Stacey Solomon has hit back at the torrent of criticism she faced after performing in panto while reading from a script live on stage, insisting she DID know her lines.
The hardworking mum-of-two was berated online by critics who were upset that she appeared not to have memorised the script in time for her stint in Dick Whittington at Milton Keynes Theatre.
Stacey claimed she held a clipboard during her performance to prompt her for stage directions, telling her fellow Loose Women panellists: “I knew my lines.”
The former X Factor star had not long been home from the jungle, where she had been presenting I’m A Celebrity: Extra Camp with boyfriend Joe Swash, before performing for the first time.
"Things don't normally upset me because you see things in the press normally and you're like, 'oh whatever,'” Stacey explained. "But this really upset me because I landed, woke up the next day, took the kids to school, went into panto and had no rehearsals.
"The company were well aware and were really supportive of the fact that I would be working up until the day that it started and they still wanted me to do it, which is a great privilege 'cause I really wanted to do panto, and they just wanted to work around it and just go for it.”
Stacey explained that organisers, the cast and audience all made her feel at ease, despite her lack of preparation.
"They made me feel really comfortable about it,” she continued. “They were like, 'It's fine, let the audience know that it's your first time even standing on stage and just have fun with it,' and the audience were really lovely, and the cast were amazing and everyone was really supportive."
The Essex girl faced criticism from EastEnders actor Aaron Sidwell, Steve Beale in the BBC soap, who tweeted that she shouldn’t be paid for her lacklustre performance.
Posting an article about Stacey’s panto flop, Aaron, 28, wrote: “This is shameful. Shouldn't cash her pay check!”
But Stacey’s other half Joe, 34, stepped in and defended her on Twitter, reading Aaron the riot act.
Joe wrote: “Why don't you PIPE DOWN mate and do your own thing BADLY! What a little hater YOU you should be ashamed and I will tell you when I see u next.”
Stacey was chuffed that her beau had stood up for her, though she was also concerned he could spark a backlash against himself.
"I adore Joe," she revealed, "And everything he does comes from his heart.
"I wasn't upset by it. I felt more conscious that he might get a backlash and he might have people start saying nasty things and that scared me the most.
"But apart from that I felt 'Oh my God, I'm so glad I've got such an amazing boyfriend.’"
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