Ferne McCann confirms she is quitting reality show My Family And Me so daughter Sunday, 6, can ‘go out there and take her own path’ – after former co-star Billie Shepherd ended her own fly-on-the-wall series
Ferne McCann has confirmed that the next season of her long-running reality series will be her last, just days after her former co-star Billie Shepherd quit her own show.
McCann, best known for her regular appearances on The Only Way Is Essex with Shepherd, has chronicled her journey from pregnancy and single parenthood to committed mother of two in the ITVBe shows First Time Mum and, more recently, My Family And Me.
But the 34-year-old TV personality plans to pull the plug after making a “difficult decision” with her fiancée, businessman Lorri Haines, and her six-year-old daughter Sunday, her child with ex-partner Arthur Collins.
She confirmed the news to her followers on Instagram, writing: ‘After an incredible 13 series, I have made the very difficult decision that this series of @fernemyfamandme will be my last.
“Where do I begin? First of all, I want to say a huge thank you to you all for watching my show and joining us on our family journey.
Ferne McCann has confirmed that the next series of her long-running reality TV series will be her last (pictured with son Finty and daughter Sunday, who appear on the show with their mother)
The TV personality McCann has documented her journey from pregnancy and single parenthood to committed mother of two in the ITVBe shows First Time Mum and My Family And Me
‘This show has been such an incredible part of my life for the past seven years and what a ride it has been to film, from being pregnant with Sunday to now. Your support and loyalty to me and my family has lifted me up more than you will ever know. Thank you.’
McCann, who is also parent to 14-month-old son Finty with Haines, added: “From the day I started filming I have poured my heart and soul into the show. I truly feel like I have laughed with you, cried with you, loved you and lived with you, and shared all the ups and downs with you.
“This was not an easy decision, but it feels like the right time for change.
“I made this decision with my children (especially Sunday who has been on this journey with me) in mind. They are my absolute priority and Sunday is at an age where she is her own little person and I want her to go out and choose her own path.
“I am eternally grateful to everyone who watched the show, supported us and got through it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
The confession comes after former co-star Billie and her husband Greg reportedly left their own ITV show, The Family Diaries, after six seasons.
The couple, who regularly share intimate details about their family life in their successful series, wrapped the series to ‘let their children grow up without cameras’.
Billie, 34, and Greg, 39, who have three children: Nelly, 10, Arthur, 7, and Margot, 21 months, have grown up with reality TV since they were born.
Their eldest daughter Nelly made her television debut in The Only Way Is Essex in 2014 when she was weeks old.
McCann shared a handful of behind-the-scenes photos and videos on Sunday and confirmed the news with Instagram followers
The shared images include a photo taken on the day businessman and fiancée Lorri Haines proposed
McCann confirmed on Instagram that she is ready to pull the plug after making the “difficult decision” with her fiancé Haines and her daughter
Like Nelly, Arthur first appeared on screen shortly after his birth, when Billie and sister Sam had their joint series The Mummy Diaries.
A source said The sunBillie has enjoyed her time on the show and has had a great time, but she feels it’s time for her children to grow up away from the cameras for a while.
“She loves the memories she has made and will cherish them forever. She is very grateful to the production company but is also excited about exploring new opportunities with ITV.
“There is no bad blood and the possibilities are endless.”
An ITV spokesperson said: ‘We are currently in production on a new series of The Family Diaries, which will air on ITVX and ITVBe later this year, and are in discussions with Billie about projects for 2025.’
MailOnline has contacted Shepherd’s representatives for comment.
The confession comes after Shepherd and her husband Greg reportedly left their own ITV show, The Family Diaries, after six seasons.
The couple, who regularly share intimate details about their family life on their hit series, wrapped the series to ‘let their children grow up without cameras’
In an exclusive interview with MailOnline in May, Billie and Greg revealed how they manage to keep their children grounded after growing up in the spotlight.
Billie said, ‘For us it’s obvious, you know, we always film and the kids have always filmed. They don’t really know much else.
‘I think it can only happen if there is concern, for example if Nelly comes to me and says she is worried.
“Of course the children are always our first priority in their happiness. But I think we are very good at keeping them grounded.”
She added: ‘TThey are children after all, I guess. Nelly is such a funny, happy character, so endearing.
‘She’s always been used to having a lot of people around her. And I think it’s only going to be positive for her and her future.
‘That was always something I always thought about, like, “Oh, would she be treated differently? Or would she, you know, be confronted with all this stuff,” but honestly, we didn’t have any of that.
“We haven’t had any dramas at school or anything like that. We would know right away, because Nelly tells us everything. She’s very open with us. And we’re lucky, we’ve been lucky that we haven’t experienced anything like that.”