Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash are reportedly getting ready to depart their ‘forever home’ Pickle Cottage, which has become synonymous with the couple.
The pair have raised their six children at the sprawling Essex property, but are said to have found a new property to fix up nearby.
Joe and Stacey tied the knot at Pickle Cottage in 2022, after transforming their home with an extravagant white floral display in preparation.
Their special day was initially postponed due to the pandemic and again when Stacey became pregnant with their daughter Rose, as the parents wanted all their kids to be there to see them walk down the aisle.
The couple moved into Pickle Cottage, which features an incredible 2.5 acres of land, in 2021 and quickly decided to name it after their son Rex, who is often referred to as Pickle.
But now the couple are reportedly starting a new chapter of their relationship, with the move to a new home. Let’s take a look back through their relationship timeline to mark the occasion.
2010 – Stacey and Joe meet in the jungle
Their relationship actually spans back to 2010, when Stacey was crowned queen of the jungle on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
Joe, who had won the show in 2018, was hosting the ITV2 spin-off, and the pair became friends, although romance didn’t blossom as Stacey was in a relationship at the time.
EastEnders star Joe later admitted he had fancied the X Factor star, but the timing wasn’t right.
2016 – Stacey and Joe take their relationship public
After Stacey’s split from Jackass star Steve-O, rumours began to swirl that she and Joe were dating in 2016 after they were pictured arm-in-arm.
Their romance was confirmed in January, with Joe saying he was ‘really lucky’, and they made their first red carpet appearance together at a Game Of Thrones screening two months later.
Stacey joined her beau to host the I’m A Celeb spin-off later that year and the couple gained a huge legion of fans, who were tickled by Stacey’s social media updates and admissions on Loose Women that she wanted babies with the actor.
Speaking to Hello! in 2017, Stacey said: ‘It’s going really, really well. I’m so happy. Everyone says we’re made for each other.
‘We are like the same person, we come from really similar backgrounds and we’ve got so much in common. He’s absolutely lovely, I’m so lucky.’
2019 – Joe and Stacey buy their first house together
After three years together, Joe and Stacey bought a house together, with Joe then living with Stacey’s two sons, Zachary, 14, from her relationship with Dean Cox, and Leighton, 10, from her relationship with Aaron Barham.
The actor is also dad to Harry, 14, with former fiancée Emma Sophocleous.
2019 – Stacey and Joe have baby son Rex
In 2018, Joe was delighted to announce that Stacey constantly falling asleep wasn’t because she was bored of him, but because she was pregnant with their first child together.
Joe confirmed the birth of their son in May 2019, sharing a picture of Stacey in the hospital bed with their baby and writing: ‘This morning. A lot earlier than planned I watched the love of my life, bring a new life into the world. We are overwhelmed, overjoyed and apprehensive of what’s to come. Mummy and baby are well and resting. We are so grateful for all of the love, support and positivity we’ve received over the last 8 months.
‘I’m lost for words to describe how I’m feeling. So for now, I’m going to spend the next few days and the rest of my life falling more in love with these two humans. I didn’t think it possible but, today I witnessed the impossible. My partner, My love, my life, you are a superhuman. I am forever in awe.’
The couple later named their son Rex.
2020 – Joe pops the question
Stacey made no secret of wanting to get hitched, and her dream came true on Christmas Eve 2020 when her beau proposed.
The Loose Women panellist confirmed the happy news as she showed off the diamond ring on her left hand and wrote on Instagram: ‘To the moon and back bub. I have no words.’
Joe chose to pop the question in the woodlands where they walk with their kids every day, assembling a floral arrangement of white roses around a tree as a backdrop to his big gesture.
Their kids were present for the proposal, which was filmed by a hidden GoPro.
2021 – Joe and Stacey move into their ‘forever home’, Pickle Cottage
In March 2021, the family moved into their stunning country cottage, which they then spent several months renovating to make it perfect for them.
Dubbing it their ‘forever home’, Stacey lovingly renovated each of the bedrooms for her children and there is even a pool for them all to splash around in on sunny days.
She told her followers at the time: ‘Home Sweet Home. And so a new chapter begins. We can not even describe how strange it feels that this is home. Never in a million years did we ever think this would be.
‘We feel so lucky and are so grateful to have found this hidden treasure closer to our family and further out. We can’t wait to fill it with love and give it our everything. To raise our family here. And to just start a fresh.
