Stacey Solomon

The TV star is passionate about helping young men to get support in their roles as new dads, after losing his own father at a young age

As a father of six kids aged between two and 17, Joe Swash knows a thing or two about parenting. But the TV star says that when he first became a dad, aged 25, he felt “vulnerable, under-prepared” and ignored by society.

And he fears that things might have got even worse since then, which inspired him to make a film to highlight the desperate situation that many young fathers trying to raise their children find themselves in.

Joe, 43, lost his own father when he was just 11 and had no role model to guide him through while he was raising baby Harry, now 17, with his former partner Emma Sophocleous.

READ MORE: Millie Gibson unrecognisable in Forsytes role after sudden exit from Doctor WhoREAD MORE: Bake Off’s ‘bingate’ sabotage returns to tent in dramatic show scenes

“From what I’ve found, there’s not a lot of support out there for young dads, and if there is some, it’s very, very difficult to find,” says Joe, who now has a large blended family with his wife Stacey Solomon.

“I’ve got six kids that I look after. Being a dad is a really big part of my life. And I remember being so vulnerable, so under-prepared for my first child, not really knowing anything, not really having anywhere to go for some help. My dad wasn’t around. There were no charities geared towards young dads.When I’d go to,a child parent club, it was always going to the mother-child club. I never felt really included.”

Joe’s relationship with Emma broke down just a few months after Harry’s birth and Joe wonders whether the large number of single parent families in the UK could be partly down to the lack of support for young fathers.

“I feel like it’s an area that’s been overlooked,” he explains. “There are lots of absent dads out there and I just want to know whether all of them are absent because they want to be or because there wasn’t enough support for them. If that’s the case then I want to shine a light on that and let people know that there’s got to be something done to make the situation better.”

In his new documentary, Joe meets several young men who are learning on the job and trying to be good dads to their kids. He believes that having positive male role models is not only beneficial for the children – it’s a massive help for men too. Without his own dad to learn from, Joe admits he found the transition into fatherhood really difficult. “I do think it sort of really shaped who I am as a person. You know, not having a dad. I didn’t really know there’d be any issues with it until I’ve got older. I struggle with my identity,” he admits. “What sort of man am I? Am

I expected to be an alpha male? There’s lots of things I struggle with because I never had my dad there.”

One young man in the film is Wyatt, who is currently living separately from his partner and their child because of their circumstances, but is determined to make it work out. Joe says: “I always get this feeling, you now, we should be celebrating people like Wyatt and his partner, because not only are they young but they’re doing a fantastic job and we should be celebrating these positive role models.

“I can definitely feel Wyatt’s pain, you know, because all he wants to do is be with his partner and his child, be a family.”

Looking at the young men who features in the one-off show, he recognises himself in all of them. “I can see a lot of the vulnerabilities in the young men that we met in this documentary because I felt that way,” Joe says. “It’s a real big gulf in your life when you haven’t got a dad or a positive male role model. I remember being young and just craving someone to sort of put their arm around me and look after me, but I never had one.”

Without these types of influences, Joe is concerned that there are plenty of young men who will make the wrong choices or take the wrong path. “That’s the danger,” he reasons. “They’ll fall into places with people that are not positive because they crave just someone looking out for them.”

He’d like teen dads, or those their twenties, to have somewhere to turn for help and advice. “It would help if there was more set up for young dads where they could be around other young dads and they can start the conversation,” he says. “When you first get a baby in your hands, it’s so delicate. You’re so scared of it. The thought of changing a nappy is quite daunting. You know, if you’re not taught it and no one’s showed you it, how are you going to learn it? So I just feel like there’s got to be more places out there for dads wanting to be dads.”

And he points out that the biggest killer of young men is suicide. “We suffer in silence, we don’t open up or talk about our problems. But you put us in a room of other people that are going through the same sort of things, you don’t feel the pressure, you feel open, you want to express yourself. If we can get young dads in the room together, they would know that they’re not the only ones that are feeling these things, that are going through these emotions.

