Fans mistook her bridal-inspired BAFTAs frock for a secret wedding reveal last week as Stacey Solomon teased fans with snaps of her wearing a pearl-encrusted white gown alongside her dapper fiancé, Joe Swash in the stunning grounds of their home, Pickle Cottage.
Commenting on the mum-of-four’s Instagram post - in which Joe, 40, wore a tuxedo as he lovingly gazed at his bride-to-be - one fan wrote, “At first glance I thought you’d had a secret wedding!” Another added, “OMG I thought you were making a surprise announcement!”
And while the Loose Women presenter, 32, told fans she was heading to the glitzy awards ceremony - in which her BBC1 show, Sort Your Life Out was nominated - insiders say that mounting pressure over her upcoming July nuptials has sparked wedding jitters and new anxieties.
Ahead of the glitzy red carpet, the star - who’s been candid in the past about her long-term battle with mental health issues including anxiety and crippling panic attacks - told her 5.1m Instagram followers, “I'm so nervous. I'm so goofy & gangly the idea of walking down a carpet makes me shudder. But I've never felt so proud to be going somewhere & be up for an award.”
A source says, “Stacey’s been so excited to finally tie-the-knot, but as the date draws closer and the last-minute prep piles up - as well as public interest gathering pace - it’s made her quite anxious.
“She’s started to panic about everything from the guest list to her dress and the fan reaction to it - which is what prompted her BAFTAs bridal look.
“She felt wearing a white dress would take the attention off her actual wedding gown and in turn relieve some of the pressure she feels about getting it right. That didn't quite go to plan though and she feels there's even more interest in it now."
Stacey’s popularity has soared over the last few years - amassing a fortune of over £5m and being tipped to become the nation's next Holly Willoughby amid the success of Sort Your Life Out.
Since winning over the nation’s hearts as a bubbly Dagenham-born single mum on The X Factorin 2009, Stacey has solidified her role as the nation’s sweetheart - being crowned I'm A Celeb! Jungle Queen in 2010, carving-out a successful presenting career and gathering millions of social media followers thanks to her role as a celeb mum influencer and organising guru, bagging a string of mega-bucks endorsement deals and releasing three best-selling books.
And her personal life has followed suit.
Since falling in love with I’m A Celeb! spin-off show presenter, Joe, 40, in 2015, the couple have gone on to have two children together - two-year-old son Rex, and seven-month-old daughter, Rose - and last year bought their £1.2 million “dream” home.
While she has become one of the country’s most in-demand stars, Stacey has opened up about her long-term mental health battle - confessing to an “out of control fear of death”, crippling anxiety and her struggle with post-natal depression after having her three sons, Zach 13, Leighton, eight - both from previous relationships - and Rex.
Stacey - who bravely admitted she suffered a miscarriage in her struggle to conceive a fourth child - also admitted she suffers from imposter syndrome, regularly questioning her success.
But she has been praised for her efforts to combat her mental health struggles which include tidying and organizing as well as therapy.
In recent months, Stacey has been sharing insight into her upcoming nuptials, which will take place at her home, after postponing due to Covid, and again after finding out they were expecting Rose.
Last month, the emotional star revealed she picked her wedding dress after uploading a video of six gowns she tried on with her sister, Jemma.
She told fans, “And I never want to forget this feeling... I’ve been putting it off I think because the more I got excited about it the more silly I felt for some reason...” Hinting at her insecurities ahead of the wedding, she added, “I started feeling really conscious about not being, well, I don’t know.”
She’s also revealed how her four sons together with Joe’s 13-year-old son, Harry, from a previous relationship, will serve as page boys, while their two dogs, Peanut and Teddy, will wear matching suits.
Despite her own revelations, Stacey wasn’t best pleased when Joe accidentally revealed their 25 July wedding date during a live episode of Loose Women – exclaiming, “Oh my god, why did I bring you here?”
But pals say it’s Joe who has encouraged her to relax in the run-up to their big day.
The source adds, “Joe’s urged her to take a step back and to just be in the moment, rather than constantly worrying about what everyone will think. Stacey knows this is about her and Joe and making a commitment together in front of their loved ones, so she’ll do whatever it takes to ensure that she doesn’t let her fears and anxiety ruin her special day.”