Wayne and Coleen Rooney are potentially risking the stability of their long-term marriage by inviting television cameras into their private lives for a major new series, a leading psychologist has exclusively warned.
The Reality TV Pressure Cooker
TV psychologist Emma Kenny has issued a stark caution to the famous couple as they prepare to star in a 10-part Disney+ docu-series, currently under the working title The Rooneys. The show promises to reveal the pair "like we’ve never seen them before", but Kenny warns it could pile unbearable pressure on a relationship that has already weathered numerous storms over 23 years together.
"So many celebrity couples break up after being on reality TV because the show doesn’t just reflect the relationship, it reshapes it," Kenny stated. "Coleen and Wayne must remember that a TV show is only temporary – but the emotional consequences can be permanent."
The series, filming for which is already well under way, is reportedly the brainchild of Coleen, 39. A source revealed she is keen to build on her television success following her Disney+ documentary, Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story, and her 2024 appearance on I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! She is determined to be seen as more than just a footballer's wife.
Why This Gamble Could Backfire
Emma Kenny explained that reality television creates a uniquely stressful environment for any relationship. "When big-name celebrity couples sign up for reality television, they are stepping into a pressure cooker that few relationships are built to withstand," she said.
She detailed how the format strips away privacy, replacing it with constant surveillance, manufactured conflict, and public judgement. Producers, she noted, are incentivised to expose fault lines rather than protect intimacy. Private moments that would normally be resolved quietly become public content, replayed and criticised by millions.
This exposure could be particularly dangerous for the Rooneys, who have previously navigated serious marital issues, including Wayne's infidelity with sex workers. "Power dynamics shift when one partner is portrayed more favourably than the other, or when public sympathy lands unevenly," Kenny cautioned. "Shame, humiliation and perceived betrayal can take root, particularly if one partner feels exposed or undermined for entertainment."
A Source of Strength or Strain?
Despite the warnings, a source close to the couple suggests the documentary process is currently having a positive effect. "They’ve had their ups and downs, but this [show] is doing their relationship good," the source claimed. They revealed that Wayne, 40, now looks at his wife with fresh admiration, realising how lucky he is to have her, especially after seeing her entrepreneurial drive and her handling of the Wagatha Christie court case.
The couple, parents to four sons—Kai, 16, Klay, 12, Kit, nine, and Cass, seven—are said to be approaching the project with surprising relaxation. Unlike Victoria Beckham's tightly controlled Netflix documentary, Coleen reportedly wants a more authentic and less edited portrayal, "warts and all".
However, Kenny stresses that for the Rooneys' protection, "prevention starts with clarity and boundaries." She advises they must agree in advance what is off-limits and how to protect each other if overwhelmed. "Reality TV thrives on division – couples survive by choosing solidarity instead," she concluded.
With the series slated for release in early 2026, the source believes audiences are in for a treat, noting Disney is confident of a big audience. Only time will tell if this intimate glimpse into the Rooneys' world will strengthen their bond or become the gamble the psychologist fears.
