardonnay Lane-Pascoe. They were accompanied by Gary Lucy, 43, who played footballer and Chardonnay's husband Kyle Pascoe, as well as Alison Newman, 57, who was sports agent Hazel Bailey. When asked by Ben about the possibility of a reboot, Gary said: "I think it would go down a storm to be honest." Before reality TV was properly a thing, the ITV offering was compulsive viewing. Sadly it wound up after just four series, but what became of cult show's stars after the champagne stopped flowing? Zoe Luker - Tanya Turner As the wicked witch of the WAGs, Tanya lived to sniff cocaine and plot the downfall of others. Primarily intent getting husband Jason to keep his mini-Jase in his pants, the calculating star plotted, manipulated and connived her way to the top of the pecking order. Unburdened by remorse, she left manager Frank Laslett for dead before bedding Jason's agent Hazel Bailey (Alison Newman). But her crowning glory came when she cooked up a plot to bonk Frank to death using a cocktail of cocaine, Viagra and booze. After leaving Footballer's Wives, Tanya fittingly popped up in jailbird drama Bad Girls, serving hard time after being caught red-handed with her precious narcs. But in real life, actress Zoe's personality couldn't be further away from that of her alter-ego and to this day she struggles to watch some of the x-rated antics Tanya got up to. "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!" the Waterloo Road star previously told The Mirror. "Oh my word, there was a plane scene so explicit it was like porn – I was having champagne poured all over my t*ts! I had to snort Lucozade powder as fake cocaine. I'm very grateful for the role, but afterwards I took myself out of the limelight for a while. I did some theatre in New Zealand and I did some volunteer work in Zambia. I needed to take a step back. I'm very happy not to have that level of fame now." Zoe went on to star in EastEnders and Hollyoaks but quit in 2016 to spend more time with her daughter Lily, and husband James Herbert. She is now on an indefinite hiatus from acting, telling Attitude magazine in 2024: "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 added. But she delighted fans when she was spotted in the audience of Dancing On Ice in February 2024 cheering on former co-star Ricky Norwood and I'm A Celebrity star Adele Roberts. Guest judge Johnny Weir alerted the crowds to her presence, exclaiming: "Zoë I love you so much – thank you for Tanya!" Cristian Solimeno - Jason Turner Like his wife Tanya, Jason was constantly furious and looking for a kick-off. Deeply damaged after being given up for adoption by his birth parents, he enjoyed tormenting those closest to him, including his long-suffering spouse. His coup de grace came when he unknowingly got teammate Kyle's mum Jackie Pascoe (Gillian Taylforth) pregnant, and Kyle and his wife Chardonnay tried to pass the baby off as their own. Things got messy when Jason found out and decided to claim little Paddy as his own, only to reject the tot when he discovered he'd been born an hermaphrodite. Marred by his own meddling, Jason plunged to his death at the end of series two as Chardonnay watched on, refusing to help. Cristian, now 44, later appeared in Wire in the Blood, Spooks and Hollyoaks, and wrote and directed psychological thriller The Glass Man starring Neve Campbell. And just like Zoe, he had nothing in common with his wayward character and even had to ditch his own clean living in a bid to get on his level. He said at the time: "I've started drinking again, and puffing on big cigars... that's Jason, he spirals out of control physically. Usually I'm an exercise fanatic and I rely on that as a coping mechanism, but I injured myself training for this. "Jason's always out drinking and I couldn't even remember what it was like to be drunk. I hadn't touched a drop for like, two years." Susie Amy - Chardonnay Lane-Pascoe Glamour model Chardonnay didn't need no man to take care of her and refused to stop stripping just because she was engaged to Kyle Pascoe (Gary Lucy). But her feminist plan was heartbreakingly foiled when her fake boobs caught fire on her hen do, leaving her scarred for life. She instead threw herself in to trying to have a baby, and when that failed, she hatched the fateful plan to raise little Paddy. But unlike Tanya, Chardonnay wasn't cut out for duplicity and after Jason's sticky end, she died from an eating disorder, exacerbated by guilt. In real life, Susie and Gary reunited on screen to play exes Luke and Scarlett Morgan on Hollyoaks in 2018. And when she gave birth to daughter Noa in 2019, he was first on the scene, cracking the jokes. "F**k! Did we? No? S**t?!!!" Gary cheekily commented on her Instagram picture. Since then she has appeared in Death In Paradise and Silent Hours. She appeared in a theatre production of The Marilyn Conspiracy, playing Marilyn Monroe's close friend Pat Newcomb on the night of the movie star's tragic death. Susie has been with fellow actor Raphael Bar for years and now shares two children with him. Gary Lucy - Kyle Pascoe Gary had already made a name for himself as a teen actor on Hollyoaks, portraying a harrowing rape storyline when his character Luke was attacked. And so just 21 when he joined the cast of Footballer's Wives, the show came as light relief. "I was living the dream at the time and I thoroughly enjoyed it," Gary - who has since starred in The Bill and EastEnders - told The Sun. And in exciting news for fans, the actor also hinted at a possible reunion. "There has been loads of talk about it but would I go back? I'd absolutely love to revisit that at some point but who knows what the future brings." And while Kyle never managed to fulfil his baby dreams with Chardonnay, Gary is the proud dad of children India Jasmine, Sadie, Elvis and Theodore, who he welcomed with ex-wife Natasha Grey. Ben Price - Conrad Gates These days Ben is of course better known as slippery Nick Tilsley from Coronation Street. But almost 20 years ago he was a relative unknown when he joined the cast as the savage captain of Earls Park. Despite being married to Amber, Conrad quickly embarked on a toxic affair with Tanya and was up the proverbial creek without a paddle when both got pregnant at the same time. Unbeknown to Conrad though, was that Frank was actually the father of Tanya's baby and in a bid to cover her tricky tracks, she swapped her newborn with Amber's. Sadly, with Frank freshly dead, her machinating imploded in her face when Amber's 'son' got smothered to death by her pet dog, leaving Tanya distraught. Post Earls Park, Ben has enjoyed a stellar career, starring in Casualty and The Tudors before joining Coronation Street in 2009. He has two children - Paloma and Max - with wife Alexandra Wheeler and walked away from Corrie for a brief spell to be a stay-at-home dad in 2017. He told the Daily Star: "I only left to go back to my kids, so I took them to school and made packed lunches and became a dad and didn't think about Nick Tilsley or the street." Katherine Monaghan - Donna Walmsley In a world of vicious barbs and backstabbing, Donna and her husband Ian were the warmth of the show. Fresh to Earls Park as a promising young player, he desperately wanted to help Donna find the son she'd been forced to give up for adoption as a teenager. But while Donna was good, her little sister wasn't quite so straightlaced and wound up having an affair with Jason. These days, Katherine, 45, is known for appearing in British crime drama Vera along with BBC dramas 55 Degrees North and Judge John Deed. She has also stars in plays at London's Theatre 503 and Live Theatre Company in her native Newcastle.
