Sam Faiers bags a £1.5M pay day with new fashion deal

2022-10-01

EXCLUSIVE: A reason to celebrate! Sam Faiers quaffs Champagne as she bags a £1.5M pay day with new fashion deal… amid feud with Ferne McCann

The TOWIE star, 31, will be launching her children’s clothing range with Tesco in a £1.5 million deal
The brand deal comes amid a bitter feud with former best friend Ferne McCann
Audio footage leaked on Instagram allegedly saw Ferne brand her pal a ‘fat c***’ shortly after she gave birth

Sam Faiers looked in high spirits as she enjoyed a boozy lunch with friends in Essex on Thursday after landing a new fashion deal.

The reality star, 31, had plenty to celebrate as MailOnline can exclusively reveal that she has extended her overall partnership with Tesco clothing bagging her a whopping £1.5 million payday.

Yet with the highs came lows as Sam has been embroiled in a bitter feud with former best friend Ferne McCann after audio footage was leaked with allegedly saw Ferne brand her pal a ‘fat c***’.

However, Sam seemed to be brushing off the drama as she caught up with friends for a casual outing in which she paired a taupe sweater with navy leggings and trainers.

Something to celebrate? Sam Faiers looked in high spirits as she enjoyed a boozy lunch with friends in Essex on Thursday after landing a new fashion deal

Tesco bought the exclusive rights for her children’s clothing brand Knightley’s Adventures, which is due to launch next month, with the deal reportedly worth £1.5 million a year.

This adds to the original £3 million a year from her bath and body care range. Taking her earnings from Tesco alone to a whopping £4.5 million a year.

A source told MailOnline: ‘Knightley’s Adventures was one of the most successful new launches for Tesco in the past 12 months, so it’s no surprise they beat off rivals to secure the exclusive rights to the range.’

Sam, who shares children, Paul Jnr, six, Rosie, four and Edward, four months, with her partner Paul Knightley has launched several businesses in recent years.

The latest deal helps prop up the whopping £10 million fortune that Sam has amassed since leaving The Only Way Is Essex eight years ago.

Congratulations: The reality star, 31, had plenty to celebrate as MailOnline can exclusively reveal that she has extended her overall partnership with Tesco clothing bagging her a whopping £1.5 million payday

Tension: Yet with the highs came lows as Sam has been embroiled in a bitter feud with former best friend Ferne McCann after audio footage was leaked with allegedly saw Ferne brand her pal a ‘fat c***’ (pictured July 2019)

The new brand deal comes as the drama with best pal Ferne rumbles on after it was claimed she took a swipe at Sam’s sister Billie for giving her son the same name as her ex-boyfriend in a leaked voice note.

The clip, leaked to Instagram on Thursday, claims to be from Ferne talking about her best pal Billie, 32, deciding to call her son Arthur.

But fans have expressed sympathy with Ferne, saying they feel the apparent feud should be sorted in private and saying that ‘everyone has said things behind closed doors’.

Billie shares her son Arthur and daughter Nelly with her husband Greg Shepherd, while they are currently expecting a third child together.

Moved on: However, Sam seemed to be brushing off the drama as she caught up with friends for a casual outing in which she paired a taupe sweater with navy leggings and trainers

Kerching: Tesco bought the exclusive rights for her children’s clothing brand Knightley’s Adventures, which is due to launch next month, with the deal reportedly worth £1.5 million a year

In the money: This adds to the original £3 million a year from her bath and body care range. Taking her earnings from Tesco alone to a whopping £4.5 million a year

In a voice message, Ferne allegedly said it was ‘weird’ that Billie decided to call her son Arthur – the name of Ferne’s ex Arthur Collins, who she shares daughter Sunday with.

Arthur, 29, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after being found guilty of carrying out a brutal acid attack in 2017. Ferne has raised Sunday as a single parent.

The voice note says: ‘It feels so weird saying ‘Arthur’, I can’t believe, it’s like me having a little boy and calling him Greg, anyway, whatever.’

However, many fans have flocked to Ferne’s defence, insisting everyone makes comments ‘behind closed doors’ and arguing that the row should be sorted in private.

