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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Connie Rusk

Jamie Redknapp's family mocked his 'Spice Boy' nickname when Louise's career took off

Jamie Redknapp's family have revealed they teased him over his Spice Boy nickname when his wife Louise's solo career took off.

The ex footballer, 49, tied the knot with singer Louise, 47, in Bermuda in 1998 - just three days after getting engaged.

That year Louise, who rose to fame in the R&B band Eternals, saw her music career sky-rocket as her second solo album went platinum.

Now, in Harry and Sandra Redknapp's memoir, When Harry Met Sandra, the couple, both 75, reveal how they had a "good laugh" at Jamie's nickname which was inspired when footballer David Beckham started dating Spice Girls' star Victoria - marking a new era of WAGs.

Sandra recalls: "After the wedding, the press attention on them both grew Louise’s solo career was taking off and she had decided to quit Eternal two years earlier, and she was on the cover of all the magazines.

Jamie Redknapp's family have revealed they teased him over his Spice Boy nickname (Press Association)
The ex footballer got the nickname when Louise's solo career took off (Mirrorpix)

"Meanwhile, Jamie had been nicknamed a ‘Spice Boy’ by the tabloids – we always used to laugh at that, although we were never really sure what it meant – and he was getting papped for the first time off the pitch.

"Jamie and Louise got married around the same time David Beckham was dating Victoria Adams, so there was a lot of interest in footballers’ wives and girlfriends – the WAGs as they were called. You didn’t have that in mine and Tina Moore’s day, thankfully!

"But Jamie and Louise were never a showbizzy couple. They were always both very down to earth. Jamie spent his childhood around the likes of Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurs, we always kept him grounded Harry was always set on that.

It was the era where WAGs were becoming famous (pictured Victoria and David Beckham) (PA)

"You don’t forget where you came from."

Jamie and Louise went on to welcome two sons; Charlie, 18, and Beau, 13.

When the songstress became a mum she stepped back from her career to focus on bringing up their boys.

Sandra says she and Harry actively encouraged their daughter-in-law to sign up to Strictly as she "hadn't done anything for herself" in years.

They have two sons Charlie, 18, and Beau, 13 (Instagram)

The happily-married couple had no qualms about Louise doing show - despite the infamous Strictly curse which saw a whole string of celebrities' relationships breakdown in the years prior.

Louise was partnered with Kevin Clifton, and Jamie's parents say they were happy as he had "a good track record as a professional and a great dancer".

The pair reached the final in the series and a year later in August Louise was back in the recording studio as she reintroduced herself to music scene after a 13-year hiatus.

Harry and Sandra encourage Louise to do Strictly (PA)

A month later Louise and Jamie announced they had separated, with their divorce finalised in 2018.

Sandra says: "Sadly, they divorced in 2018 but sometimes that’s just what happens. All you can wish for is that your children are happy and we will be forever grateful to them both for our beautiful grandsons."

Jamie went on to find love with Swedish model Frida Andersson, with the couple tying the knot in an intimate ceremony at Chelsea Old Town Hall last year.

They welcomed son Raphael together last November.

When Harry Met Sandra is out on Thursday (September 29), £20, published by Mirror Books

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