‘Wagatha Christie’ costs could take years to determine

Mrs Vardy sued Mrs Rooney after she was publicly accused of leaking details of her personal life to The Sun. The High Court in London dismissed her claim on the basis that the allegations were substantially true.

Jack Ridgway, chairman of the Association of Costs Lawyers, said a decision on who should bear the burden of nearly £3 million in legal costs “is unlikely to be a quick process”.

He suggested the issue is likely to end up before a specialist judge in the Senior Court Costs Office.

“While the libel trial has now concluded, the parties may spend another two years litigating about its costs,” he said.