The row between former close friends Ferne McCann and Billie Shepherd is said to have “wreaked havoc” for event organisers at this week’s National Television Awards.
The former TOWIE stars, both 34, have been at odds since voice notes of Ferne calling Billie’s sister Sam Faiers, 33, a ‘fat c***’ were leaked on social media in 2022.
Ferne and Billie grew up together in Essex and have known each other for over 20 years, during which time they enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame on reality show The Only Way Is Essex, before appearing on their respective shows.
Despite Ferne previously apologising and admitting she was “embarrassed and bewildered” by her words, Billie is still not speaking to her former friend.
According The sunThe fallout is still fresh for the duo as the NTAs had to juggle plans to ensure they were separated, despite both working for ITV.
The row between former close friends Ferne McCann (pictured above) and Billie Shepherd is said to have “wreaked havoc” for event organisers at this week’s National Television Awards.
The former TOWIE stars, both 34, have been at odds since voice notes of Ferne calling Billie’s sister Sam Faiers, 33, a ‘fat c***’ were leaked 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 separate and couldn’t put them in the same boxes. It was more than a little awkward.’
Both reality shows, Billie’s The Family Diaries and Ferne’s First Time Mum, air on ITVbe. MailOnline has contacted representatives for Ferne, Billie and ITV for comment.
In the premiere of her show, Ferne confessed that she recorded the ‘hurtful’ messages because she was jealous of Sam at the time.
On the show, Ferne claimed to know who was behind the leak, which saw an anonymous Instagram account, named Lady Whistledown after the Bridgerton gossip commentator, post voicemails from a woman they claimed was Ferne last year.
One heard a woman’s voice labelling one of acid attacker Arthur Collins’ victims a “silly b***h”, while another saw Ferne accused of body-shaming Sam.
During the episode, she said: “I feel very ashamed and embarrassed, and I know the words are very painful. They were from a time when I was very hurt and in a very vulnerable and bad place,” she explained while reflecting while sitting in her car.
In the premiere of her show, Ferne confessed that she recorded the ‘hurtful’ messages because she was jealous of Sam at the time.
Billie, Sam and Ferne (from left) are pictured during the happiest moments of 2019
In a confessional statement, she told viewers she knows exactly who leaked the voice notes, but claimed they had been edited “to remove context” (pictured on This Morning in March 2023).
‘They were about five years ago, when Sam and I had a falling out. It’s very difficult for me to talk about this because I don’t want to dredge up the past. Would I say those things now? Absolutely not, but I’ve apologised for them.
‘But now, because of this hate campaign and this person who has held onto them for five years to use as a weapon against me, I’ve lost my… I’ve lost some of my best friends.
‘I lost my entire relationship with Billie and that really hurts.
“She’s been my best friend for so many years and that makes me feel incomplete, it makes me feel really lost. Friendships are so important. And when you’re angry or hurt, you say things.”
In a confessional statement, he told viewers he knows exactly who leaked the voice notes, but claimed they had been edited “to remove context.”
She said: ‘When I heard the voice notes I immediately remembered who I had sent them to, but I believe they have since been edited to remove their context.
“Why? Because I think someone is trying to destroy me and cause me as much harm as possible. I only know one person who would want to cause me so much pain and harm. They destroyed me.”
The latest updates on the feud come hot on the heels of news that Billie and her husband Greg have quit their ITV show The Family Diaries after six seasons, according to new reports.
The couple, who regularly share intimate details of their family life on their hit show, left the series to “let their children grow up away from the cameras.”
The latest updates on the feud come hot on the heels of news that Billie and her husband Greg have quit their ITV show The Family Diaries after six seasons, 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 they were born.
Billie and Greg, 39, who share three children – Nelly, 10, Arthur, seven, and Margot, 21 months – have grown up watching reality TV since they were born.
Their eldest daughter, Nelly, made her television debut on The Only Way Is Essex in 2014 when she was weeks old.
Like Nelly, Arthur first appeared on screens shortly after being born when Billie and her sister Sam had their joint series The Mummy Diaries.
Since Sam left the series in 2021, Billie and Greg have continued to showcase their glamorous lives on their own show, which featured their baby daughter Margot.
A source told The Sun: ‘Billie loved her time on the show and had a lot of fun, but thinks it’s time to let her children grow up away from the cameras for a while.
‘She loves the memories she has created and will cherish them forever, she is very grateful to the production company but is excited to explore new options with ITV.
“There is no bad blood and the sky is the limit.”
MailOnline has contacted Billie’s representatives for comment.
An ITV spokesperson said: ‘We are currently in production on a new series of The Family Diaries which will air on ITVX and ITVBe later this year and are in talks with Billie about projects for 2025.’