Stacey Dooley, the beloved TV presenter known for her role on Strictly Come Dancing, has recently opened up about her experiences in her home life with partner Kevin Clifton. The couple made a significant decision to move closer to Stacey's mother, Di, in Merseyside, which has been both a practical choice and a heartfelt family matter.
The move came shortly after the couple welcomed their daughter, Minnie, in 2023. Living close to Di means that Minnie can be left with her grandmother, providing unexpected support for the busy parents as they balance their careers. In a candid conversation on the Parenting Hell podcast hosted by comedians Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe, Stacey shared her honest feelings about the arrangement.
She's praised Di, saying, “She’s really hands-on and if she wasn’t on the scene, and I appreciate this isn’t always the way for many people, I think I would really struggle. I don’t think I’d be able to work actually.” Stacey, now 38, shared the joy she finds in the relationship between her mother and her daughter, noting that the two have formed a close bond. “The pair of them are thick as thieves. I don’t really exist when my mum’s around,” she remarked, underlining the significance of having family support nearby.
Stacey and Kevin, 42, first found love when they lifted the Strictly Come Dancing Glitterball Trophy together in 2018, eventually confirming their relationship publicly a year later. Kevin spoke to the Liverpool Echo about their decision to move, noting that they quickly fell in love with their new home after seeing it online. He explained, “Stacey loves looking at houses on the internet. Looking at interiors and stuff is her favorite thing to do. She just happened to have seen something she liked and thought, 'oh it’s not too far away from my mum.' We went and had a look and the second she walked in was like, ‘I love it and I can really see us living here.’ It all happened really quickly and we love it.”
Recently, Stacey has kept her fans updated on their renovation process through social media. In December, she revealed some stunning updates, including her choice of an olive green color palette for the interior of their home, which she lovingly refers to as her “fave place in the world.” However, she admitted the renovation has not come without its challenges. “I bought this really beautiful house but it’s so old, it’s on its last legs,” she shared. Stacey conveyed her frustrations lightheartedly, explaining the renovations she encountered, such as needing to lift floorboards for basic installations. “If you want to put a light on the wall, you have to take the floorboards up,” she humorously noted.
Yet, despite the challenges, Stacey shows a playful spirit regarding the home improvements. She even shared a funny interaction with their painter, joking, “We had a painter called Neil, he was really rock ‘n’ roll. I loved him, I sort of fell slightly in love with him; he would disappear on the Thursday and reappear on the Tuesday.”
As for her professional life, Stacey is set to feature on Saturday Kitchen today, March 22, 2025, alongside host Matt Tebbutt and professional chefs Andrew Wong and Tasha Marikkar. The show will also have Helen McGinn selecting some fine beverages to accompany the meals. This will be another interesting endeavor for Stacey as she continues to balance her home renovations and family life.
In conclusion, Stacey Dooley’s journey into motherhood and home ownership has been accompanied by the challenges of renovation and the joy of family bonds. Her decision to move to Merseyside appears not only practical but stems from a deep-seated desire to nurture relationships within her family. As she shares her experiences both on screen and social media, Stacey’s candid stories resonate with many who navigate the complexities of modern parenting and home life.
