“The TV presenter, 35, and her husband Joe Swash, 42, opened the doors of their beloved home, Pickle Cottage, for cameras to film a ‘Kardashians-style’ TV show.”, — write: www.dailymail.co.uk
The TV presenter, 35, and her husband Joe Swash, 42, opened the doors of their beloved home, Pickle Cottage, for cameras to film a ‘Kardashians-style’ TV show, titled Stacey & Joe, focused on their family life.
The show follows the couple juggling their careers with raising their children Rex, five, Rose, three, and Belle, two, and Stacey’s sons Zachary, 17, and Leighton, 12, from previous relationships.
And following the broadcast of the series’ sixth and final episode on Tuesday, the BBC announced that the show would return for another run of episodes, with filming already underway.
The second series will include Stacey and Joe taking a family trip, and continuing to manage their busy work lives, passion projects and celebrating milestone family moments at their home along with their children, four ducks, four ducklings and two dogs.
Stacey and Joe said: ‘The biggest thank you to every single person who watched the first series of Stacey & Joe…
‘We’ve been so grateful for all the lovely messages and we’re so excited to bring out another series with the BBC.’
Clare Sillery, Head of Commissioning, BBC Documentaries, added: ‘We are delighted to be working with the Solomon Swash family and Optomen once again, on what already promises to be an incredibly exciting second series.
‘It’s been great to see how viewers have taken Stacey, Joe, their kids and beloved pets to their hearts and series two will continue to honestly reflect their bustling lives at Pickle Cottage.’
Charlotte Brookes, Head of Popular Factual, Optomen, says: ‘We’re thrilled with how series one performed and delighted to be able to continue filming the next chapter for Stacey and Joe, and their ever-growing family at Pickle Cottage.’
This comes after it was reported earlier this week that Stacey had regretted filming the reality show, due to fears she was coming across as ‘bossy.’
Stacey and Joe – who tied the knot in 2022 – have been insistent on showing both the ups and the downs, explaining that they weren’t ‘trying to portray a glamorous lifestyle’.
But a source said: ‘Stacey is regretting signing up to do the show. She’s not used to the backlash they are getting as everything she touches normally turns to gold.’
It was alleged that Stacey is concerned about how she and Joe are coming across in their arguments, with Joe’s lack of time management and ADHD struggles clashing with Stacey’s love of extreme organisation.
A friend told the publication: ‘She feels like she is coming across as bossy. He can’t manage anything without her, so she is forced to be the ‘grown up’. It’s caused friction.’
One episode sees Stacey devastated by Joe not showing up at an important meeting, leaving her juggling caring for the babies while trying to plan the launch of her own perfume.
Despite begging him not to let her down beforehand, the EastEnders star is five hours late after going fishing with his friends.
Speaking to OK! ahead of their show, Stacey and Joe revealed viewers will get to witness them arguing on camera, explaining it was important to them not to cut out rows like other couples would be tempted to.
Joe said: ‘So many people represent their lives as being so perfect on Instagram. It’s our responsibility to show the real – the highs and the lows. It’s not all a bed of roses. Sometimes we argue.’
While Stacey added: ‘What you see is what you get. What we’ve learnt about each other is that we’re not a perfect couple. We’ve never said we’re a perfect couple, but you get to watch yourself back, which is something that doesn’t happen often.’
The pair also explained how watching their ‘bickering’ back helps them learn about their faults and where the other is coming from, with them saying it’ been more effective that couples’ therapy.
Tuesday’s episode saw Joe reveal that he feels like a ‘problem’ in Stacey’s ‘perfect’ life due to his ADHD, as they went for a therapy session at the Henry Centre in Westcliff Essex.
In a conversation with counsellor Natalie Corbett, Stacey said: ‘I understand Joe’s frustration, because he is putting a lot of effort in.
‘Like, I would say “Joe I really need help with this, this, and this. I’m really struggling.” And Joe hears that and he wants to support me but he’ll do other things that aren’t the stuff I’m asking him.
‘He gets frustrated because he has worked hard and he has put the effort in. But you haven’t done the things I’m directly asking you for.
‘So I’ve still got to manage those on my own. You’re a great dad and an amazing person, but sometimes I don’t think you take into consideration all the fires I’ve got to put out everywhere.’
Looking defeated, Joe replied: ‘I don’t even know what to say. It’s so frustrating, when all I feel like I’m doing is trying to dedicate myself to my family and do everything I possibly can, every minute of the day.
‘And then to sit here and listen to the fact that I’m a huge problem…’
‘But nobody is saying that. Is that what you hear?’ therapist Natalie asked.
Joe interrupted: ‘All that I’m hearing is that I’m this huge problem in Stacey’s perfect life. That’s all I’m hearing. I don’t hear no positive stuff about me as a person.’
‘I would say this is our biggest issue in our whole relationship. Is that I cannot say anything without you taking it so personally, as an attack on you as a whole person,’ Stacey said.
Joe replied: ‘All I ever do is I try and do for my family. So when I hear that, that’s not what’s coming across. That’s frustrating for me.’
Stacey then clarified: ‘You’re hearing something that’s not being said. I have caveated almost everything I’ve said with a positive, Joe. It’s about us working together to manage this situation.
‘That’s what I’m here for. I’m not here to change you. I’m here to support who we are.’
The Mail also previously revealed that Stacey and Joe risked the wrath of Corporation bosses after flouting editorial rules to plug a number of commercial deals on air.
Stacey was filmed name-checking her homeware range and a haircare brand she’s invested in. Meanwhile her husband, the 43-year-old former EastEnders actor, has touted his own cooking account and family coffee company on the BBC One show.
Corporation rules clearly state that ‘no on-air talent should promote products, goods, services or clothing they use on air’. This includes anything they have ‘agreed, or been contracted, to promote or in which they have financial interest’.
The couple’s show has also received some criticism from viewers who took to social media to share their verdicts last week.
They tweeted: ‘Firstly, I love Sort Your Life Out and I like Stacey Solomon. Joe Swash hmm. I wasn’t going to watch #staceyandjoe, but I gave it a try. No, no, and absolutely no’; ‘I’m sorry but who the f**k signed this off? #Stacey&Joe.’
‘Stacey & Joe. F*** sake @BBCOne stop wasting our licence fee’; ‘Why on earth are @BBCOne commissioning this absolute trash. What a colossal waste of public money.’
However, many voiced their love for both the couple and the show, gushing: ‘Absolutely loved Stacey & Joe our new Essex Kardashians!!! Loved every min!’
‘Everything about Stacey & Joe is just making me smile. They seem like the loveliest family’; ‘Absolutely loving Stacey & Joe… Pickle cottage is beautiful, bet all the seasons are gorgeous.’