“I got to travel the length and breadth of the country meeting these young dads, listening to their stories, and the whole way along I just kept thinking to myself, ‘we’ve just got to get them talking, you know, open the conversation otherwise everyone’s just suffering in silence.”

Viewers who watch Joe’s film, Forgotten Young Dads, will see that while the group all have their individual struggles, they’re also pretty resilient. After meeting them, Joe feels both inspired and hopeful for the future. “From the time that I spent with them, I think that all of those kids are going to have great dads,” he smiles. “They were all completely hands-on. They’ve done everything from change nappies, feed them and put them to bed. And I just think that is the modern-day alpha male.”

Joe wants young men to realise that being a man isn’t about boozing and bust-ups – it’s about raising your family and getting properly involved in the next generation. “Anyone can go down to the pub and have a fight, or watch the football at the weekend. But not every man can change a nappy, get up in the middle of the night and do all the things that a real dad should do. I was very proud of them.”

– Joe Swash: Forgotten Young Dads, 8pm, Monday 20 October BBC3, Tuesday 21 October BBC1, and iPlayer

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

Amanda Holden has stepped up on Britain’s Got Talent after Simon Cowell’s illness forced him to miss the Birmingham auditions, with Stacey Solomon drafted in as a temporary replacement on the panel

Amanda Holden has been handed the role of head judge on Britain’s Got Talent after Simon Cowell was forced to withdraw from the Birmingham auditions due to illness.

Producers turned to Holden, 53, as the natural choice to lead the panel, given that she is the only judge who has remained on the show since its launch in 2007. Although Stacey Solomon was drafted in at short notice to replace Cowell during this week’s auditions at the Hippodrome, insiders stressed that Holden had earned the senior role.

A source revealed: “The producers were hugely grateful to Stacey for stepping in, particularly as it was at such short notice. What she did helped ensure the hundreds of audience members were not disappointed.

READ MORE: Stacey Solomon breaks silence on Britain’s Got Talent ‘dream’ job with one-word commentREAD MORE: Stacey Solomon joins Britain’s Got Talent after Simon Cowell health crisis

“But they also thought she shouldn’t just go straight into Simon’s seat as head judge and that Amanda had very much earned that right. And she seamlessly filled the role during the first batch of auditions on Friday, with Stacey slotting right in with fellow judges KSI and Alesha Dixon,” they told The Sun.

It is not the first time Cowell’s sudden departure has led to a reshuffle. When the music mogul left the panel last year after learning of the tragic death of former One Direction star Liam Payne, the then-newcomer Bruno Tonioli stepped in as head judge.

Tonioli has since departed from the programme altogether, replaced this year by KSI, after filming clashes with his role on Dancing with the Stars. Cowell’s absence was first confirmed on Thursday when production cancelled the initial day of auditions.

There were hopes he might recover quickly enough to return on Friday, but he remained unwell. Instead, Solomon took his seat on the panel – a full-circle moment given that Cowell himself auditioned her on The X Factor back in 2009. She finished third in that series but has since become a well-known TV presenter.

And Stacey has shared her excitement after her dream of becoming a judge on Britain’s Got Talent has come true. The Sort Your Life Out star took to Instagram on Friday to share a glimpse of the iconic set of the long-running ITV show after she was asked to step in as a guest judge last minute.

The mum-of-five, 35, took to her Instagram stories to post a picture of the iconic BGT stage with her name in lights. Instead of Simon Cowell’s name, Stacey’s name could be seen on the iconic stage. Alongside the picture, Stacey wrote: “What in the alternative universe is going on. A dream.”

Cowell’s condition has not been disclosed publicly, and it remains uncertain whether he will be fit enough to appear on the third and final day of Birmingham auditions.

Filming is scheduled to resume next week in Blackpool, with producers optimistic that Cowell will be well enough to reclaim his place at the judging desk.

Until then, Holden is firmly established as the figure leading the panel in his absence.

Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads.

