Stacey Solomon ‘shares a secret plot to save her marriage to husband Joe Swash as the couple reach breaking point after fans blasted his “childish” behaviour in their BBC series’
Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash‘s marriage is reportedly at breaking point, after their fly-on-the-wall documentary sparked backlash from fans.
Earlier this year, the couple, who were previously seen as one of the most tight-knit in showbusiness, opened the doors of their famous Pickle Cottage for a BBC series, but fans were quick to blast Joe for his ‘childish’ behaviour.
The no-holds-barred show showed Stacey and Joe involved in heated rows as they attended couples counselling and shared the challenges of raising five children, and viewers complained the EastEnders star wasn’t ‘pulling his weight’ in the household.
Sources claimed that Stacey has started to ‘regret’ signing up for the show, given the negative reaction is a stark contrast to her other successful ventures, and has begun plotting for a way to rebuild their image.
Insiders have now also said that tensions between Stacey and Joe are at an all-time high, as the actor struggled with the pressures of filming the show, alongside managing the household and raising their family.
The couple have been together for nine years and married in 2022. They are parents to Rex, six, Rose, three, and Belle, two, while Stacey is also mum to sons Zachary, 17, and Leighton, 12, from previous relationships.
Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash’s marriage is reportedly at breaking point, after their fly-on-the-wall documentary sparked backlash from fans
The couple opened the doors of their famous Pickle Cottage for a BBC series, but fans were quick to blast Joe for his ‘childish’ behaviour
A source told The Sun: ‘Stacey has a very busy work schedule, so it is often down to Joe to make sure the kids get to school on time and food is on the table.
‘He’s felt unsupported at times, and questions have been raised about whether they really can go the distance.
‘The backlash to the show has only highlighted the issues they are facing and has made them both take a long, hard look at what they have, desperate to stop it all crumbling down around them.’
Joe’s behaviour in the series raised eyebrows among viewers, and while filming late last year footage showed him and Stacey having a heated row that left the Loose Women star in tears.
Throughout the show, viewers also saw Joe and Stacey clash, with his lack of time management and ADHD struggles contrasting with Stacey’s love of extreme organisation.
One episode saw 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 was five hours late after going fishing with his friends.
It’s thought that Stacey has now put together a three-point plan to try and turn things around, and it includes hopes for a big-money TV project.
The no-holds-barred show showed Stacey and Joe involved in heated rows as they attended couples counselling and shared the challenges of raising five children
In the first series of Stacey and Joe, viewers saw the couple partaking in couples therapy, as well as their heated rows.
Joe also spoke candidly about being diagnosed with ADHD, admitting he ‘always felt like a problem’ in Stacey’s ‘perfect life’.
Stacey said: ‘I would say this is our biggest issue in our whole relationship… that I cannot say anything without you taking it so personally, as an attack on you as a whole person.
‘All I ever do… I try and do for my family. So when I hear that, that’s not what’s coming across. That’s frustrating for me.’
Despite these tense words, a source said that the counselling ‘really helped’ Stacey and Joe, and they feel like they’re ‘in a really strong position marriage-wise.’
The pair are also plotting to become showbiz’s next big presenting power couple, after they impressed This Morning bosses with a recent appearance to promote their documentary.
Away from his TV work, Joe is also planning to build a two-acre fishing lake, complete with glamping pods – which would be his biggest solo venture to date.
Since starring in EastEnders, Joe has made a string of reality TV appearances, while Stacey has starred on Loose Women as well as makeover series Sort Your Life Out.
Stacey originally had her doubts over Joe’s project, but is now fully backing her spouse and hopes it could land him another big solo project.
Sources are now claiming Stacey has started to ‘regret’ signing up for the show, and has begun plotting for a way to rebuild their image
Sources said that while couples therapy has ‘really helped’ them, Stacey and Joe are also plotting to become showbiz’s next big presenting couple (pictured at the NTAs last month)
Joe is also set to front Britain’s Young Dads, a one-hour BBC documentary that shines a light on other impressive fathers.
The Daily Mail has contacted a representative for Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash for comment.
Stacey and Joe previously explained how watching their ‘bickering’ back helps them learn about their faults and where the other is coming from, with them saying it’s been more effective that couples’ therapy.
It comes after Stacey suffered another awards show blow as she missed out on three National Television Awards.
She had been nominated for three prestigious gongs at this year’s NTAs.
But just months after she complained she was ‘robbed’ of a BAFTA, Stacey was dealt another awards show blow as her hit factual series Sort Your Life Out missed out on an NTA once again at the ceremony earlier this month.
The much-loved reality show sees Stacey and her team transform cluttered homes across the UK, helping families decide what to keep and what to leave behind.
To make matters worse, Sort Your Life Out was pitted against her other show, Stacey & Joe, in the Entertainment category – leaving Stacey with a lose-lose situation on her hands.
In the end, it was Clarkson’s Farm that triumphed while she also lost out on the TV Presenter gong, watching Gary Lineker take the win.