In the money: The latest deal helps prop up the whopping £10 million fortune that Sam has amassed since leaving The Only Way Is Essex eight years ago

Taking to social media, one fan said: ‘Always two sides to every story. You just never know what goes on behind closed doors. Fact.’

Another wrote: ‘I really disagree with this, however can’t it be sorted privately, I recon Ferne will be in a very bad place over this, as much as she has done wrong, two wrongs don’t make a right.’

While a third added: ‘It’s not nice what @fernemccann has said but come on!! We all say things behind closed doors.’

A fourth commented: ‘Ferne is being proper outed I do think it needs to be sorted in private!’

Entrepreneur: Sam, who shares children, Paul Jnr, six, Rosie, four and Edward, four months, with her partner Paul Knightley has launched several businesses in recent years

Catching up: Sam seemed in good spirits as she spent some quality time with her pals

Hope that’s not a voice note! Sam was seen glued to her phone as she listened to a message

Supportive: Sam was no doubt pleased to be able to lean on her friends during the turbulent past few weeks

Low-key look: Sam opted for a casual look and went makeup-free as she headed for her boozy lunch

As reports of a row continue to circulate, Ferne’s fiancé Lorri Haines appears to have made a swipe as he shared a cryptic post.

The real estate agent took to his Instagram Stories on Friday to share a mysterious quote about not ‘depending too much on anyone’.

It read: ‘Don’t depend too much on anyone in this world. Even your shadow leaves you when you’re in darkness.’

Just weeks before the row, Ferne went on a family holiday with her fiancé Lorri, and Billie and her husband Greg and their two children.

Inspiration: Sam branched out into family and children ranges when she welcomed her children, Paul Jnr, six, Rosie, four and Edward, four months

Friends are said to have rallied around both camps amid the furore, with insiders claiming that Ferne has gone into ‘panic mode’ over the drama.

A source close to Ferne said: ‘She is in a living nightmare and wants this to stop. People don’t know all the facts. All eyes are on what could come out next on this Instagram account.’

‘If those voice notes were made by Ferne then it is incredibly damaging. She is being seen as a bit toxic at the moment. No one can believe she would say such things.’

Sam’s sister Billie – who is close friends with Ferne – is said to have confronted Ferne over the shocking leaked audio recordings.

Row: The new brand deal comes as the drama with best pal Ferne rumbles on after it was claimed she took a swipe at Sam’s sister Billie for giving her son the same name as her ex-boyfriend in a leaked voice note (Billie pictured with son Arthur and daughter Nelly)

Ferne is said to have denied that it is her voice on the messages but it has been reported that the phone conversation did not end well.

A second voice note has been released which is reportedly of Ferne branding Sam a ‘narcissistic b**ch’, which leaked on social media on Wednesday evening.

It came shortly after Ferne appeared to body shame her, describing her thighs as ‘so big’, in another recording.

Allegedly Ferne describing Sam, the voice note said: ‘Sort of girl that she is, she’s just a narcissistic b**ch, she honestly won’t care.’

Support: However, many fans have flocked to Ferne’s defence, insisting everyone makes comments ‘behind closed doors’ and arguing that the row should be sorted in private

Cutting to a different message, the voice note says: ‘It’s an exact copy. It’s just so s**t on people who have worked so hard. Because she’s got a big following, it’s just ridiculous.’

The Instagram account wrote alongside the clip: ‘@FerneMcCann what a jealous bitter woman talking about your so called best friend @SamanthaFaiers who you have known for 20 years.

‘As a friend you should be supporting your friends not running to other friends and slating them.’

The voice messages were allegedly sent by Ferne on WhatsApp to a friend in June, just a month after Sam had given birth to her third baby, Edward.

Swipe? As reports of a row continue to circulate, Ferne’s fiancé Lorri Haines appears to have made a swipe as he shared a cryptic post

After the first clips were circulated online, Sam’s mother Suzie was so appalled by the message that she posted it on her Instagram page, which is accessible to her 270,000 followers, this morning.

Ex: Arthur, 29, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after being found guilty of carrying out a brutal acid attack in 2017. Ferne has raised daughter Sunday as a single parent

Suzie wrote: ‘So, after a few days of hurt and upset I can no longer sit back and say nothing.

‘The vile voice note has been circulating social media, and now press articles are calling it a ‘feud’, which it is not.

