Billie Faiers: ‘I’ll dress up this year, whatever happens!’

From family traditions to her love of cooking, reality star Billie, 30, talks us through her celebrations

billie faiers

by Eden-Olivia Lord |
Updated on

Christmas Eve

3pm: This is when Christmas really begins for our family. Greg [Shepherd, who Billie married last year] and I always take the children [Nelly, six, and Arthur, three] to the local park to feed Santa’s reindeer.

4pm: The rest of Christmas Eve is spent prepping for the big day. I always make sausage rolls from scratch, and the children open their Christmas Eve boxes, which contain little treats, including sweets, games and pyjamas.

5:30pm: I love making memories and taking family pictures, so we all pose in our pyjamas in front of the tree. Nelly and Arthur always have matching sets from George at ASDA and I love being in a similar set, but Greg refuses to join in. One year, I did force him to wear an elf onesie – the kids thought it was hilarious!

7pm: Before going to bed, we leave out a glass of milk and mince pies for Santa. This Christmas is going to feel extra special because Arthur is finally old enough to understand what’s going on.

Christmas Morning

6:30am: The kids get us up early. I don’t mind as I’m usually half-awake because I’m so excited for the day. I love Christmas morning as it’s all about the children. It makes me so happy to see the excitement on their faces.

7am: When I was younger, my sister Sam and I would climb into our parents’ bed to open our stockings from Father Christmas. I’ve kept that tradition with Nelly and Arthur. Then, after we’ve opened the stockings, I’ll run downstairs before anyone else so I can turn on the tree and make sure the place looks extra festive.

8:30am: For breakfast, we always have bacon bagels – it’s a bit random, but they keep us full up until lunch is ready. Christmas morning is really relaxed – we slowly open gifts and the kids play with all their new toys. Nelly doesn’t know what she wants this year, but Arthur is desperate for an electric motorbike. With everything that’s been going on with the virus, I haven’t even thought about what I would like for Christmas. In fact, I haven’t even started my shopping! But I do love a surprise. One year, Greg hid all of my presents and I had to follow clues to find them – that was really fun. He put so much effort into it and that’s what giving is all about.

10am: I always get dressed up on Christmas Day and this year won’t be any different. I’ll do my hair and make-up and will either put on a jumpsuit or a dress and heels. I love velvet and satin pieces as they look glam but are comfy, too.

Check out: a sneak peek inside Billie Faiers' and Greg Shepherd's Essex home

Gallery

Billie Faiers and Greg Shepherd's house SLIDER

Billie and Greg's Essex home1 of 36
CREDIT: ITVBe | The Mummy Diaries

Billie and Greg's Essex home

Billie and Greg's Essex family home looks traditional from the outside. The front door has been painted a neutral grey and has a silver knocker and stained glass window.

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CREDIT: Instagram

Entrance

How cute are Billie and Nelly in their matching dressing gowns? We love this sweet selfie taken in the reflection of Billie's chic French-style mirror.

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CREDIT: Instagram

Entrance

And the chic decor continues... Billie has filled her console table with minimalist framed prints, placed to a Jo Malone candle and room diffuser.

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CREDIT: Instagram

Entrance

She's off! A much younger Nelly parades through Billie and Greg's tiled hallway in this adorable snap. Cute red suitcase, too.

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CREDIT: Instagram

Hallway

Proud mum Billie couldn't resist to get a picture of Nelly on her first day of school. The Essex mum has hidden her radiators behind made-to-measure grey fittings, which she has used to display family photos in metallic frames.

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CREDIT: Instagram

Living room

Billie and Sam pose with Arthur and Rosie propped on their hips in this family pic. Nelly's toys and Arthur's high chair - designed by his auntie, Sam - can be spotted in the background.

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CREDIT: Instagram

Living room

Greg settles down with with daughter Nelly under a cosy blanket to watch some TV on what looks like the world's comfiest armchair.

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CREDIT: Instagram

Living room at Christmas

Billie and Greg's Christmas looks so plush - albeit a little chaotic! We bet Nelly was thrilled with that miniature white range rover - we know we would be.

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CREDIT: Instagram

Living room at Christmas

Billie and Nelly posed for a mummy-daughter photo in front of the tree in December 2018. Billie opted for a lavish white and gold theme for her Christmas tree.

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CREDIT: Instagram

Living room

This is the PERFECT sofa for lazy Sundays. Billie even has personalised cushions - one for her and husband, Greg and one for Nelly and Arthur.

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CREDIT: Instagram

Living room

Talking of personalised cushions, Nelly and Arthur have a whole bunch of their own. Arthur looks so cosy in the heap of cushions.

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CREDIT: Instagram

Living room

This is totally the adults-only area. Even the thought of little rascals anywhere near that lush wallpaper and cream carpet makes us feel anxious...

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Living room / Play area

... But luckily with Billie and Greg's open-plan ground floor, the kids' area isn't far away. A cheeky Arthur chuckles in front of a mass of toys in the background.

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CREDIT: Instagram

Living room / Kitchen

That's a wrap! When the family are filming for ITV's The Mummy Diaries with Sam's family, things are bound to get a little hectic - it's only right that Nelly steps in as director before things get out of control in the Faiers/Shepherd household.

