The feud between former close pals Ferne McCann and Billie Shepherd is said to have ’caused havoc’ for event organisers at the National Television Awards this week.
The ex-TOWIE stars, both 34, have been at odds since voice notes were leaked of Ferne calling Billie’s sister Sam Faiers, 33, a ‘fat c***’ on social media in 2022.
Ferne and Billie grew up together in Essex and have known each other for more than 20 years, during which time they enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame on reality TV show The Only Way Is Essex, before appearing in their own respective shows.
Despite Ferne previously apologising and admitting she was ‘ashamed and embarrassed’ of her words, Billie still doesn’t speak to her former pal.
According to The Sun, the fallout is still fresh for the duo, as the NTA’s had to juggle plans to make sure they were separated, despite both working for ITV.
The feud between former close pals Ferne McCann (pictured above) and Billie Shepherd is said to have ’caused havoc’ for event organisers at the National Television Awards this week
The ex- TOWIE stars, both 34, have been at odds since voice notes were leaked of Ferne calling Billie’s sister Sam Faiers , 33, a ‘fat c***’ on social media in 2022 (Billie pictured above)
A source told the publication: ‘It was a logistical nightmare because despite working for the same channel.
‘ITV had to keep them apart and they couldn’t be placed into the same hospitality boxes. It was more than a little bit awkward.’
Both reality shows, Billie’s The Family Diaries and Ferne’s First Time Mum air on ITVbe. MailOnline contacted representatives for Ferne, Billie, and ITV for comment.
In the series premiere of her show, Ferne, confessed she recorded the ‘hurtful’ messages because she was envious of Sam at the time.
On the show, Ferne claimed to know who was behind the leak, which saw an anonymous Instagram account, called Lady Whistledown after the Bridgerton gossip sharer, post voice messages from a woman they claimed was Ferne last year.
One heard a woman’s voice label one of acid attacker Arthur Collins ‘ victims a ‘silly b****’ while another saw Ferne accused of body-shaming Sam.
She said during the episode: ‘I’m so ashamed and embarrassed and I know the words are very hurtful. It was from a time when I was really hurting, and in a very vulnerable and bad place,’ she explained while sat reflecting in her car.
In the series premiere of her show, Ferne, confessed she recorded the ‘hurtful’ messages because she was envious of Sam at the time
Billie, Sam and Ferne (L-R) are picture during happier times in 2019
In a confessional, she told viewers that she knows exactly who leaked the voice notes, but alleged they had been edited ‘to removed their context’ (pictured on This Morning in March 2023)
‘They were from about five years ago when me and Sam had a fall out. It’s very hard for me to talk about this because I don’t want to bring up the past. Would I say those things now? Absolutely not, but those I absolutely apologised for.
‘But now because of this hate campaign and this person that has held onto them for five years, to weaponise them against me, I’ve lost my… I’ve lost some of my best friends.
‘I’ve lost my whole relationship with Billie, and that really hurts.
‘She has been my best friend for so many years, and that plays into where I don’t feel whole, I feel really lost. Friendships are so important. And you say things where if you’re angry, or if you’re hurt, you say things.’
In a confessional, she told viewers that she knows exactly who leaked the voice notes, but alleged they had been edited ‘to removed their context’.
She said: ‘When I heard the voice notes, I immediately remembered who I’d sent them to but I believe they’ve since been edited to remove their context.
‘Why? Because I think that someone is trying to destroy me and to inflict as much damage into my life as possible. There’s only one person that I know would want to inflict this amount of pain and damage onto my life. They destroyed me.’
The newest updates in the feud come just after the news Billie and her husband Greg have quit their ITV show The Family Diaries after six series, according to new reports.
The couple, who regularly share intimate details of their family life on their hit show, have packed up the series to ‘let their children grow up away from cameras’.
The newest updates in the feud come just after the news Billie and her husband Greg have quit their ITV show The Family Diaries after six series , according to new reports
Billie and Greg, who share three children Nelly, 10, Arthur, seven, and Margot, 21 months, have grown up on reality TV since birth
Billie and Greg, 39, who share three children Nelly, 10, Arthur, seven, and Margot, 21 months, have grown up on reality TV since birth.
Their oldest daughter Nelly made her television debut on The Only Way Is Essex in 2014 when she was weeks old.
Similarly to Nelly, Arthur first appeared on screens shortly after he was born when Billie and sister Sam had their joint series The Mummy Diaries.
Since Sam quit the series in 2021, Billie and Greg have continued to showcased their glamorous lives on their own show – where baby daughter Margot was introduced.
A source told The Sun, ‘Billie has loved her time on the show and had loads of fun, but thinks it’s time she let her kids grow up away from the cameras for a bit.
‘She adores the memories she has made and will treasure them forever, she’s so grateful to the production company, but is excited about exploring new options with ITV.
‘There is no bad blood and the sky is the limit.’
MailOnline have contacted Billie’s representatives for a comment.
An ITV spokesman said: ‘We are currently in production with a new series of The Family Diaries to air on ITVX and ITVBe later this year and are in conversations with Billie about projects for 2025.’
