Joe Swash reveals how a permanent EastEnders comeback would work for him
With six children, a busy showbiz career and prioritising his marriage to national treasure Stacey Solomon, Joe Swash is struggling to find time for himself. The TV star, 42, has noticed the pounds creeping on and has set himself a 2025 resolution to get back into the gym and transform his dad bod. “I need to get myself into shape,” Joe tells OK! during our exclusive chat. “I’ve never had such a dad bod in all my life as I have right now! I’ve never looked so ‘dad’.”
For our interview, Joe is dressed in a snug waistcoat covered in candy canes, and a loud purple blazer, to promote the Heathrow Express HeXmas Hotline, which allowed passengers at Paddington Station to dial Santa or let loved ones know they were on their way. He looks just the part, but he’s more than a little relieved his promotional outfit is so forgiving – unlike the skintight costume Stacey made him wear for their son Rex’s second birthday party!
“Underneath this waistcoat, it’s not pretty,” laughs Joe. “I wouldn’t get into a Morph suit now with these lumps and bumps! The last time I dressed up was for Rex’s birthday. He was into Moana and Stacey convinced me she had this amazing crab costume for me to wear for his birthday party. It was just a purple Morph suit with a bin lid on my back, painted gold! I felt quite exposed.”
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Just five years ago, in 2020, Joe won Dancing On Ice and showed off a rippling physique. For the semi-finals,
he skated to Rod Stewart’s Do Ya Think I’m Sexy? and ripped open his shirt to reveal a taut six-pack. But according to Joe, those days are long gone.
“I used to be really fit,” he says. “I used to go to the gym three or four times a week. Now, with the kids and work, I don’t have the time… but I’m going to try and make time in 2025 – even just half an hour a day.”
For Joe, hitting the gym is not just about transforming his body and looking great – it’s also about maintaining
a good state of mind. “I think it’s good for my mental health, as well just to stay fit,” confides Joe. “It’s so underestimated how important it is to feel good about yourself. If you feel good about yourself, you feel good about the world.”
Joe’s so serious about getting fit, he’s even moved his rowing machine into the kids’ playroom so he can work out while he looks after them. However, he admits he’s not managed to clock up many metres during the festive season.
“I like working out – I do a little bit of everything in the gym,” says Joe. “I like running, I like rowing, I lift the odd weight. But we’re talking about Joe from a long time ago. I’m a different person now… that’s Joe from five or six years ago."
“I like using the rowing machine and I put it in the kids’ playroom so I could row at home. But I haven’t done that in a while. This year, I plan to get a bit fitter.”
In their blended family, Joe and Stacey, 35, are parents to Harry, 17, Zachary, 16, Leighton, 12, Rex, five, Rose, three, and Belle, 23 months. Over the next 12 months, they’re hoping the sleepless nights will be over and they can start focusing on their teenagers.
“Belle’s just got to the stage where she’s up maybe once a night,” says Joe. “I think she’s soon going to start sleeping all the way through. So that’s going to be a breath of fresh air for me and Stacey. It’ll be nice to have a full night’s sleep!”
The change should give Joe and Stacey the energy to guide their older boys through the exam season. Plus, Joe wants to be there to talk them through any girl problems they might have.
“2025 will be the year of the teenagers in our house,” he says. “Two of our kids are already teenagers and one is turning into a teenager. And I think it will be difficult for them. Whether it’s GCSEs, girl problems or just puberty – it can be tough. So I think it’ll be all about the teenagers this year. We’re going to just keep an eye on the kids, and make sure the teenagers are happy.”
On 9 December, Joe made a one-off return to EastEnders as Micky Miller, after 13 years away. It was the role that launched him, and fans were thrilled to see Joe back on screen alongside Laila Morse, who played Big Mo.
“I love that place,” says Joe of Albert Square. “I have the most amazing, fond memories of being on EastEnders.”
So far, his appearance was just a little treat for fans, but many would love to see him return full time. It’s an offer Joe would have to carefully consider, and weigh up whether he could juggle such a demanding job with being a present father and husband.
“If they wanted me to go back in, that would be something I’d think about,” muses Joe. “But I’ve got a big family, so it would have to suit me and all of us, ultimately. Soaps are quite full-on and I have quite a young family at the moment.”
Whether or not he goes back permanently, Joe will always treasure his memories of Walford, and is excited the soap is celebrating its 40th anniversary in February.
“I really enjoyed my time there,” he says. “The people who worked there, the directors and the writers and
the bosses were all just such amazing people. I loved it there, I really did. So yeah, I’ll be celebrating the anniversary with everyone else. As much as I was in it, I’m a fan of the show as well. Forty years – they’ve done so well… it’s a real milestone.”
