Stacey Dooley has opened up about her true feelings regarding the family relocation to Liverpool. The documentary maker recently moved to Merseyside alongside her partner, former Strictly Come Dancing professional Kevin Clifton, and their daughter Minnie, bringing them closer to Stacey's mother.
Although Stacey was born in Luton and has spent most of her life in London, her family originates from Speke in south Liverpool. In a candid interview, she confessed she has 'always had an affinity' for the city.
Praise for Scousers
During an appearance on Amy Jackson Westwick's podcast, What's The Tea, Amy?, Stacey heaped praise on the people of Liverpool, claiming they 'bend over backwards' for you. She noted that stepping off the train in Liverpool and being surrounded by Scousers makes her feel at home.
Stacey explained: 'So my mum's Scouse; my mum...my family are from Speke, so south Liverpool. My nan was scouse...all that side, you know, my grandad, they're all there. And obviously, I was born in Luton, lived in London most of my life.'
She continued: 'But I've always had like a bit of a soft spot - it sounds a bit woo-woo - but I really have always had an affinity. Like, I love, I deeply love, Liverpool.'
North-South Divide
When asked about the difference between the north and south, Stacey admitted: 'It sort of pains me to say, but it is, it's night and day, the north and the south.' She added that people in Liverpool 'just can't do enough for you'.
This is not the first time Stacey has expressed her affection for Liverpool. She previously described herself as an 'honorary Scouser' after warm encounters in the city.
Reasons for the Move
Speaking on the Parenting Hell podcast, Stacey revealed that the primary reason for relocating was to be near her mother, who acts as a nanny for Minnie. She said: 'She's really hands-on and if she wasn't on the scene, and I appreciate this isn't always the way for many people, I think I would really struggle. I don't think I'd be able to work actually.'
Stacey added: 'It was a mixture of reasons but primarily, she's our nanny. And I wanted the baby close to her nan and it's a lovely relationship to nurture. The pair of them are thick as thieves. I don't really exist when my mum's around.'
She also mentioned that the house they bought is beautiful but 'on its last legs', requiring significant renovation work.
Birthday Update
In other news, Stacey recently marked her 39th birthday while filming in Australia, sharing a personal update on Instagram. She wrote: 'THIRTY FINE TODAY! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME. What an utter TREAT to be able to celebrate another year. All I'm REALLY a***d about is love, health and being surrounded by goodies. Lucky, lucky me. Oh. And boats. Celebrating in Australia, with my baby girl, on a boat filming. Miss you Kev. HERE'S TO MORE LIFE.'
Fans can catch Stacey on Michael McIntyre's Big Show on BBC One tonight (May 2), from 7pm to 8pm.