READ MORE: Maura Higgins says affordable £10 root spray ‘saves her life’ and covers grey hairs

Loose Women star Stacey Solomon hit out at her husband Joe Swash as she branded his gift ‘terrible’ and slammed his ‘sheer audacity’ amid her fitness journey

Stacey Solomon slammed her husband Joe Swash as he gave her a “terrible” present amid her fitness journey. The Loose Women star, 35, has been open about her weight loss journey and admitted she’s “so proud” of herself.

She revealed she has stuck to weight training since February, explaining: “I genuinely only do it because I want to be so strong.” The mum-of-five has been wanting to build her strength and showed off her impressive results while on holiday this summer.

However, Stacey clashed with Joe after he gave her a gift that he thought would help her journey. For Mother’s Day, Joe gifted her a calorie counting scale that was not well received by the TV star.

READ MORE: Stacey Solomon left sobbing ‘I don’t know what to do’ over devastating family newsREAD MORE: Panicked Stacey Solomon notices baby is ‘missing’ after Joe Swash gets distracted

He said it was something that would help her on her “health kick,” but Stacey was far from impressed. She fumed: “I would never measure my calories!

“I would never measure my calories. Who the hell wants a calorie counter for Mother’s Day? What are you trying to say? And also, it’s the sheer audacity that you think that I have the time to weigh my food!”

The mum to Rex, five, Rose, three, Belle, two, with her husband Joe, 43, and also mum to Zachary, 17, and Leighton, 12, from past relationships previously shared her nerves about wearing bikinis.

Yet, this summer Stacey shared stunning photos as she took a dip under a waterfall. In her candid post, Stacey shared: “Feeling beautiful my sister hyped me up today & made me feel really pretty so I’m posting these.

“I love you Jem also my 3 day blow dry made it to the pool cave for at least 3 mins #buzzing.” Stacey opened up on her fitness regime as she added: “P.S my body looks a little different to last years summer holiday.

“I am actually so proud of myself because I’ve stuck to my weight training consistently since February. Kept quiet and just got my head down & kept going. I genuinely only do it because I want to be so strong.

“Like boss b**** strong. I want to forever be able to pick up my babies with ease & carry double buggies on my shoulder when necessary.

“I feel so much stronger this year which is so empowering & yes my body has changed but honestly I loved my body aesthetically last year as much as I do this year. I’ve always been beautiful no matter what shape or size.”

She concluded: “So I suppose what I’m trying to say is… Don’t commit to fitness just for the looks. Do it so you can wrestle your 17 year old & carry all three of your toddlers in 40 heat & you’ll enjoy the journey more.”

Stacey converted a barn at her Pickle Cottage into a gym following the birth of her daughter Rose in 2023. She has also had the love and support from her older sister Samantha, who is a personal trainer.

While Stacey has admitted she still finds exercising tough and like she is “going to die” when does it, she said the feeling she gets after a work out is worth it.

READ MORE: Hair loss sufferer found ‘lumps of hair in shower’ until she took £1-a-day gummies

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

STACEY Solomon and her family are such big fans of the Regnum Carya hotel in Turkey, she’s gone as far to call it her ‘second home’.

And this year the star visited the Regnum The Crown – its sister hotel which opened its doors back in July.

5

5

The hotel is in the Turkish seaside city of Antalya and it has got some very impressive facilities.

Beating the heat in Turkey can be solved by splashing about in the pool, and this resort has eight.

The resort has your regular outdoor pools as well as a salt-water pool, kids pools, and indoor ones too.

For kids, there’s a waterpark called Regnum Aquatlantis with flumes, slides, attractions like tipping buckets, a lazy river and wave pool.

For even more entertainment, there’s a cinema and playroom, and for the teens, there’s a tech lounge with gaming pods.

The hotel is ideally not that far from The Land of Legends theme park also known as “the Turkish Disneyland” either, in fact, it’s an 8 minute drive away.

There, visitors will find thrilling rollercoasters, a watercoaster and entertainment shows.

Back at the hotel, there’s a luxurious private Blue Flag beach with incredibly clear waters.

Along the white stretch of sand are four beach clubs, each scattered with sun umbrellas and loungers.