‘This has come as a complete shock to myself and my family. Ferne has always been a very close family friend to all of us for over the past 20 years.

‘It appears this voice note was sent just weeks after Samantha gave birth back in May. Since this voice note has surfaced more has been sent – very upsetting nasty things.

‘We are as shocked as you are! Nobody should ever speak about their friends like this ever!

‘My girls are my absolute everything and I’ll do anything to protect them. I don’t have anything else to say on the matter.’

A source told MailOnline: ‘Naturally Sam is incredibly hurt and upset by these comments, especially from someone she considered to be a good friend, she’s at a loss as to why Ferne has decided to speak out about her in such a derogatory way.’

Reality TV stars Ferne and Sam have been close friends and in each other’s lives for more than two decades.

Sam and Ferne’s relationship has been blighted in the past amid various fallouts – but they have always managed to make amends.

Pals: Just weeks before the row, Ferne went on a family holiday with her fiancé Lorri Haines, and Billie and her husband Greg and their two children

They feuded over their rival TV shows after Ferne landed First Time Mum following the success of Sam’s ITVBe series The Mummy Dairies.

In 2018, Sam confirmed the pair had put their differences aside, saying: ‘To be honest over the last couple of years Ferne and I hadn’t seen eye to eye over on a number of things and sometimes as friends you do just drift apart.

‘I’m in Hertfordshire with my family and she’s doing her thing with her family. There was never a big argument, we just drifted apart but it was nice actually because at my sister’s bridal shower it was fine, and we were catching up on the babies and that’s it really.’

Sam, who gave birth to son Edward in May, is also a mum to Paul, six, and Rosie, four, who she shares with her long-term partner, Paul Knightley.

Social media friends: Sam has unfollowed Ferne but Ferne is still following Sam

‘Shocked’: After hearing the first clip, Sam’s mum Suzie posted a statement to her Instagram on Wednesday morning, saying: ‘Nobody should ever speak about their friends like this’

‘Cherished memories’: Ferne shared a tribute to Sam on her 30th birthday in 2021, declaring her love for her on Instagram and sharing throwback pictures of them throughout the years

Ferne is a mum to four-year-old Sunday from her relationship with Arthur Collins, who’s currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after being found guilty of an acid attack in 2017.

In the same year, it was reported that Sam advised Ferne to end her romance with Arthur and their friendship suffered as a result of his imprisonment.

She got engaged to fiancé Lorri Haines in July after a whirlwind seven-month romance, telling her followers on Instagram: ‘So happily ever afters do exist.’

Ferne’s representatives refused to comment when approached by MailOnline, but a source close to Ferne suggested that the partial recording, which was publicly released may have been edited or taken out of context.

Sam joined the cast of TOWIE as an original in 2010 while Ferne became a show regular three years later.

From wild TOWIE parties to getting through rocky romances to competing over their personal empires: MailOnline takes a look at Ferne McCann and Sam Faiers’s close 20-year friendship before THAT feud

Ferne McCann and Sam Faiers very close friendship has been rocked in recent days after leaked voice notes claiming to feature Ferne calling her pal a ‘fat c***’ were posted on social media.

The pair grew up together in Essex and have known each other for more than 20 years, and later both enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame on reality TV show The Only Way Is Essex.

But the friends have had their rocky moments over the years, and it has once again become strained by leaked votes notes which claim to feature Ferne, 32, branding Sam, 31, a ‘narcissistic b**ch’ and a ‘fat c***’.

Sam unfollowed and blocked Ferne on Instagram after hearing the message, which said: ‘Sam Faiers is a fat c***, her thighs are so big, and I looked really skinny today and um yeah.’

Allegedly Ferne describing Sam, a separate voice note added: ‘Sort of girl that she is, she’s just a narcissistic b**ch, she honestly won’t care.’

Cutting to a different message, the voice note says: ‘It’s an exact copy. It’s just so s**t on people who have worked so hard. Because she’s got a big following, it’s just ridiculous.’

The voice messages were allegedly sent by Ferne on WhatsApp to a friend in June, just a month after Sam had given birth to her third baby, Edward.

