Loose Women is embroiled in a drama after ITV announced the show would be taken off air for almost half of the year, with Kaye Adams and Nadia Sawalha among the stars speaking out about their shock and upset at the news. From 2026, following big cuts and changes to the channel’s daytime TV schedule, the show will only run for 30 weeks of the year.
But someone who might benefit from the shakeup is Stacey Solomon, with sources telling heat that Loose Women’s producers want her back as a regular panellist to help give the show a ratings boost. The mum of five, 35, last appeared on the programme in November 2023, but now an insider tells heat, ‘Bosses have begged Stacey to make a guest return in a bid to claw back some viewers. It’s a bloodbath at ITV at the moment and they feel Stacey has star power and is always good value when it comes to debates and oversharing, and the producers want to make sure the show is giving viewers something to talk about.’
But, we’re told, Stacey is wary about returning, especially as she’s some of her former colleagues aren’t feeling so pleased about her prospective comeback. ‘Stacey is on the fence about doing it,’ our insider says.
‘She’s heard that the talk of her coming back has caused a bit of drama with some of the other panellists and she wants to stay out of it. Some of the regulars aren’t best pleased – they feel they don’t need Stacey to save the show. She’s not even a core member of the team any more. Also Stacey stepping down as a panellist was seen as a bit of a betrayal by some of the ladies, especially as she’s been silent about all the upheaval at the show. Some of this has got back to Stacey and she doesn’t feel like getting dragged into the firing line. The show has given her unnecessary stress in the past and, she doesn't really need it.’
According to our source, Stacey has a ‘very tricky relationship’ with Loose Women. She officially joined as a regular panellist in 2016 but stepped back when she was preparing to have her daughter Belle in 2023. Since then, she has been notably absent from the show apart from some fleeting appearances. And when the show celebrated its 25th anniversary last year with a portrait of 18 of the show’s panellists together for the first time, Stacey was nowhere to be seen. While the social media personality still has the title of ‘Proud Loose Woman’ in her Instagram bio, her relationship with the show has been ‘love/hate at times’ and she feels torn about returning.
Our source says, ‘Stacey hasn’t exactly missed the pressure of having to give her opinion and risk getting judged by the public. If she does come back, she would want it to be on her terms and find out in advance who would be on the panel and what they would discuss. She feels as though she has earned that right to return. But she’s worried she’ll be labelled a diva if she comes back with a list of demands. It might just be best to just move on.’
Loose Women aside, Stacey’s career has gone from strength to strength. Her home transformation show, Sort Your Life Out, has been a triumph, and she has also been busy filming her documentary series, Stacey & Joe, which follows her family life with husband Joe Swash, 43, and their children Rex, six, Rose, three, and Belle, two, as well as Zachary, 17, and Leighton, 13, from previous relationships. She’s also rumoured to be joining this year’s Strictly Come Dancing line up.
And then there are all her brand deals, which include an Asda homeware range and the haircare brand, Rehab, which she co-owns. With so much on her plate, it’s no surprise that Stacey is apprehensive about adding Loose Women back into her life.
Our source says, ‘Stacey’s got a good thing going with her current schedule and doesn’t exactly need the show. She does feel torn because if she can help Loose Women in any way without getting caught up in drama then she would. She just doesn’t want to make a decision and then regret it later.'