As for activities on the beach, guests can play volleyball, take part in yoga sessions, mini football and even sound healing.

5

5

The fussiest of eaters won’t have a problem at the hotel either because there are plenty of dining options from the classic buffet to tapas.

There’s also Pan-Asian, Arabic, and Slavic restaurants too, and lots of snacks and meals at the beach clubs.

There’s an on-site spa too where guests can book massages, and relax in the sauna, steam room and even an ice fountain.

Another place for adults to relax is the rooftop which has an infinity pool, restaurant, bar, fitness club and private dining.

When it comes to rooms, there are plenty of options from spacious suites to family-rooms and even private villas – some of which even have personal butler service.

And while summer in the UK might be coming to a close, there is still plenty of time to lap up the sun in Turkey.

During October, there are highs of 26C, and even in December temperatures average out at around 16C.

In October, Brits can fly to Antalya from cities like Liverpool, Glasgow, Belfast, Manchester and London with one-way flights starting from £17.

For more celebrity spots, here are five very normal UK holiday parks that celebrities love to visit – with stays from £3pp a night.

And take a look inside the farm shop that’s the ‘Harrods of the North’ and is loved by Molly-Mae – with forest lodges and hot tubs.

5

STACEY Solomon has shared how she keeps her bouncy blow dry in place for more than a week after getting it done.

The mum-of-five retained her crown as the most relatable celeb in showbiz as she took to TikTok to post the exact routine she swears by.

4

4

4

4

In the video, she said she was doing her best to get ready “as quickly as possible” for work, so had done her make-up in seconds and prepped her locks the night before.

“I didn’t wash it, but I just dampened it down,” Stacey said in a video on her TikTok page.

“It was, I had like a really old blow dry, and I’ve been trying to keep it in for a week.

“So I’ve just been putting my heatless curler in, and then going to bed with it, taking it out.”

Once taking the heatless curling rod out, Stacey, 35, used some of the REHAB. Essential Dry Shampoo on her roots – to absorb the grease and give her hair some extra texture.

She then ran her fingers through her hair, and grinned as she showed how it looked as though she’d had a “fresh, bouncy blow dry”.

“I wonder how long I can like this blow dry for,” she laughed.

“Like we’re on week one, I wonder if I can bring it into week two with my heatless curler.

“They’re just so good, and it just means I only have to destroy my hair with heat once every couple of weeks, because I can keep all of the curls in place, and keep it looking fresh with my dry shampoo and heatless curler.”

She finished off her speedy makeover with a swipe of lip oil, and then was ready to go.

“I want daily updates on the hair! BRING ON WEEK 2!” one person commented on the TikTok.

“You have such great hair,” another added.

“And it actually looks stunning!” a third praised.

“Go on girl!”

“I love the dry shampoo, it’s a life saver,” someone else said.

While others admitted they were more than a little jealous of Stacey’s finished look.

“I swear if I don’t wash my hair for two days on day three my curls look like rats’ tails!” one wrote.

“I have such hair envy! My hair doesn’t hold curl ever!” another added.

“OMG! You are so glamorous even when you’re not,” a third smiled.

“I get up looking like a badger’s bum!”

Stacey Solomon was joined by her ex-boyfriend Dean Cox on the latest episode of her BBC series Stacey & Joe, as they celebrated her son Zach’s 17th birthday

Stacey Solomon showed a lovely example of a happy blended family on the latest instalment of her reality TV show as her ex, and father of her eldest son, made a cameo on screen.

The 35-year-old mum-of-five used first-born son Zach’s 17th birthday to recall on the moment she found out she was expecting him at the age is he now and how her loved ones reacted to her teen pregnancy.

The BBC One series, Stacey & Joe, which also stars the Loose Women star’s husband Joe Swash, follows the happy couple and their busy lives. Stacey shares her three youngest children, daughters Rose, three, and Belle, two, and son Rex, six, with the former EastEnders actor.

