Television personality Stacey Solomon has taken a heartfelt trip down memory lane, sharing a series of nostalgic snaps from 2016 that she says mark the year she fell in love with her now-husband, Joe Swash.
A Nostalgic Instagram Trend
The 36-year-old star posted a carousel of heartwarming images to her Instagram on Friday, joining a popular online trend where people share moments from their lives a decade ago. The collection offered a candid glimpse into a pivotal year for Solomon, filled with family holidays, Halloween fun, and career highlights.
The photos prominently featured her and former EastEnders actor Joe Swash, 43, including a sweet shot of the pair sunbathing. Solomon poignantly captioned this image 'the year I fell in love'. Another playful picture showed the couple sharing a single strand of spaghetti, which she noted was from their 'first holiday with Zach and Leighton', her sons from previous relationships.
Family Memories and Career Wins
The montage wasn't just about romance. Solomon also included cherished photos of her children, expressing disbelief that her eldest, Zachary, will turn 18 in just two months. She shared a tender image of her son Leighton, noting he was the same age then as her daughter Rose is now.
Career milestones from 2016 made the cut too, with Solomon posting a throwback to her surprising win on ITV's The Chase, joking 'WTF' about the victory. She also included a photo from her time co-hosting the I'm A Celebrity Extra show with Swash.
The Halloween spirit was evident in one fun snap where Solomon dressed as a mermaid, while Swash's costume choice remained a mystery. 'No idea what Joe was going for...' she humorously wrote, adding that she's 'been taking this season seriously since day one.'
Reality TV Reflections and Future Plans
The throwbacks come amid revelations about the future of the couple's BBC One reality series, Stacey & Joe. The show, which launched in April and has a second series scheduled for September 2025, is reportedly likely to return for more episodes.
A TV insider suggested there is a 'definite hunger' for such celebrity-based shows, noting that Solomon and Swash are 'blazing a trail'. However, the programme has not been without its challenges. Earlier this year, reports surfaced that Solomon had some regrets about being so open on camera, following viewer criticism of their heated arguments.
The couple have been insistent on showing the real ups and downs of their life together. In a past interview, Swash explained their approach: 'So many people represent their lives as being so perfect on Instagram. It's our responsibility to show the real – the highs and the lows.'
Solomon echoed this, stating, 'What you see is what you get. What we've learnt about each other is that we're not a perfect couple.' The pair, who married in July 2022, share three young children: Rex, five, Rose, three, and Belle, two.
Concluding her nostalgic post, Solomon expressed how the trend made her feel like she had lived a 'previous life', wondering why a decade feels like a lifetime ago. She signed off hoping the photos would bring as much joy to her followers as they did to her.
