Joe Swash has admitted he’s determined to do whatever it takes to make his marriage to Stacey Solomon work, even if it means changing the way he approaches life at home.

After a brief retreat from the public eye, Stacey, 36, recently returned to Instagram following a month-long social media break, sharing sweet  family photos and describing April as a “lovely month shutting off from the world.” Meanwhile, her partner of 10 years, Joe, 44, has been by her side, proudly posting behind-the-scenes snaps of Stacey during her guest judging stint on Britain’s Got Talent and calling himself a “proud husband.”

Yet, insiders reveal the couple’s relationship has faced challenges.

“Joe wants to have the best relationship possible with Stacey, but sometimes he feels he can’t do anything right,” a source told Heat. “Stacey wants him to take more responsibility and he’s determined to step up. She loves his laid-back, happy nature, but she wants him to be more proactive and take things a bit more seriously.”

According to the insider, Joe is ready to make big changes. “He knows it’s time to improve the dynamic between them. He wants more financial independence and to take charge of the house. Stacey and Joe love each other — they just need to navigate this rocky patch.”

The couple’s family life has also had its hiccups. Over Easter, during a family holiday to Cyprus, Joe — who has ADHD — admitted he left Stacey’s suitcase at home, forgot his iPad on the plane, and even missed their flight home. He stopped taking his ADHD medication a year ago but is now in the process of restarting. “Joe’s ADHD makes it hard for him to focus, which can frustrate both him and Stacey,” the source explained. “He’s been open about his struggles with medication and how it impacts family life — everyone is rooting for him.”

Despite speculation, the couple insist they have not split. However, their relationship has been under intense scrutiny for months, particularly after Stacey was spotted without her wedding ring in March. When questioned on This Morning, she joked: “I probably took it off to go to the toilet or something… maybe I dropped my ring in [Joe’s new fishing] lake… with our marriage!”

Another twist came when it emerged that Stacey and Joe are not legally married. They celebrated a wedding in 2022 at their £1.2 million home, but because their private residence didn’t have a civil ceremony licence, the marriage wasn’t registered officially. Stacey — who also shares children Leighton, 13, and Zachary, 18 — confirmed at the time they planned to make it legal later. Some reports suggest Stacey was hesitant due to Joe’s past bankruptcies, while others said the couple had simply been too busy.

Their reality show, Stacey & Joe, has also captured the couple’s struggles. A tense episode saw them try couples’ therapy, with Joe admitting he sometimes feels “like a huge problem in Stacey’s perfect life.” Production for the third season, which started last month, has been cut from six episodes to three, shifting the focus from their relationship to Joe’s dream of opening a fishing lake — a project he hopes will serve as therapy for teens struggling with ADHD.

Despite the hurdles, Joe remains committed. Yet insiders warn he sometimes feels he’s falling short. “Joe is trying his best, but he feels it’s not good enough at times,” the source said. “Friends are worried — they just hope it won’t become too much for him.”

Stacey and Joe may be facing challenges, but one thing is clear: both are willing to fight for their family and each other, navigating love, life, and ADHD one step at a time.