STANDING on a stunning beach in the Maldives, Billie Shepherd couldn’t have been happier, and as she rang in the New Year, she gushed about being with her family and friends in her ‘favourite’ place.
But there was one person noticeably absent from her extensive posts – her sister , 36. And as rumblings of a feud between the sisters become louder, insiders tell us what is really going on between the siblings.
Sam and Billie Faiers are not as close as they once wereCredit: ITV
Billie spent New Year’s in the Maldives with her family and mum – but no SamCredit: Instagram/billieshepherdofficial
Over the past few years, there has been talk of a fallout between the pair, which started when Sam left for and then quit their show The .
While they briefly reunited for a new show – Sister Act – last year, the show was axed after just one series, and as the new year rolled in, speculation was sparked again by Billie’s holiday snaps.
Our insiders said: “After , and Greg flew to the Maldives with their kids and her mum, Suzie.
“Sam wasn’t invited on the trip – nobody thought she would anyway because she leads such a different life these days.
“Billie has been unwell this year, and it’s been difficult for her, and the fact that Sam wasn’t there speaks volumes. You would have thought they would want to be together after everything.
They haven’t had a falling out as such, but they have really grown apart.
“Billie just hasn’t felt supported enough by her sister over the last 12 months. They haven’t had a falling out as such, but they have really grown apart.”
Sam’s festive period looked rather more lonely as she was only joined by her partner Paul’s mum, Gaynor.
The holiday pictures can’t have been easy for Sam to see, though – Billie posted not just one but five grid posts about the trip, and each time gushed more and more about the people around her.
On one slide of snaps, she wrote: “Seeing in the New Year in our favourite place in the world. 2025 was a tough year for us as a family, feeling extremely grateful to be here with our friends and family, wishing everyone a very happy new year, health and happiness.”
Alongside another series of pictures, showing mum Suzie and their pals, she added: What a wonderful time we had. Grateful for the memories, we will cherish them forever.”
Our insider added: “Sam is super keen to appear down-to-earth to appeal to her audience, so she knows a trip to the Maldives at this time might not be wise for her.
“She’d already been to in the October half term, so there was really no need for another break in the sun.”
Sam’s absence was very obvious, and one concerned fan asked: “Have Billie and Sam had a fallout??? Just seem quite distant lately and don’t seem to be commenting on each other’s posts.”
And it’s true, the sisters, who were once thick as thieves, failed to publicly wish each other well for the New Year, which came as a surprise after Billie’s health struggles this year.
Billie was battling extreme fatigue and agonising pain on their Sister Act show last year.
It took weeks for the doctors to figure out what was wrong with Billie before coming to the conclusion that she was likely bitten by an infected tick as far back as three years ago, leading to Lyme disease.
is a bacterial infection spread to humans by infected ticks – tiny, spider-like creatures that live in grassy or wooded areas.
‘DANGEROUS’ ADVICE
Describing how bad things got, she said: “Some mornings I couldn’t even get out of bed. I would have to crawl, going to the toilet, I was in bits, I was hysterical, crying, because I was in so much pain.”
The struggle was documented on their show, and Sam came under fire for her ‘dangerous advice’.
Our insider explained: “The TV show did not go down well with people. They felt Sam’s holistic ways took over, and it’s really no surprise it didn’t get a second series.
Sam is said to have made the decision not to go to the MaldivesCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
Her mum – Suzie – appeared in the holiday snaps and gushed about the amazing tripCredit: Instagram/billieshepherdofficial
“Billie knows the downfall of the show is really down to Sam, and when she looks back at it, she’s not sure how she feels about it all and the advice she was given.”
In shock scenes, Sam was seen encouraging her to avoid and treat her ‘holistically’.
“I’m not saying an antibiotic isn’t for some people, but you need to get to the bottom of it,” Sam tells Billie, adding: “You just need to strip it all back, detox your body and start afresh.”
Doxycycline, an antibiotic, is the first-line treatment for Lyme disease for adults and older children. Guidelines from the drug watchdog, Nice, say a second course should be considered if symptoms persist.
Lyme Disease UK told The Sun: “Lyme disease is a serious bacterial infection and it is important it is diagnosed as promptly as possible and treated with antibiotics to minimise the risks of any longer-term symptoms developing.”
Billie goes on to say in her VT: “I know my sister is giving me the advice to go down the natural route to cure it, and that is something I will definitely be looking into, but at the moment I just need to process everything.”
Billie knows she gets backlash for the extravagant trips
In scenes that sparked concern, Sam is then seen telling Billie: “When I get home, I am project ‘Holistic Sam’. We are going to get you better, I promise.”
The sisters appeared to make time for one another in November, though, when they were seen in a snap together posted on , and again last week when Billie celebrated her birthday.
The pair met up for lunch for an overdue catch-up, with Sam gushing at the time: “My beautiful sister, my best friend, and the most incredible auntie to my babies.
“I’m so lucky to do life with you…your love, laughter and heart mean everything to us. Lunch celebrations and memories I’ll treasure forever. Love you with all my heart always.”
But when Sam celebrated her birthday at the end of last year, Billie was nowhere to be seen, and she headed to Soho Farmhouse with three pals instead. Sharing pictures from her low-key celebration, she wrote: “Girl therapy is essential care”.
In recent years, Sam has become a fully-fledged businesswoman, launching a multi-million-pound collagen company – taking her from reality star to retail star, who is thought to be worth £9million now.
While Billie has been a little more low-key, continuing to work on various products, such as her clothing range for Asda.
Sam spent time with her family and Paul’s mum GaynorCredit: Instagram/samanthafaiers
Sam and Billie have been through a lot together over the yearsCredit: instagram
Their latest reality show was axed after just one seriesCredit: Splash
After the backlash died down, Billie has been keeping a low profile and when she headed on her luxurious £500 a night Maldives holiday, she didn’t post anything until she came home.
Our insider said: “Billie knows she gets backlash for the extravagant trips she goes on and she wanted to be careful not to upset anyone. She waited until it was over before she spammed people, so the comments didn’t ruin their trip.
“The public has really turned on both the sisters over the last year, and it’s been a real juggling act for them to do things to keep their family happy, but also not to cause outrage.
“Of course, loads of celebs go away at New Year, but Billie seems to go away every school holiday to the most exotic locations. It can be a little jarring for the average mum stuck at home in the cold, struggling for cash.”
“It’s without a doubt Billie and Sam’s toughest year yet.”
2026 will no doubt see Sam take her company, Revive Collagen, to the next level as she continues global domination – but what does it mean for her relationship with her sister?
With no show on the cards, and no obvious work commitments together, sightings of them together might be few and far between. It will be down to mum Suzie – the glue who holds them together – to get the sisters on the same page once again.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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