Can Anthea heal the bitter rift with her sister?

Anthea Turner has reportedly cut ties with her sister over her money troubles – and experts tell Closer that families must be cautious when making financial agreements with each other

She’s had her S fair share of heartache, with two failed marriages behind her. And last week, it emerged that Anthea Turner faces yet more misery after being caught in the midst of a bitter family feud, reportedly cutting ties with her sister, Wendy Webster, after a financial row.

Last June, reports claimed the former TV presenter, 58, was at risk of being sued after Wendy, 51, racked up £5,000 worth of unpaid rent at her former five-bedroom London home. As Anthea was named as guarantor, she was reportedly in the firing line from bailiffs. It now appears that Anthea has paid off her sister’s debts, but as a result, she’s ended contact with animal activist Wendy – with sources saying she’d “snapped”and “had enough”. The rift – which is said to have devastated the rest of the family – will have more of an impact, given that Anthea and her sister were so close after suffering the heartache of losing their younger sister Ruth aged just 15. Anthea even moved to the same street as Wendy after she split with ex-husband Grant Bovey.

DEVASTATED

And with Christmas fast approaching, sources say that while Anthea has made the decision to distance herself from Wendy, the former GMTV presenter is devastated it’s come to this.

A source says, “Anthea has been incredibly frustrated these past few months, but felt she had no other option than to cut her off – as much as it hurt

her to do so. It’s as if she’s lost her best friend as well as her sister. Anthea was planning on spending Christmas with Wendy and her husband Gary, so she now has to make new plans.

“Friends have tried to intervene, urging the pair to talk, but Anthea says she can’t cope with the stress any longer. Right now, she just wants to get through Christmas.”

CAUSING TENSION

And family relationship expert Sarah Louise Ryan tells Closer that financial agreements with relatives can be detrimental to family relationships, and should be approached with caution.

She says, “Money issues are a common cause of family feuds because people typically lend and borrow money from those they trust the most, and that’s often family. If family members become the ‘banker’ and the ‘borrower’, naturally a hierarchy or power struggle can evolve, which causes tension. When money isn’t repaid or used as it was meant to be, there can be feelings of anger, betrayal or guilt, which can result in major fallouts, like what appears to have happened with Anthea.

“If you’ve borrowed or lent a family member money, or plan to do so, make sure boundaries are set. Regular communication is the most important thing – make sure you’re both on the same page about how much is borrowed, what it is used for and when it’ll be paid back. Honesty is key.

“While I can understand Anthea’s feelings of betrayal and frustration, I’d advise her to think about the bigger picture. You can make more money, but you can’t replace family members. She could waste years of precious time with her sister over a situation that could possibly be talked out. If she can sit down with her sister, they could make progress towards reconciling and make sure the same situation doesn’t arise again.”

And with Christmas just around the corner, Sarah offers tips for avoiding and dealing with any family drama this festive season.

She says, “A UK poll said that family arguments are the most stressful aspect of Christmas. It’s like a pressure cooker – you spend time with family members you may not have seen for a while, you may not like some of them, and there can be tension.

“It’s essential to be empathetic. If you know there are already underlying tensions, you have to practise a bit of self-preservation, a lot of patience and empathy, and communicate with each other in the most positive way you can.

“The three things to remember are to try to be patient and kind, practise the art of forgiveness and letting things go, and find the positivity in Christmas – even if there are underlying tensions.”

Closer approached Anthea’s rep for comment before going to press.