Stacey Solomon, who shares her bustling Pickle Cottage with five kids, four ducks, two dogs, two cats, and husband Joe Swash, relies on strict household rules to maintain order.
Now, for the first time, she’s inviting BBC cameras into their home, offering fans a glimpse into the chaos and love that fills their lives. The upcoming documentary, Stacey & Joe, airing on BBC1 on Tuesday, April 1, at 8 pm, follows the couple as they navigate life with their blended family, including Zachary, 17, Leighton, 12, Rex, five, Rose, three, and Belle, two.
One of Stacey Solomon’s key rules is that the children must earn their own pocket money, a lesson she believes is crucial in teaching them the value of hard work and financial responsibility.
In an interview with The Mirror, she explains: “We don’t have some sort of inherited wealth that we can pass down for generations. It’s really important for them to know that this is our career and we will support our family in whichever way we can, but eventually they are their own person.”
Stacey emphasizes the importance of her children forging their own paths and developing a strong work ethic, saying: “They’re going to have their own lives and they need to have their own dreams, careers and that doesn’t come from us giving them everything.
It’s a constant battle. Sometimes I just want to throw the towel in and be like, ‘Fine, don’t do anything,’ because they’re teenage boys. I feel like I’m always on their back.”
Stacey may downplay the glitz, insisting life at her Essex abode is far from showy, yet those tuning into the programme can’t help but notice the family’s swanky Lexus, the expanse of their sprawling Tudor property, and the pool that glistens in the back garden.
Nonetheless, Stacey has earned every inch of her £1.2 million home through sheer graft, and she’s determined to instil that same drive in her little ones.
The show introduces us to Stacey’s dad, Dave, who she praises for teaching her the value of hard work. She reveals: “My dad didn’t treat us any differently, as soon as we got jobs, we had to contribute to the household,” adding with pride, “I was excited to earn my own money and be financially independent. I want my children to be excited for that too. They’re fully aware that it’s not going to be given to them, and we don’t have it to give. That is really important to me.”
Beyond financial independence, Stacey’s parenting philosophy is about shaping her children’s sense of self-worth and overall joy. “It’s a wider picture of their self-worth and their happiness in general,” Stacey professes. “I want them to feel accomplished and have things.”
In the debut episode, Stacey is seen rousing her eldest, Zach, the day after he hosted a party for his school friends. Despite promising to be up by 11am to help tidy up, Zach struggles to get moving and even drops a swear word in front of his mum, who quickly puts him in his place: “I’m not joking, just because there are people here doesn’t mean I won’t have that argument with you.”
While Stacey and Joe are already parents to six kids – Joe’s son Harry from a previous relationship isn’t featured on the show – Joe is eager to expand their brood further. However, Stacey has reservations about having more children.
She humorously exclaims, “Joe would like me to be a baby machine!” before adding, “I quit! I quit. My pelvic floor is a shambles, the whole of my back is screaming at me. I can’t do it again.”