She’s become one of the most prolific women in television and on social media, but Stacey Solomon has realised that she’s stretched herself too thin with work commitments – and it’s starting to affect her marriage, sources tell Closer.
As one of the most hard-working celebs out there, Stacey’s barely come up for air since starring on The X Factor 2009, but her busy career seems to have finally taken its toll.
‘She’s realised that unless she lets go of some of her commitments it could affect things with Joe. That terrifies her. She knows they are so strong, but it’s still a worry for her. She’d never forgive herself if work was the reason her marriage suffered. Stacey wants to prioritise her relationship with Joe and the children. She often feels like she’s spread too thin and needs to spend more one-on-one time with her older boys in particular.’
After working with fashion company In The Style for three years, last month Stacey, who turns 35 this week, announced that her autumn collection would be her last ever collaboration with the brand. She shared with her followers, ‘I’ve decided to say goodbye to In The Style and other things so that I can give more of myself back to my family. In The Style has been a dream come true and I’m so grateful to have had such an incredible opportunity.’
Stacey later added, ‘A few things have happened over this year and for us as a family, so it just feels right for me to let go and focus a bit more of myself on our family.
‘It won’t just be In The Style, I have been re-thinking lots of things. I feel so lucky and grateful to have been able to live out what I can only describe as my wildest dreams, and that’s such a huge privilege. One I’ll never take for granted and certainly never forget. But it’s time for a change and a new focus.’
Since shooting to fame on The X Factor, Stacey’s career has gone from strength to strength. Not only does the star have the TV shows Stacey Solomon’s Renovation Rescue and Sort Your Life Out – which won the National Television Award for Best Factual Entertainment Show last month – her work as an influencer also sees her regularly collaborating with big-name brands like Hello Fresh and George Home.
And with it recently revealed that Stacey and her husband of two years, Joe Swash, are also set to star in their very own reality show following life at their £1.3million Essex home, Pickle Cottage, Stacey has acknowledged that certain commitments will have to end.
First the I’m A Celeb! 2010 winner stepped back from Loose Women – where she had been a regular panel member since 2016 – and now In The Style.
The source explains, ‘Stacey’s been struggling over the last few months and while she’s tried her best to juggle it all, it’s got to the point where she’s dropping balls and it’s having an impact on her wellbeing.
‘She’s constantly trying to do it all – be the best wife and mum, on top of a successful career as an entrepreneur, influencer and TV presenter. It’s all become too much. She had the realisation a few weeks ago and it shocked her into finally pulling the plug and making some drastic changes.’
They continue, ‘She and Joe have been bickering a bit as well which has been really getting her down. With her hectic work schedule, it leaves Joe with the kids a lot of the time and the parenting balance is a bit off. She doesn’t want them to be living separate lives.’
Joe, 42, and Stacey – who shares sons Zachary, 16, and Leighton, 12, with her former partners Dean Cox and Aaron Barnham respectively – originally met in 2010 on the set of I’m A Celeb!
Eventually, in 2016, they made their first public appearance together as couple. Since then, the pair have welcomed son Rex, five, and daughters, Rose, who turns three this week, and Belle, one, and tied the knot in 2022.
Stacey was also at the centre of reported rows behind-the-scenes at Loose Women with fellow panellist Denise Welch last week. After publicly disagreeing on the show back in June, Denise, 66, reignited her row when she said younger people didn’t have life experience for certain views. Since the spat, Stacey hasn’t appeared on the show as regularly as before.
‘She’s looking at her work commitments to decide what she needs to let go of to lighten her load,’ adds the source.
‘While this isn’t an easy decision, Stacey knows that her family and her wellbeing have to come first, and she’s willing to do that at whatever cost.’