She shot to fame on TOWIE, then had audiences gripped with the relatable and entertaining ups and downs of her home life as she and her husband navigated parenting three young children in the hit ITVBe series, The Family Diaries. But Billie Shepherd, sister to fellow TV star Sam Faiers, shocked her army of fans when she announced last September that the upcoming sixth series of The Family Diaries would be her last.
Here, Billie, 35, who has children Nelly, 10, Arthur, seven, and two-year-old Margot, with businessman Greg, reveals what she's been up to since calling it a day. She also tells us about the challenges of parenting in the age of social media and opens up about how she and Greg, who turns 40 this week, still keep the spark in their marriage alive.
Hi, Billie! You're a busy lady, so does the juggle ever seem impossible?
Some days it feels like I'm spinning 100 plates! But I try to take a step back and remind myself that I'm doing my best. Greg and I have a good routine and we're always there supporting each other.
What sort of parents are you?
Fun, but firm when we need to be. We parent a little differently but we're always on the same page. We just want to give our kids the best upbringing possible and make sure they feel loved, supported and encouraged.
Do you ever regret calling time on your fly-on-the-wall show?
Not at all. It was the most amazing and wonderful journey, and we've got the best home movies ever from it. It just felt like the right time for us as a family to move on.
Are you and Greg aware of still making time for each other?
We try. Mum helps us out as she's around the corner, so we get the odd date night. If we aren't able to go out, we'll make the most of our time at home, even if it's just dinner and a glass of wine once the kids are in bed.
Greg recently bought four houses at auction, that sounds exciting!
It's such an exciting new project for us. It's a new business venture that we're working on together, and with everything we've learned from the house build, we feel like we're really getting into it now.
How do you come together as a family?
We try to sit down together at dinner time, phones away, and chat about our day. We also love movie nights, games, or even just bedtime stories as a way to connect.
Do you set screen time rules for the kids?
We do the kids can use their screens for homework, or watch YouTube videos but after 6pm, it's screens off. We try to set limits, but it's about balance too. I try to make sure my children still experience a proper childhood - being outside, using their imagination, just like we did growing up.
Do you ever worry about what kids today are exposed to online?
Sometimes. The world feels so different from when we were kids. Nelly loves looking at horse riding accounts on my Instagram and Arthur's just started a YouTube channel with his cousin Paul, just a bit of fun, but it's important to be aware of what they watch and keep an open line of communication.
How do yo...
Here, Billie, 35, who has children Nelly, 10, Arthur, seven, and two-year-old Margot, with businessman Greg, reveals what she's been up to since calling it a day. She also tells us about the challenges of parenting in the age of social media and opens up about how she and Greg, who turns 40 this week, still keep the spark in their marriage alive.
Hi, Billie! You're a busy lady, so does the juggle ever seem impossible?
Some days it feels like I'm spinning 100 plates! But I try to take a step back and remind myself that I'm doing my best. Greg and I have a good routine and we're always there supporting each other.
What sort of parents are you?
Fun, but firm when we need to be. We parent a little differently but we're always on the same page. We just want to give our kids the best upbringing possible and make sure they feel loved, supported and encouraged.
Do you ever regret calling time on your fly-on-the-wall show?
Not at all. It was the most amazing and wonderful journey, and we've got the best home movies ever from it. It just felt like the right time for us as a family to move on.
Are you and Greg aware of still making time for each other?
We try. Mum helps us out as she's around the corner, so we get the odd date night. If we aren't able to go out, we'll make the most of our time at home, even if it's just dinner and a glass of wine once the kids are in bed.
Greg recently bought four houses at auction, that sounds exciting!
It's such an exciting new project for us. It's a new business venture that we're working on together, and with everything we've learned from the house build, we feel like we're really getting into it now.
How do you come together as a family?
We try to sit down together at dinner time, phones away, and chat about our day. We also love movie nights, games, or even just bedtime stories as a way to connect.
Do you set screen time rules for the kids?
We do the kids can use their screens for homework, or watch YouTube videos but after 6pm, it's screens off. We try to set limits, but it's about balance too. I try to make sure my children still experience a proper childhood - being outside, using their imagination, just like we did growing up.
Do you ever worry about what kids today are exposed to online?
Sometimes. The world feels so different from when we were kids. Nelly loves looking at horse riding accounts on my Instagram and Arthur's just started a YouTube channel with his cousin Paul, just a bit of fun, but it's important to be aware of what they watch and keep an open line of communication.
How do yo...
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New UK (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 03, 2025