Billie Faiers said she was "utterly heartbroken" after her father-in-law, Dave, died suddenly at the age of 77, sharing a series of family photographs and a heartfelt Instagram tribute on Tuesday.
In her post, the television personality — who married Greg Shephard in 2019 — wrote that "losing you so soon has left us all utterly heartbroken, it still doesn’t feel quite real." She described Dave as "the best father in law, dad and granddad" and said she would miss "laughing with you, dancing with you, our chats, making you endless amounts of tea and coffee, playing all of your games." Faiers added, "Life will never feel the same again, I miss you unconditionally. I love you with all my heart."
The photographs Faiers posted included scenes from recent family holidays, winter walks and beach days with Greg and their three children: Nelly, 11, Arthur, eight, and Margot, three. Faiers's sister, Sam, commented on the post, "We will miss you Dave❤️ such a wonderful man x."
Greg Shephard also posted a lengthy tribute last week, saying he was "gutted and heartbroken" to announce his father's sudden passing. In his Instagram statement he said Dave, who was 77, "still had so much more to give," and recalled being raised by Dave from the age of 4. "You taught me how to be a father, and you made it look simple," Shephard wrote. "You never missed a birthday, a celebration, or any important moment. You always had time for me and my sisters and grandkids."
Shephard added that his father's presence and joy — "always smiling, always dancing" — left a lasting impression. "I can only try to make you proud, and learn how to live with just 36 years of memories, love, and happiness. Until we meet again, our kid… I love you more than you'll ever know," he wrote.
Dave was a regular presence on the ITVBe show The Family Diaries, which features Faiers and Shephard. Viewers of the programme posted condolences and recollections of moments in which Dave featured, including a recent episode in which he sang to baby Margot.
The family's posts come amid a period of health challenges for Faiers. Last month she revealed she had been diagnosed with Lyme disease after suffering months of severe pain and fatigue that left her bed-bound at times. She told The Mirror that doctors took weeks to determine the cause of her illness and that her immune system had been attacking itself. "Some mornings I couldn’t even get out of bed. I would have to crawl ... it was so scary," she said.
Faiers said medics believed she was likely bitten by an infected tick as much as three years ago and that the infection had remained dormant. She said antibiotics and steroids prescribed early in her illness did not improve her symptoms and at times made them worse. She credited a holistic doctor introduced by her sister for helping her begin to recover after adding natural medicines to her treatment.
The family has not disclosed further details about funeral arrangements. Fans and viewers have used social media to express sympathy and share memories of Dave from episodes of The Family Diaries in which he appeared.