Joe Swash says he had 'given up hope' after birth of first rarely-seen son as he gives 'shoutout'

Joe Swash has shared how he had 'given up hope' of having more children following the birth of his first son. The former EastEnders star is now a proud dad to four children and is also a stepdad to his wife Stacey Solmon's two eldest sons.

The couple, who wed in July last year in an intimate garden ceremony at their home, dubbed Pickle Cottage due to Stacey's nickname for ther children, share three children together - four-year-old Rex, Rose, one, and seven-month-old Belle. Joe is also dad to Harry, 16, from a previous relationship, and Stacey has two sons – Zachary, 15, and Leighton, 11 – from previous relationships.

Recently speaking about their busy family life, Joe admitted: "It is exhausting," before adding to the PA News agency: "But I think your body just adapts to your situation. So after you’ve had three kids – four, five or six makes no difference. Me and Stacey have been tired for so long now that it’s become the norm."

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While the TV personality says he’s always wanted children – although he never imagined he’d end up with such a big family. “I’ve always been quite a paternal person. I lost my dad when I was a young kid, so I always wanted to be a dad myself. But I didn’t think I’d have this many kids!”

But after having his eldest, Harry, with his former partner Emma Sophocleous, the 41-year-old revealed: "I thought that was really it, and I’d given up hope of having any more kids and a family. And then I met Stacey, and we’ve gone on to have three kids together, we’ve got six kids combined – and I would never have imagined myself in this position.

"But I feel blessed that I’m here, I feel so lucky to have these kids,