The Irish directors behind the TV adaption of the infamous Wagatha Christie libel trial have opened up their challenges to tell the story fairly in such a short space of time.
Cork natives Director Oonagh Kearney and Executive Producer Julie Ryan have created a new courtroom drama centred around the most talked about court case this year with Executive Producer
Vardy v Rooney: A Courtroom Drama will revolve around Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy's now infamous legal dispute and will be aired on Channel 4.
Read More : Hero soldier Sean Rooney to be laid to rest with full military honours
Speaking on RTE Radio 1, Oonagh said putting seven days of court transcripts into two hours of telly wasn’t easy.
“I was just heading into the second trimester when I met Julie… but I did feel capable to take it on.”
Julie added that the show was filmed in Budapest instead of the UK because of time restrictions.
She said: “It was commissioned without a script, without a writer, without cast and I think we had over 1,200 pages to condense down to 90 pages.
“I think the hardest job was the figure how we would tell that story fairly in that amount of time with a lot of legal backing as well and our writer Chris Atkins had a background in the courtroom himself and was really able to help us hone in on the moments he felt would be the most truthful and the most seismic moments of the trial.”
Oonagh said that while they hope to show some “funny moments” from the trial, the show will also show the “brutality of cross examination which our writer Chris had experienced himself” as well as how “smart those women are”.
Oonagh said: “It deepened my understanding of the two women in the case.”
Chanel Cresswell (This is England, Death In Paradise) will lead the cast as Coleen Rooney, with Natalia Tena (Harry Potter, Game of Thrones) starring opposite her as Rebekah Vardy.
Meanwhile, Good Omens actor Michael Sheen will play Coleen Rooney's barrister David Sherborne with Simon Coury (The Madman) as Hugh Tomlinson, the barrister who represented Vardy.
Rounding out the main cast are Dion Lloyd and Marci Nagyszokolyai who play Wayne Rooney and Jamie Vardy respectively.
Part one (of two) of Vardy v Rooney: A Courtroom Drama will air on Wednesday, December 21 on Channel 4 and All 4, with the second part airing the following day.
Speaking previously about the forthcoming series, director Oonagh said: “This trial utterly captivated the public with its daily feed of entertaining exchanges and jaw-dropping reveals.
"But behind this, is a story of two women under constant public scrutiny, fighting for their reputations. It's a privilege to work with Channel 4, writer Chris Atkins and the fantastic Chalkboard team to peel back the layers of this story and reveal the beating hearts within.”
READ NEXT:
- Ireland Christmas weather ‘roller-coaster’ amid new ‘Beast from the East’ threat
- JP McManus on his racing empire, gambling and taking every day as it comes
- Ryanair tells passengers 'find your own way home' after 480km diversion due to snow
- Irish farmers can bid for date with stunning blonde at cattle mart auction
- Operation Transformation star quits show as RTE announce replacement for new season return
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
