As if Stacey Solomon doesn’t have enough TV commitments on her plate, she’s now rumoured to be joining the next series of Strictly Come Dancing.
The star – who already works with the BBC presenting Sort Your Life Out and starring in her reality show Stacey & Joe – is said to be high on the list of celebs the corporation would like to secure for its flagship show.
And an insider tells us landing the gig would be a huge win for Stacey, too.
‘She’s always dreamed of doing Strictly. It’s a show she absolutely loves, and she’s watched it for years,’ says a source.
‘She’s been approached before, but it’s always been tough for her to find the time to commit to it. It’s still not easy, but she’s keen to find a way.’
The insider continues, ‘One thing’s for sure, if she does do it, it won’t be by half. She’d put her heart and soul into it and enjoy every second. The outfits, the training and the glamour that go with the show all appeal to her and she’d love to experience it.’
Stacey – who shares Rex, five, Rose, three, and Belle, two, with husband Joe Swash, 43, plus Zachary, 17, and Leighton, 12, from previous relationships — has said in the past that she’d love to compete in the show, and is a self-confessed Strictly fanatic. The social media star has admitted to being ‘obsessed with the costumes’ and said she ‘would love to learn a new skill like dancing’.
However, she has also confessed that fear has played a role in her not doing the show. In an interview in 2022, she claimed that she didn’t think she could master the skills. ‘I don’t know why, but I have no rhythm when it comes to movement,’ she said.
‘I have rhythm with singing or listening to music, but when it comes to moving my feet, I’m left-footed, I have two left feet. I’d be one of those people who would go out in week one, and they’d be like, “Well, that was a waste of time!”’
But, we’re told, producers of the show disagree. ‘People forget that Stacey has a musical background. She was an X Factor finalist in 2009 – that’s how it all started,’ our source says. ‘Singing and performing are her passions, and she’d be a real dark horse on Strictly. She could surprise a lot of people, including herself.’
BBC bosses have reportedly been worried that the show’s recent scandals – particularly the investigations into Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima’s behaviour towards their dance partners – could deter celebs from signing up for the next series.
But our insider thinks the affection the British public has for Stacey could put the sparkle back on the dance floor and help coax other big names into signing up.
‘For the BBC, landing Stacey would be absolutely massive. She’s hugely popular with viewers, and after all the issues Strictly has faced in the last few years, this would be a top signing, which would go down well with the fans,’ we’re told. ‘They know it won’t be as easy to attract big names any more, so landing Stacey would be a huge coup.’
And her number one fan Joe would undoubtedly be cheering her on, too, especially given that he won Dancing On Ice back in 2020, so he knows how gruelling these competition shows can be.
‘Joe would be super-proud, as would the whole family,’ we’re told. ‘Stacey would get all the support she needs from friends and family to juggle the running the household and being on the show.’
For now, though, all Stacey can do to prepare for the challenge is to get back into her home gym and start working up a sweat, so she’s ready for the gruelling hours of training.
And then we have no doubt she’ll be waltzing all the way to that Glitterball trophy.
