Joe Swash, 38, has revealed that spending time apart from his girlfriend Stacey Solomon, 30, and their young family is “the hardest bit” about competing in Dancing on Ice 2020. The former EastEnders star’s hard work in training has certainly paid off, as he has reached the final of the ITV reality show alongside skating partner Alex Murphy.
In an exclusive interview with Express.co.uk, Joe, who shares his adorable baby son Rex with Stacey, opened up about how the “long hours” he dedicates to rehearsals takes time away from his home life.
He admitted: “That’s really the hardest bit about the whole thing.
“Being away from the kids, being away from Stacey, it’s so long the hours that we do.
“I’ve done seven days a week for the last three months and the show has been going on for so long, so the commitment has really been difficult with the family, with the new baby and Stacey and stuff.”
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Joe added: “Luckily, Stacey is in the same industry as me so she sort of understands how it works.”
The television personality went on to share his plans to go away with Stacey and spend some quality time together after the series finishes.
He explained: “We find our moments, I think we’re going to go away when I finish Dancing on Ice and have some nice weekends together.
“Ultimately our priority is our children and our family and a lot of the time when we do have free time we want to spend it with the kids as well.”
Joe, who has another son from a previous relationship, and Stacey, who is also mum to sons Zachary and Leighton, said being parents “enhances” the pair as a couple.
He revealed: “Having kids is not a problem, it doesn’t get in the way, it enhances us and it adds to our relationship.
“So a lot of the time we go out for things and we bring the kids with us and other occasions we go out together. So we don’t struggle to find time.”
Joe also admitted his girlfriend found the idea that he was signing up to Dancing on Ice to be “hilarious”.
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He divulged: “A bit like me, she thought it was hilarious, like ‘No way are you going to be able to do this. What are you doing?’
“We genuinely thought I would only be in for three or four weeks and that would be it, so the fact that I’m in the semi-finals, I think everyone is definitely surprised, but happy surprised.
“I put a lot of hard work into it as well, it hasn’t come easy. I’ve put a lot of hours in and I spend most of my time falling over, bruising myself, but I thought it’s a great lesson for my kids as well. Put some hard work in and it will pay off, so it’s been an overall really good experience.”
Detailing the injuries he has sustained from those falls, Joe quipped: “I’ve got a few injuries, where do you want to start?
“My groin, I’ve torn my groin so I’ve got a really bad groin at the moment and my hip flex is gone, I’ve got a cauliflower ear from doing b****y roly polies so my ear looks bad and my shoulder’s sort of like in and out, it’s not great at the moment.”
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Joe will be taking on an exciting new challenge after Dancing on Ice ends, as he has been appointed as host and creative director of Meccabingo.com’s star-studded Mecca Fest.
The incredible event, which will be taking place on May 30 in the famous Blackpool Tower Ballroom, will also feature celebrity guests including Strictly Come Dancing professionals and Peter Andre.
Speaking about the event, Joe said: “I’m looking forward to the whole night, we’ve got some amazing performances. We’ve got Peter Andre, Rak Su and we’ve got celebrities for everyone to sort of mingle with.”
He added: “The night is looking really good, it should be fun, we’ve got prizes for everyone, everyone is going to leave with a prize and it’s just going to be a big celebration of Mecca Bingo and bingo in itself.”
To be in with the chance of attending and partying the night away, visit Meccabingo.com to play for your chance to win a pair of tickets from 31st January. Terms and conditions apply.
Dancing on Ice airs tonight at 6pm on ITV.
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