‘I’m very emotional for some reason. It still hasn’t sunk in and doesn’t quite feel real. Thank you for all of your supportive, kind, loving messages. We love you to the moon and back and I can’t wait to show you around… Here’s to the next chapter in Pickle Cottage.’
2021 – Stacey and Joe have second child, daughter Rose
Shortly after moving into their ‘forever home’, Stacey and Joe had exciting news to share with fans, as they announced that they’re expecting another ‘pickle’.
After painting the house in their garden, Joe and Stacey’s kids Harry, Zachary, Leighton and Rex stamped their handprints on a bench, next to an ultrasound of their baby brother or sister.
Stacey wrote: ‘We are growing another pickle. We’ve never felt so grateful… I have no words. We didn’t think we would get the chance. We love you all to the moon and back. Lots of love From Me, Joe, Harry, Zach, Leighton, Rex, and our little pickle.’
The Loose Women star gave birth to her daughter on her own birthday in October, and shared a photo of the little one with her followers.
Sharing a snap of the whole family with their hands on Rose, Stacey told her followers: ‘She’s Here. Born at Pickle Cottage on mummy’s birthday.
‘Our little girl… Happy birthday my darling daughter… We all love you more than you could ever imagine.
‘Your brothers, your daddy and I are so in love. Thank you for the most incredible 9 months. Now we cannot wait for the rest of our lives with you.’
2022 – Joe heads on raucous Ibiza stag do
Joe did his stag do in style, heading to the White Isle with pals Rob Beckett, Dean Gaffney and the ‘biggest liability’, which was in fact Stacey’s dad, David.
The group were reported to have hit the VIP section of O Beach Club, owned by Wayne Lineker, where Joe was met with a group of hostesses holding letters that spelt out ‘Swashy’.
Stacey was dressed as a giant green pickle when she flew out for her own hen do. While it definitely made for some interesting experiences in security, Stacey appeared to get the giant costume through the airport scanners in the end.
2022 – Stacey and Joe tie the knot at Pickle Cottage
After years of planning, Stacey and Joe finally exchanged vows surrounded by their closest friends and family, including children Leighton, Zachary, Rex, Rose, and Joe’s son Harry.
In a post to Instagram sharing her snaps from the big day, Stacey wrote: ‘It all feels like a dream. The most special day that we didn’t ever want to end.’
A year later, to mark their anniversary, the couple shared a video of their ceremony and the moment they exchanged their vows.
Joe said in the emotional video: ‘Stacey, you are the love of my life. You’re my soulmate, I promise to love you, to protect you, to look after you and our family and I’ll never let you down.
‘I will always have your back, even when you’re wrong. I adore you. I did from the very moment I met you seven years ago in Australia, and here we are now with our kids and our family and loved ones.
‘I can’t believe how lucky I am to have you. I hope you feel the same about me. I love you so much Stacey.’
Later that year, the couple shared that they were expecting their third child, a baby girl.
2023 – Stacey and Joe welcome third baby Belle
Just two months after revealing she was pregnant, Stacey gave birth to their baby Belle at home in Pickle Cottage, saying she had ‘literally flown into the world’.
In a social media post, Stacey revealed that their baby’s name complemented that of their eldest daughter. She wrote: ‘Our beautiful, delicate baby girl.
‘Who will forever remind us of the bluebells that are about to bloom as you bring spring with you into the world… And a little special connection to your Rose.
‘To the moon and back Belle. Forever and always,’ she wrote on Instagram.
2025 – Stacey and Joe land their own reality show
Stacey & Joe (the TV show, not people) has taken BBC viewers inside the world of Pickle Cottage and its ‘beautiful chaos’, promising lots of laughs along the way.
The BBC has confirmed that a third series is on the way, in which viewers will be ‘once again immersed in the couple’s relatable, hands-on approach to parenting, homemaking and life’.
2026 – Goodbye to Pickle Cottage
The move out of the couple’s longtime home is thought to offer far more than just extra space for their growing family. A source told the Mirror that it’s about new beginnings.
‘It’s a fresh start,’ the source said. ‘Pickle Cottage has been a place where Stacey and Joe’s relationship has been up and down.’
No doubt Stacey will update fans on the move via social media, as she did when they decamped to Pickle Cottage.
A version of this article was originally published in July 2022.