A source told MailOnline that Sam was ‘incredibly hurt and upset’ by the comments, saying she is ‘at a loss as to why Ferne has decided to speak out about her in such a derogatory way’.

And Sam’s family are equally upset as her sister Billie – who is also close friends with Ferne – is said to have confronted her over the recordings, while Sam’s mother Suzie shared the voice notes on her Instagram and described her ‘hurt and upset’ as she said Ferne had been like ‘family’ to them all.

As the pair’s bond has come under the spotlight in the shocking row, MailOnline takes a look back over their years of once inseparable friendship.

RISING TO FAME ON TOWIE

Sam appeared on the very first episode of ITV2’s TOWIE and went on to star in a total of 11 series, before announcing that she was leaving the show in 2014, due to her Crohn’s disease diagnosis and then-romance with Joey Essex.

Her stint on the hit reality TV series overlapped with her longtime friend Ferne, who joined the cast in 2013 as she made her debut in the ninth series, before leaving eight series later in 2016.

Despite having explosive rows with other cast members during their years on the show, the longtime friends generally got along and only strengthened their already close bond on TOWIE.

In their TOWIE heyday, the pair would party at Essex haunt Sugar Hut and support each other through their dramatic storylines, including when Sam split from on-off boyfriend Joey Essex.

Close: Despite having explosive rows with other cast members during their years on the show, longtime friends Sam and Ferne (pictured in March 2014) generally got along and only strengthened their already close bond on TOWIE

Longtime friends: The pair grew up together in Essex and have known each other for more than 20 years, and later both enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame on reality TV show The Only Way Is Essex

COMPETING REALITY TV SHOWS

However, Sam and Ferne then came to loggerheads back in 2017 after Ferne landed First Time Mum following the success of Sam’s ITVBe series The Mummy Diaries.

Sources claimed at the time that Sam, who now has a net worth of £8million, was trying to copy her success – as Ferne launched her motherhood series just one year after her pal’s own show.

The row only intensified after Sam announced her daughter Rosie’s baby name on the day that Ferne’s show launched, causing a bigger rift between the pair.

Feud: However, Sam and Ferne then came to loggerheads back in 2017 after Ferne landed First Time Mum following the success of Sam’s ITVBe series The Mummy Diaries

A source told The Sun at the time: ‘Sam felt like Ferne was trying to emulate her success by launching a rival programme – and it made things awkward between them.

‘Ferne was never going to turn down the show as it was an opportunity for her to make money for Sunday but without Sam’s support the breakdown of their friendship was inevitable.’

At the time, Ferne admitted that she believed her fallout with Sam was due to her decision to launch her ITV series, while Sam denied a feud but admitted they had grown apart.

Ferne, who has a net worth of £5.5million, said: ‘The reason, as far as I’m concerned, that she fell out with me is because I decided to take this show. We had like 15 years of friendship … all I’ll say is it’s a terrible shame.’

Fallout: At the time, Ferne admitted that she believed her fallout with Sam was due to her decision to launch her ITV series, while Sam denied a feud but admitted they had grown apart

But Sam insisted at the time: ‘Over quite a long period of time, we haven’t seen eye to eye on a number of things.

‘We’ve drifted apart from each other. We’ve grown up and grown apart but there’s no major feud.’

However, the pals later made amends when they both attended Sam’s sister Billie’s hen party in Ibiza in 2018, with Sam revealing that they never addressed the row but both decided to ‘move on’.

RELATIONSHIPS

SAM FAIERS

Sam is currently in a long-term relationship with real estate agent Paul Knightley after they met back in 2014. The couple share children Rosie, four, Paul, six, and Edward, four months.

The pair are not engaged or married, and earlier this year, Sam admitted to feeling ‘lots of pressure’ to marry her long-term partner.

But the reality star has said she’s never been in ‘any major rush’ to tie the knot but added that when they do it will be nice for their children to be at the wedding.

Family: Sam is currently in a long-term relationship with real estate agent Paul Knightley after they met back in 2014. The couple share children Rosie, four, Paul, six, and Edward, four months

Speaking on her podcast The Sam and Billie Show with sister Billie, she said: ‘I get this question of when will we get married all the time. I just think, number 1 I don’t know what the rush is.

‘We’ve had a lot of pressure from people who watch our show and people ask ‘why aren’t you married yet, when is it going to happen?’

