‘WE MAKE OUR BLENDED FAMILY WORK – WE'RE ALWAYS ADAPTING'

AS HE PREPARES TO STEP INTO THE MASTERCHEF KITCHEN JOE SWASH EXCLUSIVELY OPENS UP TO OK! ABOUT THE SHOW LIFE WITH FIANCÉE STACEY SOLOMON AND THEIR DREAM HOME

- RIANNE ISON

This is turning out to be a huge year for Joe Swash. Not only have he and fiancée Stacey Solomon moved into their dream home, aka Pickle Cottage, but they’re also counting down the days until they welcome their daughter – a baby sister for their son Rex, two, as well as Joe’s son Harry, 14, and Stacey’s boys, Zachary, 13, and Leighton, nine.

“We’re so lucky to have found our home. It’s beautiful, but there’s a lot of work that needs doing on it. We’ve got to try to get it ready for the baby as the baby’s coming soon,” Joe tells us during our exclusive photoshoot.

While their anticipated wedding day is currently postponed so that their little girl can be part of the celebration, the couple also have plenty of work projects to keep them occupied. And for Joe, 39, that includes stepping into the famous Celebrity MasterChef kitchen, as he tries to outcook a line-up of stars to be crowned champion – and earn some brownie points back at home.

“That’s the reason I wanted to do the show – so I could learn some skills and techniques to pass on to the family,” Joe admits.

Here, the cheeky chappy spills the beans on life at home with Loose Women panellist Stacey, 31, why he thinks they’re a younger version of Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes, and how he’s hoping to follow in Bradley Walsh’s footsteps…

Hi Joe. Why did you want to do MasterChef?

It’s an iconic programme. I’ve done EastEnders, the jungle, Dancing On Ice and now MasterChef – it’s amazing. I didn’t think I’d get so much from it and enjoy it as much as I did.

How is your cooking?