Sam Faiers and Ferne McCann fall out – when did the Towie feud start, what caused it and did they used to be best friends?

SAM Faiers and Ferne McCann used to be as thick as thieves but their friendship came to an abrupt end last year.

But what happened between the Essex leading ladies and will they ever make up?

When did Sam Faiers and Ferne McCann fall out and why?

It was first reported that Sam and Ferne had fallen out in May 2017, shortly after Ferne revealed she was pregnant.

Ferne denied it at the time, but the pair appeared to cease contact online and their daughters, who were born just a week apart, are not believed to have met.

Sam shocked fans when she refused to talk about Ferne during an interview, suggesting their friendship was well and truly on the rocks.

The Sun Online reported at the time that tension started when Ferne told Sam she had her own reality TV show – Ferne McCann First Time Mum, which would be going up against Sam’s show The Mummy Diaries.

Ferne confirmed this was the case in May 2018, saying: "We fell out because I went ahead and filmed for this show.

"After the year I've had, I haven't got the energy to entertain feuds. I just want positivity around me."

She also denied it had anything to do with Sunday’s father Arthur Collins, who is now in jail for an acid attack.

Were Sam Faiers and Ferne McCann best friends?

Sam and Ferne had been best friends since they were children as they grew up in the same part of Essex.

They both found fame and enjoyed the spotlight together on The Only Way Is Essex before leaving and launching their own TV shows.

Over the last 15 years they have both supported each other through the good times and the bad, which makes their fall out even sadder.

Does Ferne still speak to Billie Faiers?

Ferne is still friends with Sam’s sister Billie.

In April 2018, she made a point of tweeting Billie and not Sam about The Mummy Dairies, writing: “Longest day but finally got my pyjamas on. Sunday sound asleep, feet up, kettle on and going to tune into #TheMummyDiaries in 10 mins @ITVBe @BillieFaiers.”

And she will also be going to Billie’s hen do before she marries Greg Shepherd.

She told the MailOnline: “We're all going to Ibiza for Billie's hen do... I haven't done anything wrong (to Sam) to worry about being there.

“To make this clear. Sam fell out with me. I haven't done anything wrong but take the show and of course I was going to take it.”