‘I know we will get married – but I’m so grateful that we have it all to look forward to and in our relationship, we’ve done the hardest bit (having kids). It is a big challenge and change for a couple.

‘I know it’s not the right or correct way round but it doesn’t matter. But we have done the hardest bit and then hopefully the marriage will be a success and last forever!’

‘I’ve never been in a major rush. Some people want to get married before having children but that was never on our agendas.

Committed: The pair are not engaged or married, and earlier this year, Sam admitted to feeling ‘lots of pressure’ to marry her long-term partner (both pictured in November 2021)

‘But I am looking forward to having all three of my children at the wedding so I’m grateful that it has happened this way round. The more pressure put on us it pushes Paul away. And did you know that 42 per cent of marriages end in divorce!’

MailOnline also recently revealed that Sam has finally completed work on her dream £2million mansion in Surrey.

Sam and her partner Paul had been renting a house in the same area, whilst on the hunt for their dream home.

A source told MailOnline that the happy couple ‘have been looking for the perfect family home for some time and whilst they plan to fully renovate the property, their new home is perfect for a growing family’.

FERNE MCCANN

Ferne is currently loved-up with her fiancé Lorri Haines and the pair got engaged in July – just seven months after going public with their new relationship.

In snaps from their romantic proposal, Lorri, 31, could be seen as he blind folded Ferne, 32, to lead her to the stunning beach location.

Taking to Instagram, Lorri recently gave a sweet insight into their amazing day as he shared a montage of photos.

Smitten: Ferne is currently loved-up with her fiancé Lorri Haines and the pair got engaged in July – just seven months after going public with their new relationship

Smooch: The former TOWIE star shared the news with Instagram followers in July, alongside a first look at her sparkling engagement ring

The loved-up pair took a scenic plane ride before later arriving at the beach where Lorri got down one one knee.

Alongside the post Lorri penned: ‘Some clips (raw unseen) from the day my future wife @FerneMcCann said yessssss.’

The former TOWIE star shared the news with Instagram followers in July, alongside a first look at her sparkling engagement ring.

Captioning a photo of herself and her new fiance locked in an embrace, she wrote: ‘So happily ever afters do exist. I cannot wait to do forever with you baby.’

Sharing a similar picture with his own followers, a delighted Lorri, added: ‘She said yesssss.’

Adorable: Taking to Instagram, Lorri recently gave a sweet insight into their amazing engagement as he shared a montage of photos

Happy: The loved-up pair took a scenic plane ride before later arriving at the beach where Lorri got down one one knee

In an exclusive clip shared to MailOnline in September, the property developer, could be seen getting down on one knee amid an idyllic setting on a beach in France, as he tells Ferne that he wants her to stand by him ‘forever’.

And an emotional Ferne can’t stop the tears from flowing as she sobs: ‘Oh my God, I can’t even cope!’ before telling a delighted Lorri: ‘Yes!’

The couple became engaged during an idyllic trip to France following a whirlwind seven month romance, with Ferne previously teasing a glimpse of the proposal.

Speaking about her wedding to Closer magazine, Ferne said she isn’t good at planning in advance and hasn’t got any plans currently in place, but added that she loves throwing a party.

Post: Alongside the post Lorri penned: ‘Some clips (raw unseen) from the day my future wife @FerneMcCann said yessssss’

Family: Ferne has admitted that she is ‘so ready’ to have another child, saying she wants Sunday to have a sibling before she gets married to Lorri

Ferne also gushed about her romance with Lorri, saying they both want to work on their relationship and intertwine their lives, rather than seeing it as just a romantic ‘fantasy’.

The First Time Mum star said they are both at similar stages in life as they are done with partying and are both parents, with Lorri being a father to a young son.

Looking to the future, Ferne said she definitely wants to have more children and joked about having as many as ten kids, adding that she wants to move to the countryside by the time she is 40.

EXES – AND SUPPORTING EACH OTHER THROUGH THE ROCKY TIMES

SAM FAIERS

Before settling down with Paul, Sam was linked with TOWIE co-stars Joey Essex and Mark Wright.

Sam started dating Joey back in 2011 but their romance only lasted for a few months before she reportedly ended things over the phone.

