‘I’d love to do the jungle’
Real Housewives Of Cheshire star Tanya Bardsley on her coronavirus nightmare and reality TV dreams
It’s fair to say Tanya Bardsley hasn’t had the easiest of times recently. As well as dealing with the ups and downs of nearly a year of lockdowns, the Real Housewives Of Cheshire star had to isolate for six weeks when she and members of her family came down with coronavirus.
“Oh my God, it’s been a nightmare. We’ve all had it!” Tanya reveals.
In 2019, the 37-year-old, who’s married to footballer Phil, 35, had to be airlifted to hospital after falling off a horse during filming for Celebs On The Ranch. She’s still feeling the effects of her accident, which resulted in a cracked pelvis, three fractures and chipped bones in her back.
“I’ll always have problems with it,”she says.“But at least I can walk! There was one point where I thought I wasn’t going to be able to.”
When we catch up with Tan, who’s mum to Gabriella, 18, Rocco, 11, Renz, seven, and four-year-old Ralphi, the reality star opens up about contracting coronavirus, lockdown struggles and filming Real Housewives under restrictions...
Hi Tan! How has the last year been for you?
In the beginning I quite liked it. My life is so full-on and I’m always taking the kids to football and to school. Apart from the scary bit, like worrying about family, especially the elderly,
I’ve enjoyed spending time with all of us at home as a family. But now that’s worn right off!
Let’s talk homeschooling. How have you found being a teacher?
It’s a nightmare. It’s like asking me to build a house – I’m not a builder! I couldn’t even get the little buggers to sit down, let alone teach them anything. I’m dyslexic and one of our kids is dyslexic, too.
How have the kids adapted to lockdown?
They’ve loved it, they think it’s brilliant. If it had been when we were at school, we’d have loved it too!
The younger children probably like being home with mum and dad…
Yeah, they love it! But my daughter hates it because she’s just turned 18, so being stuck in is an absolute nightmare.
Have all the family suffered from coronavirus?
Yeah! Gabriella had it first. We all had it at different times, so we had to do six weeks isolating. And then when we came out, we were in a national lockdown!
You had to do the last reunion virtually...
Housewives
Yeah, we had to go virtual! I thought it was going to be great. I thought, “I can’t get wound up over a bloody iPad.” Anyway, I did and I was screaming away. I was sitting in my garden and I thought,“I’ve just walked away from an iPad, what the hell am I doing?” We’ve not done a reunion this time because it’s a lot to get done.
How did you find the last series?
It was a nightmare! Because it was so on and off and everyone was isolating. We went on the away trip and Lauren Simon contracted it so everyone had to go home.
Dawn Ward has said she won’t be returning for the next series. Did you see that coming?
Yeah [laughs]!
Are you on speaking terms?
Me and Dawn haven’t spoken for nearly a year, but I wish her all the best.
Do you think the show will bring in a new housewife?
Every time we lose a big character, we always get one or two new ones.
What do you think of the new franchise, The Real Housewives Of Jersey?
I can’t wait to watch it. I just love all the Housewives franchises and they are all so different. Different characters, accents and lifestyles. I love them all.
You’ve done a few shows now. What do you think of reality TV?
I love it! But I don’t get to watch a lot of it, because I’m too busy being on it or trying to scream at the kids.
Are there any shows you haven’t done yet but you’d like to do?
I’d love to do the jungle. I would love it. I wouldn’t mind going back to Arizona [where Celebs On The Ranch was filmed], but I wouldn’t get on a horse again.
‘Teaching my kids is a nightmare. I couldn’t even get the little buggers to sit down’