Ex-Liverpool WAG Jude Cissé was in talks about starring in new channel ITVBe’s Real Housewives of Cheshire but ultimately decided against although viewers may spot her in the background.

Jude, once married to former Reds’ striker and French football star Djibril Cissé, is successful in her own right as she runs a luxury spa business Rouge et Noir in Helsby. But she continues to mix in celebrity circles and is friends with all the women in the ITV show which will air in the new year.

The mum-of-four, who jokingly calls herself Lady Jude Cisse on Twitter because of the title that accompanies the manor house where she lives in Frodsham, wants to see how the first series goes and would “not rule anything out” in terms of a possible involvement in future.

For now viewers will have to be satisfied with a cameo appearance. “You might see me in the show,” Jude said teasingly.

But she would be concerned about her portrayal, if she was a main character, given the heavy editing. “It might have hindered what I’m all about,” she added, and points out that even the title “Real Housewives” is misleading.

“It’s more a show about footballers’ wives. It will be fun and entertaining but it’s about projecting an image and not what’s real. There have been tears because the ladies have found themselves in situations that were staged and it was quite upsetting for them. It’s hard when you are friends with everybody.”

The producers of Real Housewives are giving very little away about the storylines at the moment but the show will offer a glimpse into the champagne-fuelled lives of WAGs and businesswomen Leanne Brown, Tanya Bardsley, Ampika Pickston, Dawn Ward, Lauren Simon and Magali Gorre.

Cameras will follow them as they go about their day-to-day lives in Cheshire’s “Golden Triangle”, the area of leafy towns and villages around Wilmslow, Alderley Edge, Prestbury and Mottram St Andrew, although some of the footage was shot at Peckforton Castle near Chester.

Jude, who has just returned from watching the grand prix in Abu Dhabi, is not sure the series is for her and is busy with her own TV project in any event.

“I have to think about how it will affect me and my family. I have my children to think about as well. I have too many commitments to commit to a TV show at the moment, I’m in the middle of doing my own documentary.”

Jude, who promises her show will be “very real”, explained that she was approached by a freelance producer about the three-part series which could air on one of the ITV channels next year.

“It’s about my life, being a wife and mum, and now being a single mum as well. It’s also putting it out there to young girls who might think it’s fashionable to be a footballer’s wife that it’s not a career path they should be thinking about.”

Jude said it could be a “lonely life” when one’s spouse was based away from the family with football commitments. Talking about the impact on her children, she said: “Their dad’s always been away. They don’t know any different.”

And Jude stressed she had always been a financially independent woman long before she met Djibril, who now lives in the south of France.

“I have always been a businesswoman, for years before I met my husband. I have a post graduate qualification and I’ve done everything based on the way I was brought up. If anything, he was lucky to find me!”

Jude’s boys have inherited their father’s footballing talents, a theme that will no doubt feature in her show.

“My children play football, they are signed to professional contracts and six days of my week is taking them to and from matches,” explained Jude, who said the camera crew following her around had “become part of the family”.

She is also wondering about other opportunities. “I wouldn’t mind writing a book,” she said.