Stacey Solomon explains lengthy Loose Women absence

She's back on the panel!

Author: Alex RossPublished 9th Nov 2023

It's been almost a year since fan favourite Stacey Solomon appeared on the Loose Women panel, so it's no wonder fans were thrilled to see her return to the show on Wednesday 8th November.

Stacey sat on the panel alongside Judi Love, Katie Piper and Kaye Adams, where she explained the reason for her lengthy absence.

She said: "I'm so happy to be here. I feel like I've missed it so much!

"It's been crazy because my daughter Belle was a wonderful surprise, but what that meant was I had to fit my filming schedule into a very short period of time.

"So I've just been up and down the country with Sort Your Life Out and filming another show, Bricking It, so I haven't been able to even get into town!"

The mum-of-five then added: "Finally, filming has died down, and I actually get to be with my friends again. I'm so excited! I've missed you for a catch-up. I've needed it — it's like therapy coming here!"

Check out Stacey Solomon's amazing career so far:

2009: The X Factor

Stacey auditioned for the sixth series of TV talent show The X Factor in 2009, impressing the judges during the early stages and making it to the live shows.


With Dannii Minogue as her mentor, Stacey, who was just 19-years-old at the time, sailed through to the final, performing with the one and only Michael Bublé.


Following a public vote, Stacey finished the competition in third place, behind runner-up Olly Murs, and winner Joe McElderry.

2010: I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!

Following her appearance on The X Factor, ITV bosses signed up Stacey for the 10th series of I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! in 2010.


After making a huge impact with both her camp mates and viewers at home, Stacey was crowned Queen of the Jungle ahead of finalists Shaun Ryder and Jenny Eclair.

2011: Iceland Supermarket

Stacey took over from Coleen Nolan as the face of supermarket Iceland in 2011, appearing in their famous adverts.

2015: The Jump

Continuing with reality TV shows, Stacey signed up for the second series of Channel 4 show The Jump in 2015. With 16 celebs taking part in the snow sports show, Stacey was the seventh celeb to be eliminated.

2015: Debut album release

In April 2015, Stacey released her debut album called 'Shy', featuring songs such as 'Shy', 'Breath Away' and 'Gravity'. The album hit number 45 on the UK Albums Chart.

2016-Present: Loose Women

After appearing on a number of episodes of ITV Daytime show Loose Women, it was later announced that Stacey would become a permanent panellist in Summer 2016.


Stacey has been a regular panellist on the show ever since, becoming a fan favourite, although she doesn't appear as much as she once did due to other work commitments.

2016: I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Extra Camp

Six years after winning the show, Stacey replaced Laura Whitmore as a host on I'm A Celebrity spin-off series I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Extra Camp, which aired on ITV2.


Stacey hosted the show alongside Vicky Pattison, Joe Swash and Chris Ramsey, and it was the first time she met the man she'd go on to marry and have children with!


Despite Stacey's popularity on the show, she didn't return for any further series.

2018-Present: Primark range

Stacey teamed up with high street giant Primark in 2018, launching her first collection with the brand. The proud mum has since worked with Primark for a number of years, creating some stunning children's products.

2019: Celebrity Juice

Following Ferne Cotton's exit from panel show Celebrity Juice, Stacey announced she was going join the series in 2019 alongside Paddy McGuinness. Although she wasn't a team captain, Stacey appeared as a regular alongside Holly Willoughby and host Keith Lemon.

2019-2022: Celebrity Gogglebox

Stacey appeared alongside husband Joe Swash on the celebrity edition of award-winning Channel 4 show Celebrity Gogglebox. The pair first featured during the 2019 series, and have since starred in 2021 and 2022.

2021: Tap to Tidy

In March 2021, Stacey released her debut book Tap To Tidy. The book acts as a hub for Stacey's craft designs, hacks, recipes and her Tap To Tidy methods.


Tap To Tidy sold an incredible 104,000 copies in just three days, making it the seventh fastest-selling non-fiction book of all time.

2021-Present: Sort Your Life Out

Following the success of her book Tap to Tidy, Stacey landed her very own TV show on the BBC called Sort Your Life Out. The hit series, which first aired in 2021, follows Stacey as she 'coaches' six families to declutter their homes.


Series two kicked off in 2023, with a third series starting in September 2023. The was renewed for a fourth series in 2024, with episodes available on BBC iPlayer. News was quick to emerge that the show has been renewed for a fifth series, and it even won an NTA Award in September 2024.

2022: Tap to Tidy at Pickle Cottage

After the huge success of her debut book Tap To Tidy in 2021, Stacey went on to release the follow-up called Tap to Tidy at Pickle Cottage in 2022, after she moved into her dream home Pickle Cottage with her family.

2022: Bake Off: The Professionals

In February 2022, Stacey announced she would be replacing Tom Allen on The Great British Bake Off's spin-off show Bake Off: The Professionals.