They then reignited their romance and Joey proposed to Sam in Dubai during an episode of TOWIE in 2012, but they broke up three months later.

On and off romance: Sam started dating Joey (pictured in April 2013) back in 2011 but their romance only lasted for a few months before she reportedly ended things over the phone

Sam left TOWIE in 2014 to focus on her relationship with Joey off the screen, but the pair broke things off when they argued in Marbella.

The couple once more reunited when Joey paid £2,000 to go on a date with Sam at a charity auction, but did not continue their romance.

On a break from Joey, Sam was also linked to Geordie Shore star Scott ‘Scotty T’ Timlin after they were spotted enjoying numerous nights out together. However, they were not officially confirmed to be dating.

The reality star also dated Mark Wright, but branded her ex-boyfriend as a ‘player’ in her book book Secrets and Lies.

Old flames: They then reignited their romance and Joey proposed to Sam (pictured in 2013) in Dubai during an episode of TOWIE in 2012, but they broke up three months later

‘He was a young good looking guy on a TV show,’ she said. ‘Everyone knew Mark Wright. Him and his group of mates were the boys about town.’

The pair briefly dated during their time on TOWIE but they first met after she spotted him on MySpace and met in an Epping club years earlier.

FERNE MCCANN

Before finding love with Lorri, Ferne recently dated and split from DJ Jake Padgett last year after they spent the second lockdown together.

After the split Ferne revealed she still wanted to find her happily ever after and is ‘such a sucker for love’, but only had positive things to say about Jack, 27, describing the breakup as ‘mature’.

Ferne also dated Albie Gibbs and the pair had a long-distance relationship while he resided in New York. The pair called time on their romance after the Covid-19 lockdown made it impossible to see each.

Exes: Before finding love with Lorri, Ferne recently dated and split from DJ Jake Padgett last year after they spent the second lockdown together

She later said of their romance: ‘How can I see a future with someone when I can’t physically be with them for the foreseeable future? I was naive to think the long distance thing would be OK. We have broken up and it is proper s**t.

‘It sucks to say that I think he was the right guy, and I want to stress this, the right guy at the wrong time.’

Ferne also dated Arthur Collins before he was jailed for an acid attack. Ferne dumped Arthur after learning about the incident. The pair share a daughter Sunday but Ferne has raised her as a single parent.

Arthur, 29, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after being found guilty of carrying out a brutal acid attack in 2017.

After her romance with Arthur ended, Ferne was forced to deny that Sam had ended their decades-long friendship over her former boyfriend.

Ex: Ferne also dated Arthur Collins before he was jailed for an acid attack. Ferne dumped Arthur after learning about the incident. Arthur, 29, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence

It was claimed that Sam had ended her friendship with Ferne after she ‘warned’ her off Arthur, but Ferne hit back at the claims and said they were not true.

She told MailOnline at the time: ‘I was hearing that she warned me off Arthur. That is completely untrue and you’re hearing it from the horse’s mouth.

‘Sam Faiers never met Arthur. After the incident, she was at my birthday and I don’t know. There’s absolutely no truth in that.’

Ferne instead said that she believed the reason behind their falling out was because she decided to launch her reality TV series First Time Mum.

Daughter: The former TOWIE star, 32, has a daughter Sunday, four, with her ex Arthur Collins, and has raised her as a single parent

Last month, it was revealed that Arthur is reportedly set to marry his former Page 3 girl fiancée in prison at the end of the year.

It was claimed that Arthur and his partner Annie Jane, 33, want to tie the knot in Category ‘A’ HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes this year.

Before Arthur, Ferne was in an on-off relationship with fellow TOWIE star Charlie Sims and their tumultuous love story was captured for viewers of the reality show.

COINCIDING PREGNANCIES AND GROWING FAMILIES

SAM FAIERS

The friends have also been there to support each other through many milestones in their lives, including welcoming their children around the same time.

Sam and her partner, 33, have been together since 2014 and welcomed their first child Paul in December 2015, before having their daughter Rosie by home birth in November 2017.

Sam welcomed her third son Edward Knightley in May this year and shared how ‘proud’ she was of herself as she adjusts to the ‘full on’ role of being a mother of three.