READ MORE: Stacey Solomon’s unconventional date night with Joe Swash after family admissionREAD MORE: Stacey Solomon’s ‘glitterball’ midi dress is the ultimate party season outfit

Stacey, who discovered she was expecting her first child at the age of 17, also shares Zach with ex boyfriend Dean Cox, and 12-year-old Leighton with former fiancé Aaron Barnham.

On Tuesday night’s episode of Stacey & Joe, the pair invited Dean into their home to mark Zach turning 17. As the blended family enjoyed fish and chips they looked back on when Stacey discovered she was pregnant at the same age Zach had just reached.

When asked how old he was at the time, Dean responded: “I was just 18.” Speaking about learning she was set to become a teenage mum when she was 17, Stacey recalled: “My step-mum was the first person who knew I was pregnant, because she guessed it.

“We were at a cafe, me, her and my dad, and I was like, ‘oh, my God, your onions stink, Dad’. And he didn’t even have any onions. Someone, like, at the other end of the cafe had onions, and I remember her pulling me to the side and being like, ‘When was the last time you had a period?’ I was like, ‘I don’t know.'”.

“She immediately made me tell my dad straight away. And then my dad made me ring my mum, and then everyone else that was in the house, Jemma, Matthew, everyone, my brothers and sisters, were all there to hear the fallout.”

Tuesday night’s instalment of Stacey & Joe was actually filmed back in March, coinciding with Zach’s real birthday. The doting mum took to Instagram at the time to celebrate her son’s 17th birthday with an emotional tribute to her first-born.

Stacey has previously spoken about the ‘rocky road’ she and husband Joe faced when blending their families. In addition to Stacey’s two older children from previous relationships, Joe shares his eldest child Harry, 16, with ex-partner Emma Sophocleous.

“The blended family situation has been a rocky road,” Stacey admitted on the Parenting Hell podcast in 2022. “That has never been easy. We have always had to work really hard to make sure everyone feels secure.”

She went on to reveal how wedding a few months earlier, where her and Joe’s four eldest son’s made speeches, made her feel more reassured about her blended family and confessed the kind words from their children left her in floods of tears.

“It was so funny we didn’t say to the boys you need to do a speech,” she recalled, before adding: “Joe was an emotional mess the whole day. People coming up to me saying ‘Joe is a mess down there’.”

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.

STACEY Solomon has been cruelly mum-shamed by trolls after posting pictures from her £30k a week Turkey holiday.

The busy mum, 35, is currently take some time off with her husband Joe Swash, 43 and their huge brood of kids.

4

4

4

4

It’s understood Stacey and Joe have taken their family away to Turkey, where they stayed last year and the year before.

The Turkish hotel they usually stay at is the Regnum Carya in Antalya, where rooms start from around £1,000 per person per night.

They have been there so many times, Stacey now refers to it as her “second home”.

The couple have a blended family of six children.

They share three kids together – Rex, six, Rose, three, and Belle, two – while Stacey is also mum to Zachary, 17, and Leighton, 12, and Joe has 18-year-old son Harry with his ex Emma Sophocleous. 

However, in the family photo from their holiday fans were quick to point out that Harry wasn’t on the trip.

Stacey posted slew of sweet snaps of her and Joe with their other five kids and wrote: “Time to make some memories my whole world 🥹 can’t wait for some special time with my babies.

“Got one picture of us all the second one is every photo ever happy summer everyone from pickle cottage to our second home at this point.”

But while most followers pointed out what a lovely photos they were, some took to the comments to cruelly mum-shame Stacey over this.

One fan wrote: “Lovely family pic. Wish Joe eldest son was included more.”

While another added: “Why is Joe’s eldest son never with them.”

This person said: “I agree would be nice for them to acknowledge they’re missing one!”

Their holiday comes just days after it was reported how Stacey and Joe have made a “vow” amid “silly bickering”, according to a source.

It comes after “tension” between the popular couple has recently been captured on TV.

Stacey Solomon’s career so far

Stacey Solomon has been a familiar face on viewers’ screens for over a decade. Let’s take a look back at her career.

