Why Sam Faiers is facing her loneliest festive season in years, as insiders reveal she was desperate to escape the UK for Christmas.
Posing with her three children in snowy Lapland, Sam Faiers looks every inch the woman who has it all — a picture-perfect family, the money to fund lavish getaways and a seemingly solid relationship with long-term partner Paul Knightley.
But behind the sparkle, insiders tell a very different story. Friends say the former TOWIE star is heading into her most isolated Christmas yet — with former pals, TV executives and even the once-tight Essex circle said to have quietly turned their backs on her.
A source close to the Faiers family revealed:
“Christmas used to be when Sam’s house was packed with people, but now it feels very different. Her circle has shrunk dramatically. Outside of Paul, the kids and Billie, she barely sees anyone.”
They added:
“People in Essex say it looks like the only people around her now are those who work for her — her PA, her business partner and the Revive Collagen team. It feels like she’s been permanently frozen out of her old life.”
Sam, who swapped Essex for a £2.25million mansion in leafy Surrey, is said to have been desperate to leave the UK altogether this festive season. A compromise was eventually reached and the family travelled to Lapland ahead of Christmas.
She shared glowing snaps with Paul and their children — Paul Jr, nine, Rosie, eight, and Edward, three — gushing about how magical the experience was.
In the past, Sam would rarely have travelled without sister Billie or mum Sue joining in. But in recent years, friends say those group trips have all but disappeared when the cameras stop rolling.
The sisters briefly reunited earlier this year for Sam & Billie: Sister Act, a new ITV series following their business ventures — but it failed to land with viewers and was axed after just one run.
The cancellation came after a string of controversies, including backlash when Sam was seen giving medical advice to Billie that fans labelled “dangerous”.
She has increasingly championed holistic remedies and has previously claimed she cured her Crohn’s disease through diet alone, while also refusing to use sun cream on her children — decisions that have raised eyebrows among former friends.
One insider said:
“People remember the old Sam fondly, but they feel that version of her has gone. Seeing her constantly promote natural medicines worries them.”
They continued:
“She posts these incredible Dubai holidays, designer handbags and over-the-top Christmas decorations, and it all looks spectacular. But behind the scenes, people feel sad for her. There aren’t many loved ones left to enjoy it with.”
Earlier this month, mum Sue organised a rare girls’ get-together — surprising many when Sam made the effort to reconnect with old friends.
But the source explained:
“It’s not that she doesn’t care anymore. She’s poured everything into her work and hasn’t realised how small the rest of her life has become.”
Sam co-founded Revive Collagen five years ago and now boasts celebrity ambassadors including Amanda Holden and Kardashian hair stylist Chris Appleton. The brand is stocked in the US and has reportedly generated over £13million in revenue.
Yet friends claim the success has placed huge strain on her relationship with Paul.
“There won’t be a Christmas proposal,” said one insider.
“Paul has no plans to make things official. He may not earn as much as Sam, but he very much calls the shots at home.”
Despite being together since 2014, Sam is thought to be coming to terms with the situation and quietly planning for 2026.
“She puts on a brave face, but she’s spent this year reflecting on who’s really there for her,” the source concluded.
“She misses her old friendships — the people who knew her before the fame. Repairing those relationships is a private goal for her next year.”
