Joe Swash issues parenting admission about Stacey Solomon's eldest child

TV personality Joe Swash made his return to the BBC with season two of their reality show, Stacey and Joe, with fresh insight into their family life, which includes five children and a plethora of animals living at their Pickle Cottage. During Tuesday's (September 23) episode, viewers witnessed the family celebrate Stacey's eldest son Zachary's 17th birthday. The Loose Women star welcomed him in a previous relationship with her ex-boyfriend, Dean Cox, when she was just 18 years old.

During the episode, Dean and his partner Nikki joined Stacey and Joe for a special fish and chips dinner in honour of Zachary's birthday. Speaking of their family dynamics, the former Mickey Miller star shared: "I know how important it is to make sure dads stay in their kids' lives. I know what it's like having someone else in their life, so for me, I just want to bridge the gap."

Later in the episode, the teenager also reflected on his family uniting for his birthday and beamed: "That was amazing. I think when you're with your family, with everyone, it's lovely."

The blended family sat around the table and laughed as they shared cake and reflected on Stacey's pregnancy with Zachary. Nikki remarked that he is approaching the age Stacey was when she had him and asked: "Can you imagine if Zach had a baby now?"

But the 17-year-old quickly dismissed the possibility and hit back: "No, not yet." As his dad pleaded: "Please don't."

Speaking to the cameras with Joe, Stacey added: "In this scenario, it's all about the child, basically." To which her husband remarked: "I think we're doing a great job of it."

The Sort Your Life Out star continued: "It's better for them that they've got these two families who absolutely love the bones off them than to be fighting over them.

"I feel like that would be horrible for them." Stacey concluded.

After welcoming her eldest son, the TV star went on to have a relationship with Aaron Barham, to whom she was engaged. In 2012, they had Leighton, 12.

Outside of their relationship, Joe is also dad to Harry, 17, whom he shares with his previous partner, Emma Sophocleous.

Stacey and Joe welcomed their first child together, a son, Rex, five, in 2019. Two years later, on her birthday in October 2021, the Loose Women star welcomed her fourth child, daughter Rose, three.

In 2022, Stacey and Joe exchanged vows in a lavish ceremony in their charming cottage home before welcoming another daughter Belle, two, the following year.