WHILE most of us spent half term in the rain, Billie Faiers jetted to Abu Dhabi with her family for a luxury break in the sun – and, once again, she didn’t pay a penny.
As she uploaded snap after snap of herself looking toned and tanned on the beach, the anger from her fans was obvious in the comments, and we’re told it’s also ruffled feathers back home in her native Essex.
The 36-year-old is well versed in brushing off negativity, but with no new telly show on the horizon, Billie is facing her most testing time yet.
An insider told us: “Billie has pretty much constantly been on TV since she first joined Towie, but sixteen years on, it seems the telly well is finally drying up.
“It’s the first time for ages she’s not had a show to film, she still has her brands, but the exposure from the ITVBe shows has been invaluable for her, and she’s had a bit of a wobble.
“Billie is very business savvy and will make sure her family continue to live the life they are accustomed to, so if she takes a few freebie holidays here or there, so be it.”
Over the last year, Billie, husband Greg and her kids Nelly, 11, Arthur, eight, and Margot, three, have been on at least four free gifted trips.
In April, they enjoyed a luxury trip to Dubai, staying at the £300 a night Rixos The Palm, in June, they went to Turkey’s XO Cape Arnna with her sister Sam, all her kids and their mum Suzie.
And then this half term, it was a trip to Abu Dhabi, where they stayed in the stunning Jumeirah Saadiyat, which can cost up to £600 a night.
While in the past, Billie has kept her holiday posts to a minimum, this time she shared four separate grid posts, full of pictures from the break.
She gushed: “We had such a great time in Abu Dhabi. There’s so much to see and do there, and there really is something for everyone in the family to enjoy… Waterparks, beach clubs, theme parks, museums and gorgeous restaurants! The perfect family holiday.”
And while a lot of Billie’s fans were happy for her, many felt she was once again rubbing her privilege in their faces, branding her “greedy”.
One person remarked online: “Another free holiday. Greedy Billie and Greg have so much money but do not want to pay for their holidays. This greed is disgraceful.”
Another raged: “Probably another free paid holiday with a free hotel. Billie & Greg are so greedy people cannot afford to have so many holidays.”
Our insiders tell us it’s also upset people back in Essex, explaining: “Sam left Essex ages ago, but Billie has always been the one to stay and be part of the community.
“Her kids go to school there, and she supports local businesses, but everyone is really struggling at the moment, and it’s not nice seeing someone so rich enjoying all these trips for free. There is a lot of jealous and resentment towards her.
“No one would begrudge her a holiday, but seeing her away every school holiday is a different matter.”
Everyone is really struggling at the moment and it’s not nice seeing someone so rich enjoying all these trips for free. There is a lot of jealous and resentment towards her.
Billie first joined Towie in 2010 alongside Sam, who was one of the main characters on the series.
She made the decision to leave in 2016 after having her daughter, Nelly, and her priorities switched.
It was the perfect timing because Sam had just started appearing in her own show, The Mummy Diaries, and she seamlessly moved from one programme to another.
They continued on it together until 2021, until Sam and her partner Paul Knightley decided to step away with their three kids Paul, Rosie and Edward and again Billie had a lucky break as the show was transformed into The Family Diaries.
But in 2024, after six series, Billie and Greg announced that it was all over.
Explaining the move, which left fans devastated, Billie said: “We always said that when Nelly goes to secondary school, it’ll be time to call it a day. We just thought, we’ve had the best time and we’re going out on a high.
“The kids are getting older and I want them to do whatever they want to do and not be worried about the pressure of filming. Secondary school is a massive jump and there are quite a few different factors – it’s the right decision for us.”
The sisters weren’t off telly for long, though and landed Sister Act in 2025 – it was axed after just one series.
We were told the reaction to the new format wasn’t what ITV bosses had hoped for.
A TV insider said at the time: “Sam hadn’t been on TV in a while, and it doesn’t look like viewers missed her.
“Viewing figures weren’t what they hoped, and a lot of the show was based around the sisters selling products which felt a bit like one long advert.”
‘Viewers haven’t missed her’
Billie has plenty on her plate for now, though she still co-owns Minnies Boutique, which was founded during her Towie days and has a long-standing partnership with George at Asda, bringing out clothing collections for women and children.
However, her home and lifestyle brand, Chapter B, which was launched in 2023, appears to be no more. The Instagram account has been deleted, and the last activity was in April 2025.
Last year wasn’t easy for the star – she was diagnosed with Lyme Disease, but it took months for her to get some answers.
She explained: “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.
“I had so many blood tests but no one could figure it out. One doctor said she’d never seen anything like it. It was frustrating. This went on for about two months before we learnt it was Lyme.”
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection carried by ticks which spreads when they bite humans.
She wondered at the time if the dormant condition was triggered by a string of stressful events, including rushing her daughter, Margot, two, to the hospital after she had a seizure.
Another insider added: “Billie has had a lot on her plate recently, and actually, a break from TV could be just what she needs. It’s a chance to concentrate on her family and other projects.”
And no doubt a few more free holidays.
