She initially revealed she was stepping back from Loose Women to go on maternity leave as she prepares to welcome her fourth child later this year. And sources say that the singer-turned-TV-star, Stacey Solomon – who is due to welcome her second child with fiancé Joe Swash at the end of September – wants to reduce her commitments to prioritise her mental health.
Stacey, 31, revealed last week she won’t return to Loose Women until 2022, saying, “I feel like this will probably be the last time [Joe and I] do it, so I want to enjoy it. Well, not every moment – I know I’ll be ringing Nadia [Sawalha] in tears at some point.
“I’ve decided to stop slightly earlier this time than with Rex, because the last time I had my last show, I gave birth the next day, and I must say I wasn’t ready at all.”
The mum of three has previously been open about her struggles, revealing in 2019 that she’d had postnatal depression when she had her first child, Zachary, 13, with ex Dean Cox. At the time, she said, “I have moments with Zachy where I think ‘Oh, I wished loved you from the very minute.’ Not that I didn’t, I’m sure I did, I just didn’t feel it and I didn’t get it. It brings me tremendous guilt.”
Stacey is also mum to Leighton, eight, with ex-fiancé Aaron Barnham, and Rex, two, with her current beau, Joe.
The source says, “Stacey’s decided to take an extended break after she gives birth to ensure she gives herself a proper amount of time to bond with her new daughter.
“Given her history of postnatal depression, Stacey says she wants to prioritise her mental health and is very conscious about taking all the preventative steps she can in a bid to lessen her chances of suffering again.
“One of those is making the decision to take a step back from work to limit the amount of stress and pressure on her as much as possible.”
Stacey rose to fame on The X Factor back in 2009 when she was just 19 years old, before going on to take part in – and win – I’m A Celeb! in 2010. She then launched her TV career and joined Loose Women as a panellist in 2016.
Earlier this year, she landed her own TV show, Sort Your Life Out – a new series centred around decluttering homes – which was a hit with viewers.
Stacey’s bubbly and endearing personality has won her a legion of fans over the years, and she now has 4.6 million followers on Instagram. However, she’s had to take regular time off social media in recent months to take care of her mental health. She recently wrote, “I feel soooo ROUGH, so I’ll be off of stories until I get rid of this rough feeling.”
The source adds, “Rushing back to work too soon has been linked to postnatal depression so, despite having lots of offers and opportunities in the coming months, she’s decided to put her mental health first and make that her number-one priority, which of course Joe and her loved ones are extremely supportive of.
“She’s also decided to take a step back from social media without constantly apologising to fans, as this is something that can often make her very anxious. She knows how loyal her fanbase is and how understanding they are, so she is confident that she will be able to take some down time once her daughter arrives, knowing everyone will be there to support her when she returns.”
Check out: The X Factor may be axed but did you know these facts about the show?
The X Factor facts - slider
1 of 131) There's been more than 20 judges
Yup. There's been a whopping 24 judges on the X Factor UK; Simon Cowell, Sharon Osborne, Louis Walsh, Dannii Minogue, Brian Friedman (throwback), Cheryl Tweedy, Mel B, Rita Ora, Nick Grimshaw, Louis Tomlinson, Nicole Scherzinger, Tulisa, Gary Barlow, Robbie Williams, Ayda Field, Kelly Rowland, Paula Abdul, Geri Halliwell, Natalie Imbruglia, Katy Perry, Pixie Lott, Alexandra Burke, Leona Lewis and Anastacia.
2 of 132) Mollie King auditioned for The X Factor
Mollie King auditioned for the show twice; once as a solo artist and then again in girl group Fallen Angels. She was unsuccessfully on the ITV show but it didn't matter because soon after, she joined The Saturdays and made it big.
3 of 133) The producers approach some contestants
Similar to Love Island, the bosses at The X Factor also get in touch with potential stars. Rylan Clark-Neal confirmed that the producers approach people during an intimate chat at This Morning Live. He explained, "I actually got invited to go on The X Factor."It's no secret that it's a TV show some people turn up, some people they find online. They said would you like to audition for The X Factor."
4 of 134) Rylan Clark-Neal said 'no' at first
At first Rylan Clark-Neal actually declined going on The X Factor. The now TV presenter admitted, "I said no it's not something I'd want to do. "I'd just gone on Signed by Katie Price – a modelling show – the year before The X Factor and I said 'No it's muggy, it's embarrassing'. I've just done one reality show I don't want to jump to another one but thanks so much."Three weeks before the actual audition they called him again and managed to convince him to perform and well, the rest is history.
5 of 135) Max George was disqualified from the show
Remember The Wanted? Well Max George followed in the footsteps of Mollie King and auditioned alone and then again in the group Avenue – however it didn't work out. The group Avenue were disqualified after it came to light that they'd been put in a group by a former employee of the ITV show.
