With a second season of Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash’s fly-on-the-wall show already confirmed, insiders have told Closer that the mum of five is fearful of the camera crew capturing their every move on family holidays they take this year.
A source close to the couple – who between them are parents to Harry, 17, from Joe’s relationship with ex-fiancée Emma Sophocleous, Zachary, 17, and Leighton, 12, from Stacey’s past relationships, and Rex, who turns six this week, Rose, three and two-year-old Belle – says, ‘The success of their reality show has felt both like a blessing and a curse to Stacey, especially as they plan their summer holidays. The first series has been such a hit that Stacey feels pressure to provide even more of her life for season two. Stacey is so torn, but producers of the show are eager to capture every moment, including any family rows between Stacey and Joe if and when they happen.’
The insider adds, ‘Stacey wants the kids to be free and not feel like they’re having to work or perform for the cameras while they’re having fun. And if she does end up rowing with Joe, or the kids start squabbling, she doesn’t want them to find the crew all up in their faces trying to capture a “moment for the show”.’
The BBC documentary series, titled Stacey & Joe, was an immediate hit with viewers. But some were slightly shocked by the many arguments that the pair – who got together in 2016 and tied the knot six years later – had on screen.
Among the explosive moments was a row because Joe, 43, turned up five hours late when Stacey, 34, had an important work meeting, her annoyance at how he put bleach in the washing machine, and a very heated argument about the former EastEnders actor leaving baked beans on the sofa.
Before the show aired, Stacey admitted, ‘What you see is what you get. Probably the hardest thing was remembering that it’s all being recorded, and the cameras do see everything!’
Joe agreed, ‘It was our responsibility to show the highs and the lows – it’s not all a bed of roses. Sometimes we argue, and that’s got to be shown as well.’
And now, sources say that the couple’s loved ones are worried that it could become a hellish holiday if their family time is crashed by a film crew.
The insider continues, ‘Stacey’s family and friends feel that having cameramen around, trying to catch any drama, is really going to ruin the mood and vibe of the holiday – it’s not going to feel like a proper break. They’re shocked that she’s even entertaining the idea as they really feel that Stacey, Joe and the children need some privacy.
‘Stacey was hoping to do one big holiday for the cameras and then have a private getaway – but she’s also worried about trolls blasting her for taking multiple luxury trips.’
The TV and social media personality – who narrowly missed out on two BAFTA awards at last week’s star-studded ceremony for her series, Sort Your Life Out – has been brutally picked apart online for her jaunts abroad in the past.
After paying for 20 members of her family to holiday in Jamaica over the 2024 New Year, critics said Stacey should have thought of those who are ‘struggling financially’ over the festive period, and enjoyed the trip ‘in private’.
Stacey also faced backlash last August when she shared a snap of her family boarding a flight to Turkey – with Joe’s son Harry missing from the photo. She said at the time, ‘We respect everyone’s wishes, we’re a blended family and sometimes that’s a bit more complicated than it seems. I don’t know if that’s the best way to explain it!’
And while Stacey knows that she ‘needs to draw a line somewhere’ when it comes to sharing the family’s lives, the insider says she is hoping to somehow keep everyone happy and make it work.
‘Stacey can understand why her friends think she’s crazy for factoring their holiday into the show, but she thinks there might be a way she can juggle it,’ the source reveals. ‘She feels she won’t be under pressure to capture every moment with her phone if she has a camera crew doing it all for her.’
The insider adds, ‘It’s uncharted territory and she’s promised her concerned family that she will navigate it the best she can. She’s just hoping that it doesn’t all end in disaster, because she wants this to be a holiday they’ll never forget for all the right reasons – not because something went wrong and then it ended up as a holiday from hell for everyone to see on TV.’