Family: Sam and her partner, 33, have been together since 2014 and welcomed their first child Paul in December 2015, Rosie in 2017 and Edward earlier this year

Ferne gushed over her friend’s newborn as she commented on her friend’s post to share her congratulations after news of Edward’s birth, as things seemed to be good between the pair just a few months ago.

FERNE MCCANN

Meanwhile, Ferne welcomed her own daughter Sunday in November 2017 – a matter of days before her pal Sam welcomed her second child Rosie.

The friends went through their pregnancies at the same time, with Ferne welcoming Sunday on November 2, 2017, and Sam having Rosie just days later on November 11.

However, the friends were not as close as they once were at this time, as they came into conflict over their competing reality TV series about their pregnancies and motherhood.

Sweet: Meanwhile, Ferne welcomed her own daughter Sunday in November 2017 – a matter of days before her pal Sam welcomed her second child Rosie

Ferne shares her daughter Sunday with her ex Arthur Collins, announcing her pregnancy news just days before he was arrested for orchestrating an acid attack.

Arthur, 29, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence after being found guilty of carrying out a brutal acid attack in 2017. Ferne has raised Sunday as a single parent.

Ferne also plans to have more children with her fiancé Lorri, saying she wants Sunday to have a sibling before she gets married.

‘I haven’t thought too much about wedding plans, we made the decision that we would like to have another baby first,’ she told Closer magazine.

Expecting: The friends went through their pregnancies at the same time, with Ferne welcoming Sunday on November 2, 2017, and Sam having Rosie just days later on November 11

Sweet: Ferne McCann has revealed that she wants to have another child before tying the knot with her fiancé Lorri Haines

‘I’d love for Sunday to have a sibling, and extend and grow our family.’

She added: ‘I really want a baby now, I’m so ready, but do you know what, every baby is a miracle, and it will happen when it’s meant to be.’

FERNE’S CLOSE FRIENDSHIP WITH SAM’S SISTER BILLIE – SAYING SHE WANTS THEIR KIDS TO GO TO SCHOOL TOGETHER

Ferne is also a close friend of Sam’s sister Billie, 32, attending her hen do, wedding, and baby showers.

Ferne even sang at Billie’s 2019 wedding in the Maldives, with the reality star saying the surprise performance from her best friend was a moment she will never forget.

And just weeks before the explosive recordings rocked their friendship, Ferne seemed to be on excellent terms with Sam’s sister Billie – who is one of her closest friends.

Ferne and her fiancé Lorri joined pregnant Billie and her husband Greg for a sun-soaked getaway in Greece in August, where the group were seen smiling for jovial snaps and relaxing by the pool together.

Pals: Just weeks before the row, Ferne went on a family holiday with her fiancé Lorri Haines, and Billie and her husband Greg and their two children

The best friends were seen grinning as they posed for selfies together and appeared to be closer than ever as they made happy memories during the trip.

Billie and Greg’s children Nelly, seven, and Arthur, five, also joined the group on the family holiday, while Ferne’s daughter Sunday was also present.

Billie is due to welcome her third child and Ferne has been at her friend’s side throughout the pregnancy, and Ferne admitted she wants to have another baby too.

She told Closer Magazine just ten days ago that seeing her pal Billie pregnant has bolstered her desire to have another baby, as she would like their kids to be in the same school year.

Their very close bond appears to have been rocked by the explosive recordings, with Billie reportedly confronting her pal over them.

Good times: The best friends were seen grinning as they posed for selfies together and appeared to be closer than ever as they made happy memories during the trip

Close connections: Ferne is also a close friend of Sam’s sister Billie, 32, attending her hen do, wedding, and baby showers

One voice note also saw Ferne allegedly take a swipe at Billie for giving her son the same name as her ex-boyfriend in a leaked voice note.

And a third voice note, leaked to Instagram on Thursday, claims to be from Ferne talking about her best pal Billie, 32, deciding to call her son Arthur.

But fans have expressed sympathy with Ferne, saying they feel the apparent feud should be sorted in private and saying that ‘everyone has said things behind closed doors’.

In a voice message, Ferne allegedly said it was ‘weird’ that Billie decided to call her son Arthur – the name of Ferne’s ex Arthur Collins, who she shares daughter Sunday with.