The X Factor (2009): Stacey competed in series six of long-running ITV singing competition The X Factor. During her time in the show, she was mentored by Danni Minogue in the ‘Girls’ category. The star finished in third place, behind Joe McElderry and Olly Murs.

I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here (2010); In late 2010, Stacey headed to the infamous I’m A Celeb Aussie jungle. After 21 days, she triumphed to win the tenth series. It was through I’m A Celeb that she met future husband Joe Swash – who’d won two years earlier and was hosting the ITV2 spinoff.

Celebrity Juice (2011―2013, 2016―2019): The star appeared as a panellist on 21 episodes of the comedy panel game show hosted by Keith Lemon. Stacey was a regular in the 21st series, broadcast in 2019.

Loose Women (2016 – present): Stacey has been a permanent panel member of the daytime show since 2016. She previously made guest appearances in 2011 and 2012.

Sort Your Life Out (2022 -present): This BBC show sees Stacey, with the help of an expert team, transform participants’ living spaces after removing clutter.

However, according to a source, the couple have vowed to take time out to remember why they’re so good for each other. 

During their BBC reality show, the pair shared a close-up look into the ups and downs of life at Pickle Cottage and their relationship.

The source told New Magazine: “There’s tension in the air and there is a bit of bickering. But it puts a strain on any relationship.

“You look at those on reality shows, such as the wives in The Real Housewives, with cameras in their houses 24/7, and a lot of their relationships crack under the pressure.“ 

Despite this, the source maintained that a break away from the cameras, however small, is just what Stacey and Joe need. 

The source added: “They’re worried that if they don’t have a break from the cameras and the limelight, it could affect what makes their relationship special.

“They’re still very much in love and are really trying to focus on each other amid the silly bickering and moments of tension, and remember why they got together in the first place – and why they’re actually so perfect together.

“They have vowed to carve out some quality time this summer to do that.”

Stacey Solomon is dipping her toes into something brand new as she takes on a new business away from our TV screens

Stacey Solomon is absolutely thrilled to be venturing into new territory with her brand. The reality TV sensation’s haircare line, REHAB, is expanding its empire with the launch of REHAB. Retreat, their most ambitious range to date featuring indulgent products like the Quenching Body Milk, Nourishing Hydrate Body Oil, and the Detoxifying Scalp and Body Scrub.

REHAB co-founders Vicky Ellis and Anastasia Tozer shared with Daily Star: “Expanding into bath and body is a pivotal moment for REHAB, it’s a natural evolution of our mission to deliver transformative, ritual-led self-care beyond just hair.”

They continued, outlining their vision for the new collection: “This new category allows us to bring our results-driven ethos and sensorial luxury into every part of the daily routine, a head-to-toe experience designed to restore, replenish and REHAB. your skin.”

The duo expressed their pride in introducing innovative ideas and “patent-pending technology” to the market, aiming to redefine standards in body care, reports the Daily Star.

Stacey herself couldn’t contain her excitement: “I’m over the moon that REHAB. has launched our new ‘REHAB. Retreat’ Collection. It’s been two years in the making, but we’re finally diving into a whole new world!”.

She added, highlighting the extensive research behind the launch: “There’s been so much research behind the scenes to find the best way to keep skin nourished, healthy and hydrated – and we’re so excited for you to try it! We’re insanely proud of how far our brand has come. Thank you to every single person that’s supported us!”.

The Loose Woman stars new business venture is adding to her whopping £7million fortune. The all-woman founded haircare brand first captured Stacey’s attention years ago but noe decision to become part of the team.

The Sort Your Life Out anchor, 35, invested her own cash into the small haircare, owning a third of the firm in doing so. REHAB has also been hailed the fastest-growing beauty brand on the FEBE 100 list for 2025, in yet another boost for the trio.

The awards – which are only eligible for firms with annual revenues over £3million – show the company is thriving.

More detailed stats from the awards, which have the full title For Entrepreneurs, By Entrepreneurs, show UK-based REHAB’s revenue is up 450 per cent in 2025. This comes despite the fact it only has seven staff on its books.

The collection has now expanded into bodycare products as well as haircare as it expands its offering further.

