Billie Shepherd has opened up about her stepfather’s battle with alcoholism in the upcoming series of The Family Diaries.
The TV personality, 34, revealed that her stepfather, Dave Chatwood, got out of rehab and now lives with her, Greg and their children.
In an interview ahead of the seventh series of the ITV show, Billie said her father is now sober and his journey to recovery has been a “special” story.
She explained: “That’s been something we’ve followed for the last few series, but this series is particularly special because we get to celebrate him being sober.”
“Obviously there are always ups and downs, it’s very raw to show the whole journey with dad and what we all went through to get him to where he is now. I think with us we are open and honest. It’s literally our lives and what you see is what you get. ‘
Billie Shepherd has opened up about her stepfather’s battle with alcoholism in the upcoming series of The Family Diaries.
The TV personality, 34, revealed that her stepfather, Dave Chatwood, got out of rehab and now lives with her, Greg and their children.
Giving more information about her stepfather, she added: “Dad is doing great, he’s out of rehab.” He’s been living at ours for the last few weeks.
“He’s very calm and he’s convinced he won’t drink again, he feels amazing and he’s said it’s completely changed his life and saved his life, which is definitely true.”
Of filming personal moments like this, he explained: “I think, like I said before, the point of a reality show is reality, and we’ve had a lot of support and love, and dad has had that too by showing his journey to getting sober.” “. .
“I don’t think it would feel real if we didn’t show the difficult and sad moments because, as a family, when you’re trying to help someone in that situation, it’s really difficult.
‘I think showing the rawness: a lot of people who find themselves in those situations could relate to it. It’s not like I’m really depressed and suddenly, it’s great, it’s a real trip and that includes the really low moments.’
Billie and her sister Sam previously spoke out about their concerns about their stepfather’s health on their ITVBe show Billie & Greg: The Family Diaries.
Dave told Billie she had about 15 months left if she kept doing what she was doing after talking to the doctor.
Billie explained at the time: “Dad found out that his liver results are abnormal and after telling the doctors that he drinks a lot more than he should on a daily basis, the doctor is worried as they believe his health could be at risk.” ‘
Giving more information about her stepfather, she added: “Dad is doing great, he’s out of rehab.” He’s been living at ours for the last few weeks.
Sam and his sister Billie previously spoke about their concerns over their stepfather’s health on their ITVBe show Billie & Greg: The Family Diaries.
Speaking to her mum Suzie, Billie admitted: “It’s like banging your head against a brick wall a bit with dad at the moment because I don’t think anything is really going to change at the moment.”
Suzie then added: ‘I mean, I know he’ll never stop right away, but if he doesn’t calm down.’ You know, he’ll be lucky to have another year.
Billie continued: ‘I think Nelly and Arthur are getting a little older now. It’s getting harder, it’s getting harder to disguise it or hide it.’
And he added: ‘You know, he has an addiction. It’s a disease, right? as Suzie replied, “It is.”
“Unless he really wants to try to help himself get better, which, right now, I don’t think he wants to.” So what can we do? We just have to carry on like we’ve always done,” Billie said.
It comes after it was revealed last month that 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 left the series to “let their children grow up away from the cameras.”
Billie, 34, and Greg, 39, who share three children Nelly, 10, Arthur, seven, and Margot, 21 months, have grown up on reality TV since birth.
Their eldest daughter, Nelly, made her television debut on The Only Way Is Essex in 2014 when she was just a few weeks old.
Like Nelly, Arthur first appeared on screens shortly after birth, when Billie and her sister Sam had their joint series The Mummy Diaries.
Billie and Greg, who share three children, Nelly, 10, Arthur, seven, and Margot, 21 months, have grown up on reality TV since birth.
The couple, who regularly share intimate details of their family life on their hit show, have left the series to “let their children grow up away from the cameras.”
Since Sam left the series in 2021, Billie and Greg have continued to showcase their glamorous lives on their own show, which featured their daughter Margot.
A source told The Sun: “Billie loved her time on the show and had a blast, but thinks it’s time she let her children grow up away from the cameras for a while.”
“She loves the memories she has made and will cherish them forever. She is very grateful to the production company but is excited to explore new options with ITV.
“There are no hard feelings and the sky is the limit.”
MailOnline has contacted Billie’s representatives for comment.
An ITV spokesperson said: “We are currently in production with a new series of The Family Diaries due to air on ITVX and ITVBe later this year and are in talks with Billie about projects for 2025.”
If you would like to speak to Drink Aware about your or someone else’s alcohol consumption, please call 0300 123 1110.
