Billie Faiers revealed that she was left “in shock” after Phillip Schofield quizzed her over the cost of her Maldives wedding live on This Morning.
The Mummy Diaries star and sister Sam joined Schofield and Holly Willoughby on the ITV show’s couch earlier this year to discuss their reality show and the feature-length spin-off special dedicated to Billie and partner Greg Shepherd’s wedding.
The siblings looked uncomfortable as Schofield started to recite a series of estimated accommodation costs for the lavish celebrations, which saw Billie host around 100 friends and family in the luxurious Kuramathi resort.
“I was in shock,” Billie told OK! magazine. “Prior to our appearance, I’d been very clear that I don’t want to talk about money. It’s rude and it’s nobody’s business but ours.
“They were trying to insinuate that we got the wedding for free, which is so far from the truth. We saved for our wedding for years.”
Shepherd went on to suggest that his wife should turn the tables and “ask Phillip Schofield how much he earns.”
Billie Faiers – In pictures
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Billie Faiers wearing her Pewter Cut Out Knot Swimsuit
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@gregory_shep
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Sam & Billie Faiers: The Mummy Diaries on ITVBe
ITV
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Lucy Mecklenburgh, Billie Faiers, Lauren Goodger, Lydia Bright, Jessica Wright and Sam Faiers from The Only Way Is Essex
ITV
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Lydia Rose Bright, Lucy Mecklenburgh, Billie Faiers, Mark Wright, Lauren Goodger, Sam Faiers and Jessica Wright from The Only Way Is Essex
ITV
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Billie Faiers and Sam Faiers on ‘The Only Way Is Essex’ Series 11
ITV
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The Only Way Is Essex with Billy Faiers
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Sam Faiers and Billie Faiers and Holly Willoughby on Surprise Surprise
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Peri Sinclair, Sam Faiers and Billy Faiers from The Only Way Is Essex at ‘Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3’ game launch in London
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Harry Derbidge and Billie Faiers arrive for the screening of the new JLS 3D movie Eyes Wide Open at the Soho Hotel in London.
PA
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Billie Faiers arriving for the 2012 NTA Awards
PA Archive/PA Images
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Billie Faiers arriving for the 2013 National Television Awards at the O2 Arena
PA
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James Argent, Joey Essex, Sam Faiers, Billie Faiers and Jessica Wright during the 2013 National Television Awards at the O2 Arena
PA
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Sam and Billie Faiers attending the launch of the F&F Mens and Womens Autumn/Winter collection at Somerset House in 2014
PA Archive/PA Images
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Billie Faiers from The Only Way is Essex, shows off her pregnancy on London’s Primrose Hill, to launch the British Heart Foundation’s ‘Fight For Every Heartbeat’ campaign
PA
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Glamour model Billie Faiers attends a photocall to launch The Signature Range at Mothercare Oxford Street
Getty Images
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Billie Faiers opens the new Juicy Couture store at Cheshire Oaks
Getty Images
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Billie Faiers opens the new Juicy Couture store at Cheshire Oaks
Getty Images
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Billie Faiers attends a photocall to launch her first fashion collection for ‘In The Style’ at Dirty Martini
Getty Images
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Sam Faiers and Billie Faiers attend The Minnie’s Beauty Bus Photocall
Getty Images
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Billie Faiers from The Only Way is Essex, was announced as the icelolly.com Celebrity Mum of the Year 2015
PA
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Sam and Billie Faiers – from the Mummy Diaries – during a BUILD event in London
PA
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Billie Faiers poses for ITV’s ‘The Mummy Diaries’ photocall at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel
Getty Images
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Billie Faiers during a photocall for ITV’s ‘The Mummy Diaries at Television Centre
Getty Images
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Billie Faiers seen celebrating her hen do with friends and family in Madrid, Spain
SplashNews.com
1/25
Billie Faiers wearing her Pewter Cut Out Knot Swimsuit
2/25
@gregory_shep
3/25
Sam & Billie Faiers: The Mummy Diaries on ITVBe
ITV
4/25
Lucy Mecklenburgh, Billie Faiers, Lauren Goodger, Lydia Bright, Jessica Wright and Sam Faiers from The Only Way Is Essex
ITV
5/25
Lydia Rose Bright, Lucy Mecklenburgh, Billie Faiers, Mark Wright, Lauren Goodger, Sam Faiers and Jessica Wright from The Only Way Is Essex
ITV
6/25
Billie Faiers and Sam Faiers on ‘The Only Way Is Essex’ Series 11
ITV
7/25
The Only Way Is Essex with Billy Faiers
8/25
Sam Faiers and Billie Faiers and Holly Willoughby on Surprise Surprise
9/25
Peri Sinclair, Sam Faiers and Billy Faiers from The Only Way Is Essex at ‘Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3’ game launch in London
10/25
Harry Derbidge and Billie Faiers arrive for the screening of the new JLS 3D movie Eyes Wide Open at the Soho Hotel in London.
PA
11/25
Billie Faiers arriving for the 2012 NTA Awards
PA Archive/PA Images
12/25
Billie Faiers arriving for the 2013 National Television Awards at the O2 Arena
PA
13/25
James Argent, Joey Essex, Sam Faiers, Billie Faiers and Jessica Wright during the 2013 National Television Awards at the O2 Arena
PA
14/25
Sam and Billie Faiers attending the launch of the F&F Mens and Womens Autumn/Winter collection at Somerset House in 2014
PA Archive/PA Images
15/25
Billie Faiers from The Only Way is Essex, shows off her pregnancy on London’s Primrose Hill, to launch the British Heart Foundation’s ‘Fight For Every Heartbeat’ campaign
PA
16/25
Glamour model Billie Faiers attends a photocall to launch The Signature Range at Mothercare Oxford Street
Getty Images
17/25
Billie Faiers opens the new Juicy Couture store at Cheshire Oaks
Getty Images
18/25
Billie Faiers opens the new Juicy Couture store at Cheshire Oaks
Getty Images
19/25
Billie Faiers attends a photocall to launch her first fashion collection for ‘In The Style’ at Dirty Martini
Getty Images
20/25
Sam Faiers and Billie Faiers attend The Minnie’s Beauty Bus Photocall
Getty Images
21/25
Billie Faiers from The Only Way is Essex, was announced as the icelolly.com Celebrity Mum of the Year 2015
PA
22/25
Sam and Billie Faiers – from the Mummy Diaries – during a BUILD event in London
PA
23/25
Billie Faiers poses for ITV’s ‘The Mummy Diaries’ photocall at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel
Getty Images
24/25
Billie Faiers during a photocall for ITV’s ‘The Mummy Diaries at Television Centre
Getty Images
25/25
Billie Faiers seen celebrating her hen do with friends and family in Madrid, Spain
SplashNews.com
During the excruciating interview, the veteran presenter suggested that Billie “must be earning beautifully” in order to afford the extravagant occasion and pressed her about whether she had cut a “deal” with the resort.
“This is the Kuramathi resort in the Maldives,” he told viewers. “So we had a look, if you were going to stay there next Saturday it would be £650 a night, that would be £4,588 for a week for the superior beach villa.
“The whole week for 100 guests, £229,000. So you must have got a deal there. £229,000 for your wedding?”
Billie was left open-mouthed before responding with: “No, it wasn’t quite that.”
She went on to explain that her party had “split” houses “in two” to double up on accommodation, which “really helped [her] out with the rooms.”
The sisters are currently filming a six series of The Mummy Diaries for ITVBe, with the show set to return to screens later this year.
