Billie Shepherd reveals her stepdad has checked out of rehab and has moved in with her family as she speaks candidly about his battle with alcoholism

Billie Shepherd has opened up about her stepfather’s battle with alcoholism in the upcoming series of The Family Diaries.

The TV personality, 34, revealed that her stepfather, Dave Chatwood, has left rehab and now lives with her, Greg and their children.

In an interview ahead of the seventh series of the ITV show, Billie said her father is now sober and his journey to recovery has been a ‘special’ storyline.

She explained: “That’s something we’ve been following over the last few series, but this series is especially special because we get to celebrate him being sober.

“Obviously there are always highs and lows, it’s very raw to show the whole journey with dad and what we’ve all been through to get him where he is now. I think we are open and honest here. It’s literally our lives and what you see is what you get.’

She gave another update on her stepdad, adding, “Dad is doing great, he’s out of rehab. He has been living with us for the last few weeks.

‘He is very chilled and determined that he is not going to drink again, he feels great and has said it has completely changed his life and saved his life – which is absolutely true.’

On filming personal moments like these, she explained, “I think like I said before, the point of a reality show is reality, and we’ve had so much support and love, and Dad too through his journey with getting sober to show. .

“I don’t think it would feel real if we didn’t show the difficult, sad moments, because when you as a family try to help someone in that situation, it’s very difficult.

“I think showing the rawness – a lot of people who are in those situations could relate to it. It’s not like he’s really down and then suddenly he’s great, it’s a real journey, including the really down moments.”

Billie and her sister Sam have previously spoken out about their concerns about their stepfather’s health on their ITVBe show Billie & Greg: The Family Diaries.

Dave told Billie that he had about fifteen months left if he continued what he was doing after talking to the doctor.

Billie explained at the time: ‘Dad has found out that his liver results are abnormal and after telling the doctors that he is drinking way more than he should every day, the doctor is concerned as they think his health could be at risk. ‘

Speaking to her mother Suzie, Billie admitted: “It’s like hitting your head against a brick wall right now because I don’t think anything is really going to change at this point.”

Suzie then added, “I mean, I know he’s never going to stop right away, but if he doesn’t calm down. You know, he’s lucky he has another year.”

Billie continued, “I think Nelly and Arthur are getting a little older now. It’s almost becoming more and more difficult, it’s becoming more and more difficult to hide it or hide it from them.”

She added, “You know, he has an addiction. It’s a disease, isn’t it?’ as Suzie replied, “It is.”

“Unless he really wants to try to help himself get better, which I don’t think is the case right now. What can we do then? We just have to keep going like we always have,” Billie said.

It comes after it was revealed last month that Billie and her husband Greg have quit their ITV show The Family Diaries after six series, according to new reports.

The couple, who regularly share intimate details of their family life on their hit show, wrapped the series to “let their children grow up without cameras.”

Billie, 34, and Greg, 39, who share three children, Nelly, 10, Arthur, seven, and Margot, 21 months, have grown up with reality TV since they were born.

Their eldest daughter Nelly made her television debut on The Only Way Is Essex in 2014 when she was weeks old.

Like Nelly, Arthur first appeared on screens shortly after he was born, when Billie and sister Sam had their joint series The Mummy Diaries.

Since Sam quit the series in 2021, Billie and Greg have continued to showcase their glamorous lives in their own show, which introduced daughter Margot.

A source told The Sun: ‘Billie has enjoyed her time on the show and had a lot of fun but thinks it’s time she lets her children grow up away from the cameras for some time.

“She loves the memories she made and will cherish them forever. She is so grateful to the production company, but is excited about exploring new options with ITV.

‘There is no bad blood and the sky is the limit.’

MailOnline has contacted Billie’s representatives for comment.

An ITV spokesperson said: ‘We are currently in production on a new series of The Family Diaries due to air on ITVX and ITVBe later this year and are in discussions with Billie about projects for 2025.’

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