Stacey joined the show alongside co-host Liam Charles and judges Benoit Blin and Cherish Finden. Speaking at the time about her role, Stacey said: "I'm finally allowed to tell you the reason I've been away filming is because I'm presenting Bake Off: The Professionals this year. I honestly couldn't believe they even asked me. I was so nervous to follow in Tom's footsteps but he's been so kind and helpful and we've filmed a couple of episodes and everyone's been so so lovely."

2022- Present: Stacey Solomon's Crafty Christmas

Stacey ended 2022 in style with another craft show on the BBC called Stacey Solomon's Crafty Christmas. Airing in December 2022, the one-off special showed viewers how to craft a magical family Christmas without breaking the bank.


Stacey returned with another episode for Christmas 2023, with the mum-of-five being joined by her husband Joe and some of her kids.

2024: Stacey wins her first ever TV award

In March 2024, Stacey won her first ever award in TV for her popular show Sort Your Life Out. The programme, which airs on BBC One, won a Royal Television Society award for Best Popular Factual Show. Stacey took to Instagram to express her shock and delight at winning the award.

2024: Stacey Solomon Renovation Rescue

Stacey landed a brand new DIY show called Stacey Solomon Renovation Rescue, with the first episode airing on Channel 4 on Wednesday 10th April. The six-part series saw Stacey help out families who had faced home makeover disasters, after being left high and dry by their builders.

2023: Stacey is nominated for NTA Award

After presenting hit series Sort Your Life Out, Stacey made it to the shortlist nominations in the Best Presenter category at the 2024 National Television Awards. She's up against Alison Hammond, Claudia Winkleman, Ant and Dec, and Bradley Walsh. The ceremony takes place on Wednesday 11th September.

2024: Stacey lands her very own reality TV show with husband Joe

According to reports by The Mirror, Stacey and her husband Joe have signed a deal with the BBC for a fly-on-the-wall series called Escape to Pickle Cottage. Nothing has been confirmed just yet, but the publication states: "Who needs the Kardashians or the Osbournes when you've got Stacey and Joe? The BBC might not seem like an obvious home for this kind of project but they have developed a great working relationship over the years so this felt like a natural progression.


"It's great that Stacey and Joe are going to let viewers into their lives. It might be chaos but it's organised chaos! Everyone's excited to see what the cameras will find. It's really going to be a lot of fun.


"Everyone is delighted they agreed to let the cameras in and this will be something a bit different for BBC1."

2024: Stacey wins a National Television Award

In September 2024, Stacey's show Sort Your Life Out won a NTA Award in the Factual Entertainment category. The show was up against the likes of Clarkson's Farm, Gogglebox and The Yorkshire Vet.

2024: Stacey shoots last collection with InTheStyle

After working with online fashion brand InTheStyle since 2021, Stacey announced in September 2024 that she'd shot her last ever collection with the brand. She told fans: 'Today has been a wonderful but emotional day as I shot my LAST EVER collection for InTheStyle. I have loved every single second of being able to design and create clothing with the most incredible team and literally bring my dreams to life.

"So I've decided to say goodbye to In The Style and other things so that I can give more of myself back to my family. InTheStyle has been a dream come true and I'm so grateful to have had such an incredible opportunity. I'm so proud of everything we created and have achieved from making garments out of cut offs, using recycled materials, to our sizing ranges and everything in between."

"We wanted to end on a high, so this last collection has every bit of love we could possibly give it and it only felt right to end it in my favourite season."

As well as being a mum to her children, Leighton, Zachary, Rex, Rose, and Belle, and filming shows such as Sort Your Life Out and Loose Women, Stacey also likes to keep her Instagram followers up to date with her life.

After showing off her amazing Halloween home crafts, the 34-year-old has now showcased her incredible home made nutcracker, which stands taller than her husband, Joe Swash.

Sharing the transformation to Instagram, Stace wrote: '💂🏼‍♀️PROUD💂🏼‍♀️ I made a giant nutcracker it’s taller than me & Joe & almost hits the ceiling 😂 I actually love him 🥹 We’ve named him Neil 😂 He’s made out of 3 buckets, some guttering & some pipe insulation 🤩 And he was SUPER easy 🖤 I feel like every time I see a giant nutcracker it’s hundreds of pounds or it looks soooo complicated to make so I hope this inspires anyone who wants to make one to grab a bucket and go for it 😂

'I need to think of a way to weigh him down so he can go outside for the front door display this year 🤩 Any ideas welcome 🖤 But this got me in such a Christmassy mood & SO excited for the Christmas door 😬 Happy Tuesday Everyone 🖤'. (sic)

Now read:

Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash's complete relationship timeline

Stacey Solomon's career: From The X Factor to Sort Your Life Out

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