At home with the Bardsleys

EX-FOOTBALLER, TV STAR WIFE AND FAMILY IN NEW ITV SHOW

- By DIANNE BOURNE

TANYA Bardsley has been a familiar face on TV in recent years as a star of the Real Housewives of Cheshire, but now ex-footballer husband Phil is in on the action too with their new TV show following their lives.

Tanya admits it's taken a long time to persuade Phil to get in front of the camera, but he's a natural in their new ITVBe docuseries The Bardsley Bunch. Viewers are already demanding a series two after loving the exploits of the family so far.

Tanya laughs: "Phil was always adamant that he would never ever do it, but he eventually gave in. He's an absolute star, ITV knew it didn't they?"

Former United, Sunderland, Stoke, Burnley and Stockport County player Phil, 39, says of his reticence in the past to be filmed: "It wasn't my bag, I was busy doing football, I didn't have the time to do anything. The Housewives wasn't for me, but this is totally different."

So how has he found it? He says with a chuckle: "It's been ok to be fair."