Sam Faiers has revealed she’s quit The Mummy Diaries after seven years.
The former TOWIE star, 30, announced the shock news on Instagram on Saturday, stating that she’d always intended to leave when her children start school.
Sam, who is mother to Paul Jnr, five and three-year-old Rosie, who she shares with partner Paul Knightley, said that her ‘family needed a break from it all’ as she thanked the production company and her fans for their support.
End of an era: Sam Faiers has revealed she’s quit The Mummy Diaries after seven years
Alongside a series of snaps from nine series on the show, she penned: ‘To my wonderful followers and supporters of The Mummy Diaries over the past 7 years, after many months of consideration, I’ve decided that now feels like the right time to step away and to focus on new adventures.
‘I truly have watched all the most defining moments in my adult life play out on The Mummy Diaries – bringing two beautiful children into the world, my relationship with Paul, building my businesses, creating a home together as a family, and of course all the wonderful memories with Billie and my family.’
She went on: ‘I’m so grateful to ITV and Potato for giving me and my children the best home movies anyone could ask for, I could never have imagined all these years ago that we would still be here today- 9 series on! But more importantly I will be forever appreciative to our incredible viewers.
Reason: The former TOWIE star, 30, announced the news on Instagram on Saturday, stating that she’d always intended to leave when her children start school (pictured in December)
The TV personality went on to explain her decision for leaving the ITVBe show, which she’s featured on since 2016, citing her beloved children as the main reason.
She explained: ‘For those of you wondering why, and this is the honest truth; I always said when the children start school, I would reassess the situation and this wasn’t an easy decision to make by all means but I’ve decided I would let my family take a break from it all.
‘For me personally TV has been my career for the last 11 years, you have watched me grow up since I was 19 and I don’t plan on retiring yet.
Tough call: Sam, who is mother to Paul Jnr, five and three-year-old Rosie, who she shares with partner Paul Knightley (all pictured), said that her ‘family needed a break from it all’
Message: ‘To my wonderful followers and supporters of The Mummy Diaries over the past 7 years, after many months of consideration, I’ve decided that now feels like the right time to step away’
‘I’m working on some exiting projects and very excited for this next chapter. I love you all so much thank you Sam x.’
Sam’s post was flooded with several messages from her fans sharing their disappointment at her exit and wishing her luck for her next endeavour.
Sam first shot to fame in The Only Way Is Essex in 2010, staying for four years before moving on.
After a stint on series 13 of Celebrity Big Brother in 2014, she went on to bag her own TV show Sam Faiers: The Baby Diaries, documenting her road to motherhood after she fell pregnant with oldest child Paul.
Lovely: I could never have imagined all these years ago that we would still be here today- 9 series on! But more importantly I will be forever appreciative to our incredible viewers’
Choice: ‘For those of you wondering why, and this is the honest truth; I always said when the children start school, I would reassess the situation and this wasn’t an easy decision to make’
The one-off show led to a full series Sam Faiers: The Mummy Diaries, which followed her and partner Paul as they got to grips with being parents.
As her sister Billie, 31, began to feature in the show on a more regular bases, her name was added the title in series three, with the title changing to Sam & Billie: The Mummy Diaries.
It’s not known whether Billie, her husband Greg Shepherd and their children Nelly, seven, and Arthur, four, will continue filming the show on their own.
Throughout the years, viewers have witnessed several big moments for the sisters, with siblings welcoming children, Billie getting married in the Maldives, and Sam and Paul making the decision to send their son Paul Jnr to nursery.
Way back when: Sam first shot to fame in The Only Way Is Essex in 2010, staying for four years before moving on
So it begins: The one-off show led to a full series Sam Faiers: The Mummy Diaries, which followed her and partner Paul as they got to grips with being parents
Duo: As her sister Billie, 31, began to feature in the show on a more regular bases, Sam’s name was dropped from the title in series, with the title changing to Sam & Billie: The Mummy Diaries