Stacey Solomon insists media invasion of her privacy ‘should be illegal’

Stacey Solomon has said the extent to which the media invade her privacy “should be illegal”, adding that their “outrageous” behaviour makes her feel like she’s being stalked.

The TV star and social media influencer said she sometimes feels “harassed” by the press, claiming she has had photographers “sitting outside our house” and intruding on family events.

Solomon, 37, found fame on the ITV talent show The X Factor in 2009 and has since built a successful television career, currently starring alongside her husband Joe Swash and their children in a fly-on-the-wall BBC reality series.

Stacey And Joe launched in 2025 and follows the couple and their family, along with their ducks and two dogs, in day-to-day life at their Pickle Cottage home in Essex.

“I think for a long time in celebrity culture, there was this expectation that you put yourself in the public eye so you deserve this treatment,” she told Press Association.

“There is an unwritten understanding. If me and Joe go out in the public and there happens to be somebody there and they get a picture of us, that’s fair game.”

Stacey Solomon claimed media invasion of her privacy is ‘outrageous’

BBC

She went on: “That’s part and parcel of this industry. We do draw the line though. To me that’s no longer of public interest,” she said.

“It is weird. It’s outrageous, in fact. There’s no need to be followed around to family events. It should be illegal – these are kids. It’s just weird.

“You pick your battles in those instances because you realise you’ve signed up to this – but to an extent. You feel like you’re being stalked.”

Her show has drawn a negative reaction from some viewers as Solomon and Swash share their problems with viewers. One episode showed their couples counselling session and another saw Swash struggle with his ADHD diagnosis.

The reality star with her husband Joe Swash

The former Loose Women panellist said: “I don’t understand what the public interest has been lately and why they have the need to do that.

“We’re still navigating it, and trying to work out what we can do.”

Solomon said the increased violations of her privacy has impacted what she posts online.

“Maybe it will make us think of things differently moving forward,” she said. “Hopefully, I’ll be able to stick up for myself enough for them to stop being inappropriate.

“But if I need to do something to stop this happening, then I’ll do it. The safety of my family comes before absolutely everything.”

The couple with their children

PA

Solomon met Swash in 2010, when she was competing on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and he was co-hosting the spin-off.

They have been together since 2016. The couple tied the knot in 2022 and have three children together. Their sons and daughters are Rex, born in 2019; Rose, born in 2021; and Belle, born in 2023.

Solomon is also mother to Zach with ex-boyfriend Dean Cox, and Leighton with ex-fiance Aaron Barnham. Swash has a son, Harry, with Emma Sophocleous.

The new series of Stacey And Joe returns to BBC One on November 10 at 8pm. All episodes will be available on BBC iPlayer.