Stacey Solomon, former X Factor contestant turned TV presenter, has found her calling in the BBC One series Sort Your Life Out. The show, which aired a pilot in April, follows Solomon and three helpers as they transform cluttered homes into organised spaces. Critics have hailed it as 'perfect television', praising its format and Solomon's likability.
The concept is simple: Solomon and her team—Iwan (cleaner), Dilly (organiser), and Rob (carpenter)—remove all possessions from a family's home and lay them out in a warehouse. Over two days, the family must confront their hoarding habits, sorting items into piles for recycling, selling, or keeping. The team then cleans and renovates the home, often adding storage solutions like MDF cupboards.
Unlike Marie Kondo's minimalist approach, Solomon offers a British version: keep wedding photos, label jars, and use a label-maker. The show avoids the sleek, serene aesthetic of Netflix's organising shows, instead showing families in hoodies and leggings, crying over old toys. Solomon's warmth and genuine interactions with participants are key to its success, with helpers greeting her with hugs and families staying in touch after filming.
The show's pacing is tight, with quick tips on cleaning and DIY. Iwan demonstrates how to clean oven trays with dishwasher tablets in seconds, while Rob explains which MDF to use for steam-prone areas. Dilly shows how to decant rice into labelled jars. Solomon herself delivers to-camera pieces from her car and playfully teases the carpenter for working too slowly.
Critics note that the BBC's ad-free format allows for a seamless 58-minute run, unlike similar shows on Channel 4. Solomon's likability is described as 'overwhelming', with her ability to keep viewers engaged through mundane tasks like covering a sofa with a fleece throw. The show has been praised for its lack of 'fat', focusing on practical solutions without patronising explanations.