6 of 136) Another member of The Wanted auditioned for the show
Just like Max, Tom Parker auditioned for the show but didn't manage to make it to the judges round. Luckily he later joined The Wanted and they sold a few records.
7 of 137) The Conway Sisters are the only act to be voted off by their mentor
Only one act in the history of The X Factor has been voted off by their own mentor and it was The Conway Sisters back in 2005. Things were tense during the vote off between the girlband and Chico, however everyone was stunned when Simon Cowell voted to keep Chico in the competition - sending his own act home.
8 of 138) An Ibizia Weekender star auditioned for The X Factor
Ibiza Weekender rep Deano also went on the show and during his audition he took his top off. He managed to make it through as a wildcard but failed to get through to the next round.
9 of 139) Jasmin Walia swapped TOWIE for The X Factor
Former TOWIE star Jasmin Walia auditioned for the show back in 2014 (while she still appeared on the ITVBe show). Unfortunately she did make it through, burst into tears and was comforted by Mel B.
10 of 1310) Sam Bailey broke a X Factor winner record
Sam Bailey released the quickest album out of all the X Factor winners – she dropped The Power of Love in March just THREE months after starring on the show.
11 of 1311) Lauren Murray spills the beans on X Factor pay
Ever wondered how much the X Factor stars get paid while they're on the show? Well 2015 contestant Lauren Murray admitted they get peanuts, she told the Mirror, "For two months I haven't been earning anything."You're given an allowance but it's not much. It's pocket money, like my Grandad would give me. It's less than £50 a week."
12 of 1312) Jess Glynne was approached by X Factor producers
Jess Glynne may be the British female solo artist with the most number 1 songs on the Official Singles Chart but things could have gone another way if she went on X Factor. The singer has admitted she was approached by ITV producers when she was 15 to go on the talent show however she declined."I just wasn't really feeling it. It wasn't really me. It was a great thing to see but also a great thing to walk away from. "I was quite an opinionated girl, I still am, and I know what I want so I don't think it would have been the right thing for me. "Some people do need that platform, and for some people it's perfect because not everyone enjoys the creative part, the writing and making the music. But that's my favourite part," she told the Independent.
13 of 1313) Gary Barlow claims the changing rooms are bugged
Gary Barlow was an X Factor judge for three years so you'd assume that he loved it but after leaving the show he claimed the X Factor bosses would tell them what to say on the show.He wrote in his autobiography A Better Me, "About half an hour before the show goes live, the producers would come in and and they'd go, 'Oh my God. That Misha. She's a bully. Can't believe it."'She is such a bully. In fact, you know what? You should say it. You should say it on air. She's bullied everyone all week.'"They leave the room. Ben: 'Do not say that'. Later Misha comes on… Tulisa: 'I think you're a bully'. Louis: 'I think you're a bully'."He then bizarrely added: "Was the dressing room bugged? They always seemed to know what was being talked about behind closed doors, and eaten, too. "What ever happened in that building always found its way to the press."
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Joe Swash: ‘Family time is the best time – I wouldn’t change it for the world!’
He’s got a son and three stepsons, so it’s no wonder Joe Swash is wondering how different it will be to have a daughter.
Joe, 39 – who is starring on MasterChef – says about becoming a dad again, “I am super excited, but I’m super nervous as well, because I’ve just about got my head around how to deal with boys and now here comes a girl. Stacey’s sister’s husband Lee said to me, ‘Joe, changing a girl’s nappy is completely different to changing a boy’s nappy!’ – which I didn’t realise! But I was brought up in a house full of women, I’ve got sisters, so I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
Joe – who rose to fame as Mickey Miller on EastEnders in 2003 – began dating Stacey, 31, in 2010, after meeting on the set of I’m A Celeb! when he handed her the jungle crown having won it the previous year. They had son Rex in 2019 and got engaged a year later, with Joe proposing while they were out on their daily woodland walk.
And while they’ve had a stressful year, with the multiple lockdowns and having to postpone their wedding from this summer to next, Joe says the silver lining is that he loved the extra family time.
He says, “Lockdown was so hard for so many, and I feel for everyone who lost their jobs, had no outdoor space, were separated from their loved ones and so on.
“But for me, I really appreciated all the time I got to spend with Stacey and the boys. Because of our work, it’s quite rare that we’re both around for long periods of time and all the time, so it was amazing in that sense – just to turn off our phones and spend time together. I definitely want to take that lesson from lockdown and put it into my life going forward – family time is the best time. Our house is hectic but I wouldn’t change it for the world, and I love having a big family – soon to be one more!”
Watch Joe on Celebrity MasterChef on Monday 23 August at 9pm on BBC One