Stacey Solomon’s son Zachary’s father appears on her BBC show for the first time as she introduces viewers to her rarely seen ex and opens up on their teenage pregnancy

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Stacey Solomon’s former partner and the father of her oldest son, Zachary, made his debut appearance on her reality show, ‘Stacey & Joe,’ on Tuesday night.

The 35-year-old TV host, who usually keeps details about her sons Zachary and Leighton’s fathers private – often only saying the boys are ‘with their dad’ – recently showed one of her exes on BBC television.

Stacey, now a mother since age 18 when her son Zachary was born in 2007, shared her experiences with becoming pregnant as a teenager, alongside her partner Dean, whom she’d known since childhood.

Dean and his wife, Nikki, joined Zach at his home, affectionately known as Pickle Cottage, for a birthday dinner.

Zach beamed with happiness when his dad and his partner arrived, wrapping him in a big hug and exclaiming, “I can’t believe you’re seventeen!”

While enjoying a meal of fish and chips, Joe Swash, the TV personality and step-dad, raised a toast to Zachy, saying, ‘Happy birthday! It’s strange to think he’s already seventeen.’

Nikki, Dean’s stepmother, explained that when they mention Dean having a 17-year-old son, people are usually very surprised.

Stacey added: ‘Were you 19 when we had Zach, or 17?

‘I was 20’, Dean confirmed before the Sort Your Life Our presenter added, ‘Oh I was 17’.  

Nikki playfully asked Zach if they could picture themselves starting a family, which led to Zach’s dad urgently pleading with them not to have a baby right now.

Stacey later gushed, ‘We’ve done alright’, and Dean agreed, ‘We’ve smashed it with you’. 

After celebrating his birthday with family, Zach shared how much he enjoys seeing his dad, mentioning they get together every couple of weeks. He described the evening as ‘amazing,’ adding that being with family is a wonderful feeling.

As she and her husband, Joe, talked about the day, Stacey explained that it’s better for their children to have two loving families than for the parents to constantly argue over them.

During dinner, Stacey shared that she became pregnant as a teenager, and it was her stepmother who first noticed she was expecting.

She said: ‘My step-mum was the first one who knew I was pregnant because she guessed it. 

I was at a cafe with my dad and a friend, and I blurted out, “Your onions stink!” The funny thing was, my dad hadn’t even ordered anything with onions – it was someone across the cafe who smelled like onions.

I remember her taking me aside and asking when I’d last had a period. I honestly didn’t know.

‘She immediately made me tell my dad straight away, straight away.

Then my dad told me to call my mom, and then everyone else in the house – Jemma, Matthew, all my siblings – gathered around to listen to what happened next.

Stacey scrolled through old photos on her phone, looking at adorable pictures of Zach as a baby. She also came across a photo of herself with her ex-boyfriend, Dean, and barely recognized how different she looked.

The television personality had her second son, Leighton, in 2012 with her then-fiancé, artist Aaron Barham. The couple later separated in 2014.

Stacey explained to You magazine that she avoids discussing her children’s fathers because she doesn’t want the kids to read about it later.

The former panelist on Loose Women also has three children – Rex, age five, Rose, age three, and Belle, age two – with her husband, Joe.

The latest episode of Stacey & Joe was filmed back in March, when Zach’s birthday actually was.

To celebrate her son’s 17th birthday, proud mother Stacey shared a collection of heartwarming photos on Instagram.

She shared a heartfelt message marking her son Zach’s 17th birthday. She admitted his birthday always affects her, but this year felt particularly emotional, as it reminded her that she was the same age as him when she was pregnant with him.

‘Every year you get older, you keep growing into the most amazing human.

‘I’m so proud of who you are Zach. The last 17 years have been the best years of my life.

Life hasn’t always been simple, but you’ve shaped me into the person I am today. Having you in my life for as long as I’ve been alive is the greatest gift I could ask for.

‘To the moon and back Zach.’

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2025-09-24 03:35