AWKWARD PODCAST APPEARANCE

Besties: After the pair repaired their friendship following their feud over their TV shows, Ferne (pictured with Sam in 2019) appeared on Sam’s podcast with Billie – who is Sam’s sister and Ferne’s best friend

After the pair repaired their friendship following their feud over their TV shows, Ferne appeared on Sam’s podcast with Billie – who is Sam’s sister and Ferne’s best friend.

However, Ferne did not shy away from admitting that she doesn’t usually listen to the podcast, leading to an awkward moment.

After Sam asked her if she often tuned in, Ferne replied: ‘I’ve tuned in… I’ve tuned… erm… Do you know what? I really like the bite sized bits on social media.

‘And my PA, she listens to your podcast regularly and she said; ‘Oh! This come up about you the other day!’ And I love it.’

LEAKED VOICE NOTES

Things came to a head for the friends this week when explosive voice notes were leaked online, with Sam unfollowing Ferne on Instagram after the first message was leaked.

The shocking row came to light earlier this week when a social media account leaked the messages and claimed they were sent by Ferne.

Awkward: It comes after Sam Faiers has unfollowed Ferne on Instagram after an alleged voice note of the First Time Mum star calling her a ‘fat c***’ was leaked online

Friends are said to have rallied around both camps amid the furore, with insiders claiming that Ferne has gone into ‘panic mode’ over the drama.

A source close to Ferne said: ‘She is in a living nightmare and wants this to stop. People don’t know all the facts. All eyes are on what could come out next on this Instagram account.’

‘If those voice notes were made by Ferne then it is incredibly damaging. She is being seen as a bit toxic at the moment. No one can believe she would say such things.’

Sam’s sister Billie – who is close friends with Ferne – is said to have confronted Ferne over the shocking leaked audio recordings.

Ferne is said to have denied that it is her voice on the messages but it has been reported that the phone conversation did not end well.

Shocking: The row came to light earlier this week when a social media account leaked the messages and claimed they were sent by Ferne

A second voice note has been released which is reportedly of Ferne branding Sam a ‘narcissistic b**ch’, which leaked on social media on Wednesday evening.

It came shortly after Ferne appeared to body shame her, describing her thighs as ‘so big’, in another recording.

Allegedly Ferne describing Sam, the voice note said: ‘Sort of girl that she is, she’s just a narcissistic b**ch, she honestly won’t care.’

Cutting to a different message, the voice note says: ‘It’s an exact copy. It’s just so s**t on people who have worked so hard. Because she’s got a big following, it’s just ridiculous.’

The Instagram account wrote alongside the clip: ‘@FerneMcCann what a jealous bitter woman talking about your so called best friend @SamanthaFaiers who you have known for 20 years.

Annoyed: After the first clips were circulated online, Sam’s mother Suzie was so appalled by the message that she posted it on her Instagram page, which is accessible to her 270,000 followers, this morning

‘As a friend you should be supporting your friends not running to other friends and slating them.’

The voice messages were allegedly sent by Ferne on WhatsApp to a friend in June, just a month after Sam had given birth to her third baby, Edward.

After the first clips were circulated online, Sam’s mother Suzie was so appalled by the message that she posted it on her Instagram page, which is accessible to her 270,000 followers, this morning.

Suzie wrote: ‘So, after a few days of hurt and upset I can no longer sit back and say nothing.

‘The vile voice note has been circulating social media, and now press articles are calling it a ‘feud’, which it is not.

Falling out? Sam’s sister Billie – who is close friends with Ferne – is said to have confronted Ferne (all pictured in February 2015) over the shocking leaked audio recordings

‘This has come as a complete shock to myself and my family. Ferne has always been a very close family friend to all of us for over the past 20 years.

‘It appears this voice note was sent just weeks after Samantha gave birth back in May. Since this voice note has surfaced more has been sent – very upsetting nasty things.

‘We are as shocked as you are! Nobody should ever speak about their friends like this ever!

‘My girls are my absolute everything and I’ll do anything to protect them. I don’t have anything else to say on the matter.’

Allegations: The voice messages were allegedly sent by Ferne on WhatsApp to a friend in June, just a month after Sam had given birth to her third baby, Edward

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