ROME, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- "Footballers' Wives" is being remade for Italian TV in the first foreign language version of the popular British drama.
The ITV1 series, retitled in Italy as "I Married a Footballer" or "Ho Sposato un Calciatore," is set to air next year on Canale 5, the TV network owned by Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Britain's Guardian reported Friday.
The Italian series will star Paolo Segante as the unfaithful team captain, Bruno, the new name for the British show's Jason Turner character. Jane Alexander, one of Italian TV's most popular actors, also will star as Jason's scheming wife, Tanya, who will be called Tonia.
Popular character Chardonnay will be renamed Cristel Ferrari in honor of the expensive French champagne and an Italian sparkling wine.
The Canale 5 version will tone down the sex and drugs lifestyle depicted in the British show, the Guardian said.
France reportedly has made a deal to broadcast the first two series of the British version of "Footballers' Wives" in 2005 and the show also has been sold to Denmark, Israel, Estonia, Australia and Ireland.
