03 November 2023 , 08:00
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Stacey Solomon is set for a sensational return to Loose Women, ITV bosses have confirmed to The Mirror.
Despite not appearing on the hit ITV panel show for months, Stacey isn't bidding a final farewell to her co-stars to 'spend more time with her children', per recent reports. It had been reported the mum-of-five and fan favourite was planning to early-morning programme in what was being called a "huge blow" for ITV. Insiders said the 34-year-old wanted to free up her time for her family, as well as her own projects.
After the success of her show with the BBC, Sort Your Life Out, sources said Stacey had "outgrown" Loose Women and that being on the star-studded panel was "no longer right" for her. One insider claimed the job takes up "a lot of her time".
Is Stacey saying goodbye to Loose Women? (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)However, sources close to Stacey tell The Mirror that viewers can expect to see her back on the panel 'soon' and that claims she had parted ways with ITV were "categorically untrue". A spokesperson for Loose Women added: "These claims are not true. We are looking forward to welcoming Stacey back onto the show soon."
Stacey joined Loose Women back in 2016 and has been on-off since, only returning for occasional episodes. "The panellists know Stacey is popular and good for the programme, so they would be gutted to see her go," a source told Woman's Own.
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"She's outgrown the show. It's no longer right for Stacey. Loose Women takes up a lot of her time. If she were to leave, it would free her time up a little, especially if she has to be away for longer periods of time with her own shows."
Her absence was mentioned after she made a surprise appearance on the panel in the last episode of 2022. At the time, Stacey insisted she was still very much part of the line-up despite long periods of no-shows. "Again, I'm just grateful to be on there," Stacey told Lorraine at the time. "When I was on X Factor 14 years ago... I never even thought I'd be on a show like this never mind have opportunities like Sort Your Life Out and Loose Women.
"So every time I get to do something like that I'm genuinely like 'thank goodness, this is amazing!'. You've just got to keep enjoying it because you never know when it'll be gone and when those things aren't going to be there."
Stacey's Loose Women return comes amid rumours of a "huge divide" between the young Loose Women panellists and the "older, classic" stars. There's thought to be a rift caused after the "young ones refuse to get caught up in the drama", per Woman's Own.
Denise Welch has previously denied feud claims, explaining: "I have never once had an argument with any single girl off stage in that show in 20 years." While Coleen Nolan has previously hinted at tension between the original cast and the new panel members.
"I find it hard sometimes because there are a lot more Loose Women [presenters] now," she said. "There used to be a core 10 of us. Sometimes you go on and it's a show with a new panellist or two new panellists. It takes a long time to build up a rapport with someone, where they get your humour or sarcasm without being offended."