REHAB was founded by two female best friends who say they were “trying to keep up with multiple jobs, children, and their London based social lives”.

Describing themselves on their website, they said: “Busy women with a single mission – transform tired hair to its full healthy, glossy potential.”

The Loose Women panellists are said to be worried that, as part of the upcoming shake-up at ITV, they are going to be axed from their jobs to make way for younger stars

Loose Women’s panellists are said to be worrying about their future as younger stars “take over.” It’s no secret that there has been panic backstage behind ITV’s midday show, with several of its leading ladies being vocal about the major changes which will come into play next year.

Last month, ITV announced a major overhaul of their daytime schedules, which affects both Loose and Lorraine Kelly’s self-titled morning programme. However, despite being hit with a mass loss of viewers, the magazine show This Morning remains unaffected. While both Lorraine and Loose air throughout the year, they will be axed to just 30 weeks of airtime.

Now, sources have said that older members of the panel, including Coleen Nolan, Kaye Adams, Nadia Sawalha, Denise Welch, Ruth Langsford and Linda Robson, no longer feel safe in their jobs. Kaye and Nadia are two of the original serving panellists from the show’s launch in 1999.

Reports claim that some of the older panellists fear they’ll be axed in favour of younger members of the panel, including GK Barry, Olivia Attwood, former singer Frankie Bridge and Stacey Solomon, who hasn’t been on the show since 2023. The younger panellists have millions of online followers and use social media platforms such as TikTok to their advantage.

Former singer Stacey has a staggering six million followers on her Instagram page alone. “The other girls feel like they can’t compete with Stacey’s stats,” a source told Closer magazine. The outlet goes on to claim that other members of the panel are being encouraged to build their online following on platforms such as TikTok, but this has been branded a “full-time job in itself.”

Bosses on the programme are reportedly telling panellists that any change is not a personal move, but that hasn’t gone down too well. “Nadia has been warning her co-stars it’s not about who you are anymore, but how many followers you have,” the insider added.

While final decisions are yet to be made, the source went on to comment: “In the long term, it could mean a farewell to the golden oldies. Coleen has been on the show, on and off, since 2000, a quarter of a century. Viewing numbers are down, and financial cuts have been made to save the ship and there’s a few that are expected to walk the plank.”

Nadia, however, has spoken publicly about the cuts. Speaking on her YouTube page, the actress and broadcaster said: “Do you know what, at the moment, all of us on screen are in work and are proud of what we do. But behind the scenes there are people that are really suffering, and what you don’t realise is when you attack the show you attack them, because you never see all the army of people behind the scenes and how hard they work.

“So to all my friends and colleagues behind the scenes who have just got a huge shock out of the blue, I’m so sorry. Mark knows how upset I’ve been at home about it. I just can’t bear it. So just be f*****g kind to people.”

She then added: “What people don’t realise at Loose Women is that we’re self-employed, I am self-employed. Every contract is a new contract. I could be let go tomorrow, in five years, you don’t know because we’re not employees.

“So I can’t tell you anything except I am on for my next contract. What has been brutal over the past week, and I am getting tearful about it, is that hundreds of people are going to be made redundant out of the blue. A lot of my friends and colleagues have been there for decades and I cannot tell you how upsetting it was to see people walking around numb with shock and fear about what they are going to do. That has been so awful. It has been worse than whatever trolls have been saying about our show that we feel really protective of.”

Speaking previously of the fears the panellists are having, a Loose source told the Mirror: “We are not planning any radical changes to the panel. All of our Loose Women are hugely valued and we celebrate each and every one and the experience and opinions they bring to the show every day.

“Many of our long standing panellists have appeared on the show for the majority of its 25 year run on screens and those stalwart, Loose legends are at the core of the show’s success and hugely popular with the audience. The show remains a big priority within our daytime slate, having secured a BAFTA nomination, launched a podcast and celebrated a milestone anniversary in the last year alone.”

The Mirror has approached Loose Women, Nadia and Stacey’s spokespeople for comment.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.