Sort Your Life Out star Stacey Solomon returned to Loose Women on Wednesday after 10 months away from the popular panel programme on ITV

Stacey Solomon is back on ITV after 10 months away from Loose Women.

She took a break from the show after welcoming baby Belle with husband Joe Swash, her third child with the TV personality. Stacey has two more children from previous relationships. It was during her time off that fans feared she’d quit for good

A source claimed recently that Stacey had “outgrown” the show and would not be returning. However, sources confirmed to The Miror that wasn’t the case. An insider close to Stacey exclusively told The Mirror that claims she had parted ways with ITV were “categorically untrue”. A spokesperson for the show added: “These claims are not true. We are looking forward to welcoming Stacey back onto the show soon.”

And now, as the 34-year-old star prepares to make a return to Loose Women today, we take a look at what she’s been up to in her break away from the programme…

Exit rumours

Stacey has made on-off appearances on the ITV daytime show since 2016, with some fans speculating she’d left the star-studded panel completely. Reports suggested Stacey wasn’t coming back to Loose Women after she had “outgrown” the popular panel programme.

An insider had told Woman’s Own magazine that the mum-of-five was wanting to ‘spend more time with her kids’. Falsely calling a “huge blow” to bosses at ITV, they said: “The panellists know Stacey is popular and good for the programme, so they would be gutted to see her go. “She’s outgrown the show. It’s no longer right for Stacey. Loose Women takes up a lot of her time. If she were to leave, it would free her time up a little, especially if she has to be away for longer periods of time with her own shows.”

It was after these reports that The Mirror clarified the claims were “categorically untrue”, with sources close to the 34-year-old confirming her Loose Women return. Last month, A spokesperson for Loose Women also told us: “These claims are not true. We are looking forward to welcoming Stacey back onto the show soon.”

Fifth baby birth

Stacey gave birth to baby Belle in February ( 
Image:
Instagram)

She shared her pregnancy journey online ( 
Image:
Instagram)
Stacey’s substantial break from Loose Women was largely down to the arrival of her now nine-month-old daughter Belle. It was all the way back in February earlier this year that Stacey announced the name of her new baby girl.

Taking to Instagram at the time, she wrote: “Belle, our little Belle. Our beautiful, delicate baby girl. Who will forever remind us of the bluebells that are about to bloom as you bring the spring with you into the world… And a little special connection to your Rose. To the moon and back Belle. Forever and always.”

Stacey and Joe welcomed daughter Rose in October 2021, and their son Rex, three, a few years before. Stacey, who also has two older sons from previous relationships, announced the birth of her Story, sharing a snap of herself taken while pregnant.

Working on other projects before Loose Women return

Stacey had already returned to work way before coming back to the Loose Women panel, only two months after giving birth she was back to work, flying to Paris for a filming job. She didn’t hesitate to get back in front of the camera, bringing baby Belle with her for the journey. “I’m taking Belle with me because I haven’t worked out the breastfeeding thing yet,” she explained on social media at the time.

She also starred in her own TV series, Sort Your Life Out. She featured in season two around the time of her pregnancy before shooting season three. Her latest series began airing in September, so filming days would have likely happened in the months running up to the broadcast date. Not only was she working on her own show, Stacey also worked on her fashion collaborations, her first happening in April.

It was revealed she’d bagged her first collaboration with Primark to create another range of kids’ clothes, ready for the spring and summer seasons. “I think this Spring Summer collection might be my favourite one EVER,” she said at the time. She also did another collaboration with the fashion brand, launching a winter range last month.

Also, in May, Stacey spearheaded another fashion campaign, this time with her friends at In The Style, launching an exclusive summer range, complete with work trips and photoshoots. So it’s safe to say Stacey was well and truly back into business mode merely weeks after welcoming baby Belle, more than six months before her Loose Women return.

Backstage feud rumours

Stacey’s Loose Women return comes amid rumours of a “huge divide” between the young Loose Women panellists and the “older, classic” stars. There’s thought to be a rift caused after the “young ones refuse to get caught up in the drama”, per Woman’s Own.

Denise Welch has previously denied feud claims, explaining: “I have never once had an argument with any single girl off stage in that show in 20 years.” While Coleen Nolan has previously hinted at tension between the original cast and the new panel members.

“I find it hard sometimes because there are a lot more Loose Women [presenters] now,” she said. “There used to be a core 10 of us. Sometimes you go on and it’s a show with a new panellist or two new panellists. It takes a long time to build up a rapport with someone, where they get your humour or sarcasm without being offended.”

‘She never left’

Stacey always insisted she never left the Loose Women line-up ( 
Image:
ITV)Stacey’s absence was mentioned after she made a surprise appearance on the panel in the last episode of 2022. At the time, Stacey insisted she was still very much part of the line-up despite long periods of no-shows.

“Again, I’m just grateful to be on there,” Stacey told Lorraine at the time. “When I was on X Factor 14 years ago… I never even thought I’d be on a show like this never mind have opportunities like Sort Your Life Out and Loose Women.

“So every time I get to do something like that I’m genuinely like ‘thank goodness, this is amazing!’. You’ve just got to keep enjoying it because you never know when it’ll be gone and when those things aren’t going to be there.” She also recently saw success with her very own TV show with the BBC. Sort Your Life Out was hugely popular with fans and was nominated at this year’s National Television Awards.