FERNE McCann has reveals heartbreaking reason she quit her own reality show after seven years.
The TV star, who has had her own spin-off show since 2017, made the announcement in an emotional post earlier this month.
Her show is currently known as Ferne McCann: My Family & Me, but was previously titled Ferne McCann: First Time Mum.
Ferne said the catalyst for ending her show was when her six-year-old daughter asked her if she was "famous".
"The show has been going on for so long that we joked we’d still be filming when Sunday had children and be calling it Second Time Nan," she told the Mirror.
But I knew the time would eventually come to either have a break or stop altogether, and for the last year I’ve been thinking about it.
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"The point where everything changed was when Sunday actually said to me: ‘Am I famous?’ A few of her friends had seen her on an advert.
“And I was like: ‘Oh I don’t know…’ It made me feel uncomfortable, because I don’t want her to feel she is different Sunday has done the show since she was born, so she’s always been aware of the cameras, but we’d never felt she was aware of the situation."
Ferne revealed that Sunday has never watched the show, but said daughter's innocent comment made her rethink her future on the show.
"After that it felt like a whole different ball game, so I went away and worked out what I was feeling, and it felt like the right time to stop," she added.
In a heartfelt post, Ferne- who stars on the show with her kids Sunday and Finty, as well as fiance Lorri Haines - told fans: "After an incredible 13 series I have made the very difficult decision that this series of @fernemyfamandme will be my last."
She continued: "Where do I begin? Firstly by saying a huge, huge thank you to each one of you that have watched my show and been on our family journey with us.
Dark side of being reality show kid - why Ferne McCann is right to pull her children from screen
"This show has been such an incredible part of my life for the last seven years and what a ride it has been filming from being pregnant with Sunday to now. Your support and loyalty to me and my family has, at times, lifted me more than you will ever know. Thank you.
"From the day I started filming I have poured my heart and soul in to the series. I genuinely feel like I’ve laughed, cried, loved and lived with you, sharing all the ups and downs."
The reason she quit
Ferne then explained why she was stepping away, citing that her kids are growing up and she wants that to be off camera.
She said: "This decision hasn't been an easy one but it feels like now is the right time for a change. I made this decision with my children (especially Sunday who has been on this full journey with me) in mind.
"They are my absolute priority and Sunday is now at an age where she is very much her own little person and I want her to go out there and take her own path."
Ferne went on to thank the production company as well as ITV.
"@potatoitv and @itvxofficial@itv team are incredible and over the years have become part of the family to. thankyou so much for this wonderful opportunity. it’s not lost on me how incredible this has been and I will cherish these memories and moments that I have been lucky enough to have captured forever."
It was then that she turned her attention to honouring her loyal viewers, who have stuck by her over the years.
Her message to her fans
Ferne summed up: "I am eternally grateful to every single person who has watched the show, supported us and been there through it all. Thank you from the bottom of my heart."
She concluded the post: "New chapters await. Please enjoy series 13: it is my biggest and favourite one to date. Out this Wednesday on ITVBE 9pm and ITV."
Next steps
The news also comes after The Sun exclusively revealed Ferne has signed up for the next series of Dancing On Ice.
It marks her first ITV1 primetime series since leaked audio caught her slamming the victims of her acid attacker ex, Arthur Collins.
Ferne apologised for her comments in 2022, which she said were “manipulated, edited and taken entirely out of context."
ITV backed her at the time and continued to screen her First Time Mum series.
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A source said: “It’s been a rough few years for Ferne but she has always been an ITV star, with her roots on Towie and then with her first steps into the mainstream on I’m A Celebrity in 2015.
"So Dancing on Ice will be a chance for her to knuckle down, work hard and win over the public.”
