UPDATE: |Stacey Solomon unveils ‘strategy’ for sons’ ‘girlfriends’ amid grandchildren plea News

Stacey Solomon has shared her “strategy” to keep her sons close to her as she shared her hopes of having grandchildren in the future, with the star having five boys

Stacey Solomon revealed she has a “strategy” for when her sons decide to start a family after issuing a plea for grandchildren.

Stacey, 35, shares children Rex, five, Rose, three, and two-year-old Belle with husband Joe Swash, 43. The former X Factor star has sons Zachary, 17, and Leighton, 12, from previous relationships.

Joe also has a son Harry, 17, with ex-partner Emma Sophocleous. During an appearance on the Parenting Hell podcast, hosted by comedians Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe, Stacey was quizzed about imagining life at their charming Pickle Cottage without the kids, reports Wales Online.

She simply said: “No.” Joe added: “We’ve timed this perfectly. Because of all the different ages, when the older ones start flying the nest, we’ve still got Rex and Leighton and when they go, we’ve got Belle.”

Stacey then revealed her plans for the future: “By the time Belle, our youngest child, leaves home, I better have some grandkids, that’s all I’m saying. In 18 years time, Zach will be in his thirties.”

The conversation took a turn when Rob questioned how Stacey would cope if her sons moved far away, perhaps even to Scotland, with their partners. It was here that Stacey divulged her cunning plan to ensure her children remain nearby, particularly by befriending any future partners they may have.

Stacey detailed her approach: “I will get really good friends with his partner, this is my ploy, because remember, I only had boys up until three years ago and I’ve been thinking about this a lot, because marry out and they go off and meet a new mum who becomes their wife, and that’s that, you don’t hear from them again.

“So I’ve been thinking about my strategy around this for a really long time. I’m going to get really close with whoever Zach and Leighton decides to fall in love with, I’m going to make a point of supporting them and being there for them, and offering my services at any point, so they stay nearby.

“I want them to be free and happy and if they end up in Scotland it will give us an excuse to go and visit.” She joked: “But I would be devastated.”

Joe joked he would be “more than happy” to build the children a house in the garden should they like though. He added: “You can see which is the favourite from our kids by the size of their house.”

Stacey first crossed paths with Joe taking part in I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! EastEnders icon Joe was fronting the series’ companion show with the late Caroline Flack, having been crowned King of the Jungle two years before.

The couple got engaged on Christmas Eve in 2020, before getting married at their home in July 2022. A source told Mail Online it was the “best day of their lives”.