'Footballers' Wives' star quits

Zoe Lucker, star of ITV's Footballers' Wives, is quitting the drama because she is afraid of becoming a typecast, according to The Sun today.

Lucker, who plays mega-bitch Tanya Turner is set to appear in only four episodes of the new series of Footballers' Wives which will start filming next week.

Tanya's exit will be part of the most shocking storlyine ever to be shown in the drama's history, and will leave room for Amber Gates - actress Laila Rouass - to take centre stage.

An insider told the paper: "It's the role which made her name, but Zoe wants to call it a day... She was worried is she carried on playing Tanya, she'd be stuck with her for life.

"The scriptwriters are busy at the moment fine-tuning the plotline which will climax in Tanya's departure."

The last time we saw Tanya in the drama, she was pregnant along with arch rival Amber. Lucker has revealed that "sparks will fly."

Tanya Turner will also make a three-episode appearance in ITV's Bad Girls this week.