They're just normal mums - honest
Ah, childhood sleepovers – that one opportunity we had to eat ourselves sick on midnight snacks and mess up Mum’s sheets with our DIY forts.
Sure, it was a few years ago now, but, still, we’re pretty surprised to see just how drastically different the slumber party looks today – especially if you’re Sam Faiers.
Last week, the reality star took things to a whole new level, enlisting professional party planners to throw niece Nelly, five, a birthday do, with her brother Arthur, two. Her own kids – Paul, three, and one-year-old Rosie – were also in attendance.
Out were the old sleeping bags and torches, and in were professionally erected circus teepees, ornate lanterns, sheepskin rugs and personalised pyjamas.
But while sister Billie, 29, was full of praise for the dutiful auntie, thanking her for “the best sleepover everrrr”, Sam’s followers weren’t so sure .
Comments came flooding in, saying that, once again, the Faiers are losing touch with reality and cashing in on too many freebies.
Check out the TOWIE cast originals: Where are they now?
CLOSER: TOWIE Original cast then and now photos
1 of 27Lydia Bright
Lovely Lydia Bright had a tough job putting up with on/off boyfriend James 'Arg' Argent. After Arg's cheating ways proved too much to deal with, Lydia walked away from their relationship and the show in 2012, but returned for a few special episodes.
2 of 27Lydia Bright
Lydia had string of relationships and was most recently linked to mechanic Lee Cronin. She still runs her successful clothing business, Bella Sorella, and she took part in the Channel 4 TV show The Jump.
3 of 27James 'Arg' Argent
Arg was the loveable cheeky chap who could first be found singing around the bars of Essex. After proving to be a pretty lousy boyfriend to Lyds and being suspended from the show for partying, Arg went into rehab and came out a new man.
4 of 27James 'Arg' Argent
Arg is now in a relationship with another Essex blonde bombshell, Gemma Collins, and they have big plans to become the world's next big power couple.
5 of 27Lauren Goodger
Poor Lauren Goodger was always in distress over long-term boyfriend Mark Wright. The future never really looked promising for this couple. In fact, she famously pushed Mark into a swimming pool.
6 of 27Lauren Goodger
Lauren left the show in 2016, before appearing on Dancing on Ice and Celebrity Big Brother. She's now in a relationship with Joey Morrisson, who's currently doing a stretch in prison. Lauren occasionally makes a special appearance in the show that made her name.
7 of 27Mark Wright
Ah, Mark wright - he sure did have a way with the ladies in Essex. After finishing things with fiance Lauren Goodger, he had flings with Sam Faiers and Lucy Mecklenburgh. Mark left the show in 2016 after meeting actress Michelle Keegan.
8 of 27Mark Wright
Mark married Michelle in 2015 and now has a TV career in LA, presenting a show called Extras. The pair are VERY loved up and we reckon it's far less dramatic than his previous relationships.
9 of 27Kirk Norcross
Sugar Hut club promoter Kirk Norcross had relationships with Amy Childs and Lauren Pope. He even had 'his n hers' nose surgery with Popey before they split. Kirk also introduced viewers to his Sugar Hut owner dad, Mick, who had a one-sided love affair with Gemma Collins.
10 of 27Kirk Norcross
Kirk is now a dad to two kids and he has an ADORABLE Instagram feed of family photos. Kirk also had a stint on Celebrity Big Brother and Ex On The Beach, but it looks like he's now sticking to life as a daddy.
11 of 27Amy Childs
Queen of the vajazzle, Amy Childs was the beautiful beautician who only stayed in the show for a year. She soon starred in her own series, It's All About Amy.
12 of 27Amy Childs
Amy is now a mum to little Polly who she gave birth to in 2017. She is no longer in a relationship with Polly's dad, Bradley Wright, but she was recently snapped with a mystery man on holiday.
13 of 27Harry Derbidge
Young Harry was the cousin of Amy Childs and just as glamorous as her. Who can forget when he performed as Lady Gaga at his birthday party?
14 of 27Harry Derbidge
Harry started a relationship with co-star Bobby Norris but it ended after Harry reportedly cheated. Harry recently opened up about his battle with an eating disorder, but he looks to be doing well, and is now a pretty amazing makeup artist. Do you think he's had lip fillers? Hmmm.
