Billie Faiers and Greg Shepherd celebrated their son Arthur’s birthday on Sunday by throwing him a lavish superhero-themed party.
The reality star, 31, and her husband, 35, pulled out all the stops for the special occasion which was complete with presents, balloons and an impressive three-tier birthday cake.
But the big surprise of the day came when three Avengers superheroes – Iron Man, Spider-Man and Captain America – showed up at the front door of their Essex home.
Special day: Billie Faiers and Greg Shepherd celebrated their son Arthur’s birthday on Sunday by throwing him a lavish superhero-themed party
Billie shared pictures and videos of Arthur enjoying the special moments of the incredible lockdown party on her Instagram page.
The little boy began the day early at 6.41am and was treated to a huge pile of presents waiting for him.
He ran out screaming in excitement to see a table covered in parcels as well as an impressive superhero display set up in the background.
Early start: The little boy began the day at 6.41am and was treated to a huge pile of presents as well as an impressive superhero display set up in the background
Surprise! The big moment of the day came when three Avengers superheroes – Iron Man, Spider-Man and Captain America – showed up at the front door of their Essex home
The party display featured personalised signs, superhero balloons, a stand in the shape of the number four, as well as a cardboard cutout of Spider-Man and The Hulk.
The family spent the morning opening presents, making pancakes for breakfast and taking pictures of Arthur in a Superman costume and cape.
And in the afternoon, they were paid a socially distanced birthday visit by Iron Man, Spider-Man and Captain America, who appeared in the driveway – much to the four-year-old’s surprise.
The three characters threw sweets to Arthur and his sister Nelly, six, and posed with the family in their signature stances for a picture.
Unexpected visitors: Arthur was paid a socially distanced birthday visit by the superheroes who appeared in his driveway – much to the four-year-old’s surprise
Pow! The three characters threw sweets to Arthur and his sister Nelly, six, and posed with the family in their signature stances for a picture
Billie shared a tribute video of throwback snaps from Arthur’s childhood as well as a sweet message to him on her Instagram page.
The former Only Way is Essex star described her ‘baby’ as a ‘funny, caring little super star full of character and personality’ and shared her disbelief that he had turned four years old.
She wrote: ‘Our little superhero turns 4 ❤️ My little darling Arthur we love you so much our beautiful, funny, caring little super star full of character and personality… I still can’t believe my baby is four ❤️’
Tribute: The former Only Way is Essex star described her ‘baby’ as a ‘funny, caring little super star full of character and personality’ and shared her disbelief that he had turned four years old
Impressive: The party display featured personalised signs, superhero balloons, a stand in the shape of the number four, as well as a cardboard cutout of Spider-Man and The Hulk
Birthday boy: The special occasion was not complete without an impressive three-tier superhero cake
It comes after Billie revealed earlier this week that purchasing her dream £1.4million home has been a massive ‘headache’.
The TV star and her husband purchased the home more than a year ago but have been embroiled in planning rows with their new neighbours over demolishing the run-down house and replacing it with a five-bedroom property.
In Wednesday’s episode of Mummy Diaries, Billie admitted she wouldn’t have bought the Essex abode if she knew how much of a ‘headache’ it would be.
Stressful: Billie spoke about how purchasing her dream £1.4million home has been a massive ‘headache’ in Wednesday’s episode of Mummy Diaries
In the clip, Greg tells her: ‘When I was there the other day with a couple of builders at the house, they were like they can’t work out why we’re not knocking it down and starting again.’
The narrator then speaks over the pair to say: ‘Funny that Greg, your father-in-law Dave was under that exactly same impression not too long ago’, before flashing back to a scene of Dave, Billie and Greg standing in the property.
Looking round, Dave tells Billie: ‘It’s probably best to flatten the place and start again.’
Battle: The TV star and husband purchased the home more than a year ago but have been embroiled in planning rows with their new neighbours
Honest: And in Wednesday’s episode, Billie admits she wouldn’t have bought the Essex abode if she knew how much of a ‘headache’ it would be
Demolition: In the clip, Greg tells her: ‘When I was there the other day with a couple of builders at the house, they were like they can’t work out why we’re not knocking it down’
Good advice: The narrator then speaks over the pair to say: ‘Funny that Greg, your father-in-law Dave was under that exactly same impression not too long ago’
Wise words: Looking round, Dave tells Billie: ‘It’s probably best to flatten the place and start again’
Billie reflects on the idea of demolishing the house and starting from scratch in the VT.
‘Now someone else has also said to us that we should probably think about knocking the house down and start all over again it’s just becoming one thing after another,’ she says.
Sighing, she adds: ‘We’re nearly a year in now. It would have been nice to know that like six to eight months ago because if we are going to knock the house down it means we’re going to have to reapply for planning permission and start this process all over again.’
Stressed: Billie reflects on the idea of demolishing the house and starting from scratch in the VT
Explaining why the builder has advised to knock the building down, Greg tells her: ‘We’re basically left with four walls of the house and it’s going to be more a headache holding those four walls up while they’re building the house around it so that’s been stressing me out.
‘If that is the case and we do go down that road, it means new drawings, new planning permission, new headache basically.’
Billie tells him: Well that’s a nightmare,’ before adding: ‘I don’t regret buying the house but if I had known it would have taken this like, like over a year to get to find a builder, I probably wouldn’t have done it because I just was so unaware of how long things take.’
According to the planning application, all five bedrooms will be on the first floor with the en-suite master bedroom having a huge dressing room. Three of the other en-suite bedrooms will have walk-in wardrobes.
Greg has been allowed to add a ‘man cave’, converting the original garage into a gym and games room, and there will be a play room for their two children.
The planned result: A rendition of how the luxe property will look once the year-long project is completed has been unveiled
Grand makeover: The home is currently in rundown condition (left), but the couple plan to turn it into a luxury modern abode
They’re also adding a two-storey side extension, single extensions to the front and rear, and completely re-landscaping the outside space.
It comes after Billie previously told MailOnline of her delight at being able to start work on their abode, which they purchased in January of last year.
She said: ‘We’re so pleased and finally got there in the end. They’ve estimated it’ll take a year to complete the renovations, which is very long time but we all know how quick time goes nowadays.
‘We’re living in our current home in the moment and will stay here until the work is done.’
The couple estimate it will take around a year for their dream home to be built.
Watch Sam & Billie: The Mummy Diaries, Wednesdays, 9pm on ITVBe and available on the ITV Hub.
Annoyed: Sighing, she says: ‘We’re nearly a year in now. It would have been nice to know that like six to eight months ago’