Billie Faiers under fire from Family Diaries viewers for filming distressing scenes of her dad before rehab
BILLIE Faiers has been blasted by fans for including distressing scenes of her alcoholic stepdad in her reality show.
The former TOWIE star, 34, was shown crying on the phone to Dave Chatwood while he was suffering from a drink-induced “psychosis” in the latest episode.
Dave – who Billie treats as her biological father – had discharged himself from hospital and was heard telling her he was being chased by “20 geezers” outside a supermarket.
During the call, Dave – aka Chatty – told Billie that onlookers were saying he was “a lunatic escaped from hospital”.
In the latest episode of Billie & Greg: The Family Diaries, Billie’s husband Greg Shepherd was seen driving the streets in search of his father-in-law.
Although his face was obscured from the camera, Dave was shown getting into the passenger seat of Greg’s car once found, still with hospital cannulas in his arms.
It later transpired he was in possession of a small bottle of wine.
But fans watching the ITVBe show on Wednesday night have argued that the scenes should have been kept private.
Writing on the programme’s official Facebook page, one viewer said: “Why would u record this. It’s your fathers private life, doesn’t need to be aired.”
Another added: “ABSOLUTELY shocking, how on earth do u think this is going to help him ,as a family u should educate urself about alcoholism and not let cameras film.”
A third agreed: “Why would you film this about your dad?”
And someone else chimed in: “God, fancy living your life on camera like this. It’s disgusting. Some things should be private.”
Others, however, felt differently.
“I think she’s actually really brave and real for sharing all of this. It raises awareness and some people might get help after seeing some of these situations,” one fan wrote.
Agreeing, another added: “I’m glad this is being played out on telly its the truth and reality of living with an alcoholic.”
Dave was previously married to Billie and her sister Sam Faiers‘ mum Suzie and they have always treated him as their dad.
The sisters’ violent biological father split from Suzie when they were toddlers.
In August, Sam revealed that Dave had gone to rehab to receive treatment for an alcohol addiction.
The former TOWIE star, who used to star on The Mummy Diaries with Billie, told her fans on Instagram how proud the family was of him.
The latest episode of The Family Diaries explained the lead up to Dave rehab admission.
Billie explained her “black and blue” dad had spent a few days in hospital after falling over while drunk but had discharged himself.
In a desperate and tearful phone call to Greg, who was out looking for him, she said: “The nurse said he was very confused. She tried to stop him from leaving but he was getting very agitated.”
“She said she was worried as he is wandering around outside of hospital and is very confused.”
Billie was then shown on the phone to Dave, who told her he was in a supermarket car park.
The worried star urged him to stay put, but he replied: “I can’t, there’s about 20 geezers after me.
“The police are saying I escaped hospital… they’re saying he’s a lunatic escaped from hospital.”
NHS guidelines on drinking alcohol
According to the NHS, regularly drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week risks damaging your health.
To keep health risks from alcohol to a low level if you drink most weeks:
- men and women are advised not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis
- spread your drinking over 3 or more days if you regularly drink as much as 14 units a week
- if you want to cut down, try to have several drink-free days each week
If you’re pregnant or think you could become pregnant, the safest approach is not to drink alcohol at all to keep risks to your baby to a minimum.
You read more on the NHS website.
When Greg finally found Dave, he told his son-in-law that he didn’t want to return to hospital. Greg did, however, persuade him.
Billie later told the cameras: “I’ve never heard him like that.”
She then explained that addicts can suffer from psychosis when withdrawing from alcohol.
Greg told his wife: “He was completely hallucinating.”
Revealing Dave had been in possession of a bottle of wine, he added: “How have [shop staff] served him standing there with cannulas hanging out of his arm? He was telling me he’d been kidnapped.”
Later in the show, Dave was taken to a detox centre by his ex wife Suzie.
Billie explained that he could only check in to a rehab centre in Bournemouth, Dorset, once his alcohol levels in his blood had subsided.
At the end of Wednesday’s Family Diaries, viewers affected by the scenes were advised to visit the NHS Live Well website for help.