The ins and outs of Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash’s relationship have been well-documented on Instagram, but now the pair are set to take things even further with their very own reality show. However, as excited as Stacey is by the prospect, an insider tells Closer that the 34-year-old is putting strict boundaries in place when it comes to filming, in order to protect her and Joe’s marriage as well as their six children.
They reveal, ‘Stacey is under no illusion that this is going to be really tough for them. They’ll be opening themselves up for more attacks, such as people saying they’ve got first-world problems amid a cost-of-living crisis, risking security fears by showing the general public their home, and worrying that their kids might grow up to resent them for putting them on display like the Osbournes and the Kardashians.
‘So, they’ve made a secret pact in order to make it work for them. They’re planning on having a few private spaces that will be off-limits to camera crews, only sharing what the kids feel really comfortable with, and having both Stacey and Joe on the same page when it comes to their personal life and arguments and not “betraying” one another too by going off script.’
As Closer previously reported, Stacey and Joe, 42, have signed a big-money deal with the BBC to star in a fly-on-the-wall reality show – now set to be titled Escape To Pickle Cottage. A source said at the time, ‘Stacey and Joe are such homebodies and love nothing more than spending time with their children. The series is set to be a huge hit, given the chaos that comes with a big family.
‘They won’t hold back when it comes to showing the highs and lows of family life. Fans can expect to see an unfiltered version of a busy household.’
Stacey and Joe’s ‘busy household’ consists of their three shared children – Rex, five, Rose, two, and Belle, one – as well as Stacey’s two sons, Zachary, 16, and Leighton, 12, from previous relationships, and Joe’s son Harry, 17, who he shares with his ex-girlfriend, Emma Sophocleous. And that’s not counting the animals.
Since the pair began dating in 2016 – after meeting in 2010 when Stacey starred on I’m A Celebrity!, for which Joe was hosting the spin-off show – they’ve also welcomed two dogs, Teddy and Peanut, as well as the recent additions of two rescue ducklings called Daisy and Delilah.
After getting engaged in December 2020, Stacey and Joe eventually tied the knot in July 2022 at their £1.3 million home in Essex, Pickle Cottage – where they’ve lived since March 2021 and which will soon be the location for their upcoming reality show.
As much as Stacey has become a household name through her TV career, with a five-year stint on Loose Women and her award-winning show Sort Your Life Out after getting her start on The X Factor back in 2009, fans are just as interested in the star’s personal affairs. Having seen glimpses of life at Pickle Cottage through her Instagram – which boasts six million followers – viewers will now be able to see even more of the beloved couple thanks to Escape To Pickle Cottage. However, Stacey’s family are nervous about the prospect of her life being filmed for entertainment and potentially open to criticism from viewers.
Closer’s insider shares, ‘Her friends and family are all a bit worried because they know that Stacey can struggle to have a filter at the best of times and will say things and blurt out something she has later regretted.
‘They know it’s a big, exciting opportunity for her, but they’re also worried about the cost that could come to them both – they will be sharing more of themselves than they have ever shared before. But Stacey doesn’t see it like that. She feels that she already reveals so much of herself on social media that she might as well take it further and add it to her growing business empire.’
They continue, ‘She’s been assuring her loved ones that she’s not going to embarrass them and that she and Joe are going to be sticking to their own ground rules. She’s pledged to be really strict with the producers, who are no doubt going to be eager to catch some fights and family dramas. Stacey is outwardly remaining confident about how she and Joe are going to pull it off, but secretly she does share some of her family’s concerns. She knows it will be their toughest challenge yet but Joe will be with her every step of the way.’
