She’s been engaged for two years and previously admitted to not being in any rush to walk down the aisle, but TOWIE's Ferne McCann says that after being wowed by best pal Vicky Pattison’s dream Italian wedding, she’s ready to start planning hers! The reality star – who is engaged to property developer Lorri Haines – attended Vicky’s nuptials to TOWIE star Ercan Ramadan in Puglia, Italy, this summer and says she’s been taken by the idea of a destination wedding too.
Ferne, 34, tells Closer, ‘We went to a few weddings abroad in September and I’ve just got absolute wedding fever. Vicky’s day was incredible – I loved the whole Italian vibe. Before, we were happy to take our time with wedding plans, but now we’re ready! I’d love to get married in Europe and feel the heat on my skin. We were in the south of France this summer, it was just glorious.’
She says Vicky’s wedding was picture-perfect, revealing, ‘It took my breath away, she was so beautiful. The day was perfect – lots of limoncello, pizza, pasta, great wine and she had Blazin’ Squad as her entertainment so I got to relive my teenage years! Vicky and I have such a special friendship, it was wonderful to be there to see her get married.’
And, not just satisfied with wedding planning, Ferne, who shares 16-month-old daughter Finty with Lorri and has daughter Sunday, seven, from a previous relationship, hasn’t ruled out baby number three.
‘If I didn’t have another baby, that would be fine – but I don’t think I’m done so that must be a sign,’ laughs Ferne, who admits she struggles to see herself having a son.
‘I think it would be another girl,’ she says. ‘It’s nothing personal against boys, but I’m a mum to girls and I can only see myself having daughters!’
For years, Ferne has used her public status to advocate the benefits of breastfeeding – she still breastfeeds Finty and has no plans to stop just yet.
‘Some people find it strange that I still breastfeed Finty, but it’s totally individual and you have to do what feels right for you,’ she says. ‘But it’s such a lovely thing, it will be hard when I decide to give it up.’
Ferne, who split from her ex, Arthur Collins, while pregnant with Sunday, admits her experiences of motherhood were different with both daughters.
She says, ‘With Sunday, it was a no-brainer I was a single mum so it made sense to exclusively breastfeed. As she got bigger and I went back to work, I had to think about childcare, so stopping at six months was a natural transition. With Finty, I was much more confident and I had Lorri supporting me, so I introduced pumping very early on so he could be involved with feeding too.’
Ferne is an ambassador for breastfeeding accessories brand Pippeta, and she is fronting the Mum’s Ribbon Movement, where a parent wears or ties a ribbon to their clothes to show they are open to chat and offer support to other mums.
‘It’s such a wonderful campaign,’ she says. ‘It will hopefully inspire other mums and give them support and encouragement.’
She adds, ‘I use the Pippeta breast pump and it’s amazing – you also get free access to a Lactation Consultant when you buy one, which has been an incredible support. I used my pump all the time and it has meant that Lorri has been able to get involved right from the start with Finty’s feeding.’
In September, Ferne announced another big change in her life – she was quitting her reality TV show, My Family & Me, after almost seven years.
‘It was the toughest decision of my life,’ says Ferne. ‘But I felt it was the right time. Sunday is in Year 2 at school and I want her to be able to focus on her life and be a child. There are no regrets – it’s been a glorious experience.’ The TV star admits she would be open to her daughters following her into the world of showbiz, saying, ‘I’ll be supportive of them whatever they want to do – although you have to have a thick skin in this business!’
Fearne has previously talked about finding comfort in spirituality, and says she’s been exploring her faith in God. She reveals, ‘I’ve always felt an interest, but now I’m actively praying every night. There’s such a massive community of people following their faith.’
Despite shelving her reality show, Ferne has some exciting new TV projects in the pipeline for 2025.
‘I can’t imagine my life without cameras!’ she laughs. ‘I can’t say too much at the moment, but it will be a different style of TV. I have lots of passions and interests that might surprise people and I’m looking forward to filming projects around them. I’m excited for the future.’
Pippeta has a range of award-winning, hands-free breast pumps to support your breastfeeding journey. The brand also offers free support from a fully qualified Lactation