Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash have been taken aback by the level of criticism following the launch of their new BBC reality show, a source has claimed. The couple, who debuted the programme on Monday, had hoped to present a wholesome family image from their Essex home, Pickle Cottage, but have been confronted with negative comments, particularly aimed at Joe.
Viewers took to social media to express their displeasure after the first episode showed Joe returning home five hours late from a fishing trip, leaving Stacey to manage work meetings and childcare alone. One fan wrote: 'Gosh Joe Swash is not coming across well! He really takes @StaceySolomon for granted!'
The source told the Mirror that Joe, who can be sensitive to criticism, has been struggling with the backlash. 'Joe can be very sensitive to criticism and gets very upset by it, so doing the show is not as easy as it seems,' they said. 'Sharing their life sounds like a great idea in theory but it's not as easy as they thought to just film your life at home, the trolling can be non-stop which then can cause upset in the family.'
The couple share three children together—Rex, five, Rose, three, and two-year-old Belle—while Stacey is also mother to Zachary, 17, and Leighton, 12. Joe also has a son, Harry, born in 2007. The source added that the pressures of balancing Stacey's busy career, including her perfume range, and Joe's commitments have created a 'trade off' as they navigate public scrutiny.