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CREDIT: Instagram

Nelly's tiny furniture

Here's a much younger Nelly looking angelic whilst eating a fruit yoghurt at her very own dining table in the kitchen.

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CREDIT: Instagram

Nelly's tiny furniture

Nelly has her own miniature sofa - and it's even a neutral crushed velvet to match mum and dad's. Totally adorable.

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CREDIT: Instagram

Nelly's tiny furniture

Not content with just her own sofa, Nelly has her own pink kitchen, too! The kitchen is complete with a fridge, sink, hobs oven and toaster. When can we come round for dinner?!

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CREDIT: Instagram

Arthur's tiny furniture

Why stop at just one miniature kitchen?! Arthur has his own set, too. The head chef looks busy at work in this picture... licking the whisk... he's a pro.

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CREDIT: ITVBe | The Mummy Diaries

Kitchen

Fans of ITVBe's The Mummy Diaries will remember the hilarious episode when Billie's husband Greg was made to cook after bragging about his chef skills.

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CREDIT: ITVBe | The Mummy Diaries

Kitchen

Viewers will also remember there was a lot of confusion with cooking dinner and a rather hectic kitchen - but luckily it all worked out in the end.

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CREDIT: Instagram

Dining table

Nelly sits at the dining table to decorate digestive biscuits. We don't know what we love more - Nelly's fluffy pom-pom hair band or the pretty Emma Bridgewater heart plate.

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CREDIT: Instagram

Dining table

Mum Billie can be seen cracking on with some admin at the dining table in this pic, with Nelly's cute mini sofa again in the background.

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CREDIT: Instagram

Dining table

This family sure do know how to pull off a good roast dinner - with a table set for three people, we're wondering if there's room for us to come along next time?

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CREDIT: Instagram

Stairs

Back to the entrance hall and we have Nelly striking her best pose whilst dressed as a LOL doll. Billie's mini-me pouts in front of the stairs.

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CREDIT: Instagram

Stairs

An adorable Arthur looks mischievous standing at the top of the stairs with striped fabric on his head. At the top of the stairs, the landing splits into two sides of the house.

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CREDIT: Instagram

Nelly's bedroom

Wow. We want Nelly's bedroom and yes, we know we're meant to be adults. But seriously, who could resist that comfy bed and grey/pink theme?

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Master bedroom

But that doesn't stop her from getting into Billie and Greg's double bed. Comfy bed? Check. Pyjamas on? Check. Biscuit to snack on? Check. Nelly, we're totes jel.

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Master bedroom

And the apple doesn't fall far from the tree - like Nelly, mum Billie loves to get comfy under the cover with a warm brew in hand.

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Master bedroom

Billie and Arthur have a matching smile in this picture - and matching pyjamas for that matter. We need those in our life, now.

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CREDIT: Instagram

Master bedroom

Billie shows off more of the master bedroom - and her lush outfit, of course - in this mirror selfie. The mum of two has co-ordinated the silver decor throughout her bedroom.

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CREDIT: ITVBe | The Mummy Diaries

Wardrobe

Nelly is playing in Dad Greg's wardrobe - sorry Nelly, we don't think any of those trousers are going to fit. We'd stick with the pink hoodie and leggings!

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CREDIT: Instagram

Bathroom

Nelly contemplates brushing her teeth in this cute snap. Billie's plush white sink is complete with a Jo Malone hand wash and mural mirror on the wall above.

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CREDIT: Instagram

Bathroom

Nelly plays with educational number toys whilst havin a splash in the bath. We love Billie and Greg's genius bathroom toy storage.

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CREDIT: Instagram

Bathroom

How adorable is this snap of baby Nelly sharing a bath with mum Billie?! The couple's oldest child is a total mini-me of Billie. And CHECK OUT that TV in the background. Bathroom goals!

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CREDIT: Instagram

Garden

Billie's garden is huge - and perfect for a competitive snow ball fight in this picturesque snowy scene. Not one to get covered in cold snow, Nelly wraps up warm in a faux-fur coat and pom-pom wooly hat.

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CREDIT: Instagram

Garden

Billie and Greg's garden looks just as great in Summer, too. How perfect is that decking for a good old British bbq with family?!

11am: Christmas for me is all about being together as a family. I love hosting – a few years ago, we had 36 people over! This year, it might just be the four of us, which has never happened before!

11:30am: Christmas Day cooking is always a team effort. My mum and Nan usually cook different meats and I do the roast potatoes – everyone says they are the best. Greg set fire to our kitchen during lockdown, but he is actually a good cook. On Christmas Day, though, he stays clear of the kitchen. He does the hosting and I prepare the food.

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Christmas afternoon

3pm: We don’t usually watch the Queen’s speech, but this year I’m going to. I think it will be really interesting to hear what she has to say with everything that has happened over the past 12 months.

3:30pm: We usually have a late Christmas lunch because we spend most of the day nibbling on snacks and chocolates. There’s always lots of food, including turkey and salted beef, and the prosecco doesn’t stop flowing.

5pm: In the past, after dinner, our house just turns into one big party. There is lots of drinking, singing and dancing and we love reading out the jokes from the crackers. We always play a few games too – last year, we played Speak Out, which was so funny.

11:30pm: I never want the day to end, so we usually don’t go to bed until midnight. We’re always up early for round two on boxing day, though!

You can read more celebrity news in this week's Closer magazine - out now.

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