Stacey Solomon has stepped back from one of her biggest TV gigs, with sources telling us it’s because she’s bitten off more than she can chew with work projects.
The mum-of-five, who’s just launched her first fly-on-the-wall reality show with husband Joe Swash, has been noticeably absent from the Loose Women panel. In fact, she hasn’t been seen on the show for over a year.
And sources tell Closer it’s because she can’t handle the commitment – for now.
‘Loose Women to Stacey is a family and doesn’t feel like a work environment. Leaving the show – albeit just for a short time – has been emotional for her,’ our source reveals.
‘She loves the routine of a day in the studio, but with so much on her plate right now she’s literally bitten off more airtime than she can chew. She has to prioritise her time and still make time for her family.’
One of the hit ITV show’s anchors, Ruth Langsford, recently addressed Stacey, 35, not being on the panel. Speaking on a podcast, Ruth, 65, said, ‘Stacey has gone off now. And she’s got three young children now, hasn’t she? So, she hasn’t left. She’s just having a break from Loose Women. And she does all her other things.’
‘Stacey is fortunate to be in the position she is to have the support of everyone she works with, and after sharing her concerns with her co-stars and the wider team, they all agreed she’s doing the right thing,’ our insider adds.
Stacey, who’s mum to Rex, five, Rose, three, and Belle, two, who she shares with husband Joe, 43, plus Zachary, 17, and Leighton, 12, from previous relationships, rose to fame on The X Factor back in 2009. She fast became a national treasure after appearing on – and winning – I’m A Celebrity! the following year, before trying her hand at presenting.
But it was Stacey’s leap into crafting and lifestyle influencing that gave her a social media following of over six million and landed her a spot on the Loose Women panel in 2016, with a number of clothing and homeware ranges following suit.
During her time on the show, Stacey has won over viewers for not being scared to challenge other panellists’ opinions – with Denise Welch, 66, even having to deny a feud between the pair after one heated exchange.
She has struck up close friendships with Ruth, Janet Street Porter, 78, and Linda Robson, 67, who revealed it was Stacey who took her to rehab when she hit ‘breaking point’ during a mental breakdown in 2019.
‘Stacey is sad that she’s had to step back as she honestly loves being there, she says her favourite workdays are with the girls,’ the source adds.
‘But she’s finding that at the moment she doesn’t have time for everything – work demands are backing up and something needed to be reworked.
‘It’s just a temporary pause as she sorts her life out with various business deals like books and clothing ranges. It’s always go, go, go in Stacey’s world.’
But it could be a long wait for fans until they see her back on the panel. Especially with the rumours that she could be planning another baby in the near future.
Closer has previously reported how Stacey and Joe are torn over the idea of expanding their brood further, with Joe – who is also dad to son Harry, 17, from a previous relationship – keen to have another baby.
When discussing the idea of having more children last month, Joe said, ‘Me and Stacey are so blessed that we’ve even been able to have kids and a family. But yeah, I’d love it!’
But Stacey quickly followed up, ‘Joe would like me to be a baby machine! My pelvic floor is in a shambles. I can’t do it again.’
Our source adds, ‘At the end of the day, her family is and always will be her priority, so if something has to give, it has to be a work project. She won’t risk missing out on precious family time by overdoing it on the workload.'
Stacey and Joe’s new TV series has allowed viewers a proper glimpse into what life is really like for the family at their home, Pickle Cottage. Despite amassing huge viewing figures, the couple have received a lot of criticism since it first aired. In particular, Joe has come under fire, with viewers branding him ‘useless’ and ‘a man-child’.
But, as Closer reported last week, this has only made their marriage stronger.
‘Stacey didn’t go out to intentionally put a negative spotlight on her marriage,’ our source revealed. ‘She was just sharing how it is, nothing deeper than that. But now it’s out there, it’s been good for Joe to see how things really are.
‘Stacey has been telling friends it shows that he does need to pull his socks up and not let her down. She’s super-happy that she’s kept true to herself and delivered a real show.’