15 of 27Sam Faiers
Sam Faiers first hit screens when best mate Amy Childs gave her a vajazzle. She gave in to Mark Wright's romantic pursuits for a short while, but it was her relationship with Joey Essex that won our hearts (sob).
16 of 27Sam Faiers
Sam now has a BEAUTIFUL family with her partner Paul Knightley and two kids. She went on to star in another reality show, Sam Faiers: The Mummy Diaries. Sam has also opened up about her battle with Crohn's disease and she still helps to run clothing boutique, Minnie's.
17 of 27Jess Wright
Sister of Mark Wright, she had to give him a few sisterly straight-talks. She was a model and singer, with dreams of making it big in the pop music world. Jess's big relationship was with co-star Ricky Rayment.
18 of 27Jess Wright
More recently. Jess split from Strictly's Giovanni Pernice after five months of dating. She's released a fitness DVD but that's all we've heard from her, really.
19 of 27Billie Faiers
The bond between Billie and her sister Sam was pure joy to watch. She always had her sister's back.
20 of 27Billie Faiers
Billie is now engaged to Greg Shepherd, who she has a son and a daughter with. She appeared in The Mummy Diaries with her big sis, but it's reported that she's to get her own reality show which will document her getting ready for the wedding.
21 of 27Lucy Mecklenburgh
Lucy Mecklenburgh caused a lot of trouble between Mark Wright and Lauren Goodger after she slept with Mark. But her big romance was with co-star Mario Falcone.
22 of 27Lucy Mecklenburgh
Lucy is now a fitness GURU. Honestly, nothing comes between this girl and her abs. She's now in a relationship with former Corrie actor Ryan Thomas after appearing on Celebrity Island together. She also runs a fashion boutique and an online fitness program - quite the entrepreneur.
23 of 27Lauren Pope
DJ Lauren 'Popey' Pope was already known for being a bit of a party girl on the circuit before starting TOWIE. She was in an on/off relationship with Kirk Norcross and dated Tom Pearce.
24 of 27Lauren Pope
Lauren is now the proud owner of a successful hair extensions business. She recently rejoined the show.
25 of 27Maria Fowler
Model Maria Fowler was Popey's best pal and she did NOT get on with her mate's BF Kirk Norcross. She went through some tough times in public after leaving the show just two series later.
26 of 27Maria Fowler
But now Maria looks VERY happy in her new role as a mum to Evie, who she had with boyfriend Kelvin Batey.
27 of 27Nanny Pat
Nanny Pat was the voice of reason that the TOWIE cast needed. She doted on her grandkids Mark and Jess Wright, and always dished out the best advice. She also knew how to let her hair down. Sadly, 80-year-old Pat died in 2015.
“More money than sense,” railed one online commenter, while another replied, “She won’t have paid for it. The companies would have done it for free publicity.”
A third chimed in, saying, “I get that people have money, but this is just ridiculously over-the-top and makes people feel inadequate. These two would sell their souls for a freebie.”
In fairness to their critics, there’s no denying that Sam, 28, and Billie do live a pretty lavish lifestyle, especially in comparison to their formative years on TOWIE.
Back then, Sam was the glamour model whose power and influence took her to the lofty heights of VIP Sugar Hut access, while her sister played the supporting role of confidante.
But, nine years later, the Faiers live a life marked by eye-wateringly excessive holidays, over-blown parties and various social appearances that earn them thousands in minutes, all plugged on Instagram.
Meanwhile, they say they’re just “normal mums” in their fly-on-the-wall series The Mummy Diaries.
It’s no surprise that some fans are losing their patience – especially since Sam’s OTT slumber do followed Nellie’s official fifth birthday party the week before – celebrated with a Greatest Showman-themed funfair, which included a big top, fun fair rides and a petting zoo. Again, Billie thanked every company involved.
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Earlier this year, Billie lashed out at Phillip Schofield, after he implied on live TV that her and husband Greg’s Maldives wedding had been paid for with sponsorship deals.
But soon after, Greg boasted in an interview that they had been sent to Cannes by Givenchy Beauty for the film festival, where they didn’t have to pay a thing.
All this has fans wondering just how much further the Faiers will go in their bid to become this country’s answer to the Kardashians. And how long will it take before they lose touch with reality for good?
For even more exclusive celebrity news, read this week's issue of Heat magazine - out now.