Joe Swash says Stacey Solomon ‘saved him’ after custody battle

Former Eastenders actor Joe Swash has spoken out about his mental health during a three-year custody ordeal with ex-fiancee Emma Sophocleous.

The couple who started dating in 2005, welcomed son Harry in 2007.

However, they split less than a year later resulting in a legal battle that saw Swash unable to see his son for months.

Speaking to The Sun‘s Fabulous magazine, Joe experienced a dark period, saying: “There have been years when I had a lot of grief and went through a long depression, and I’d sort of given up on ever having a family and all this love.

The 41-year-old also described his life as a “mess” when he wasn’t in front of the camera and he also spoke about how he would shut himself away in his flat leaving his mother concerned for his wellbeing.

He said: “I’d shut myself in my flat and not talk to anyone.

“I wouldn’t answer the phone, even though I knew my mum was really anxious about me.”

The custody battle made Joe think about his own father who died from an undiagnosed heart condition when he was 11.

He went on to say: “I think, above everything else, more than acting or TV work, I’d always wanted a family and I thought: ‘I’m never going to have that.’

“It made me think about my dad. And all that sadness you keep locked away comes back on top of it all. It was a really bad time and it went on for years.”

However, Joe’s life changed when he met Stacey Solomon, 33, in 2010 and admitted his now wife saved him, calling her an “angel”.

The couple met whilst Joe was hosting I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here’s spin-off show, Extra Camp and Stacey was a campmate, and ultimately crowned Queen of the Jungle.

They’ve since gone on to have three children of their own, Belle, five months, Rose, 18 months and Rex, four. Joe is also stepdad to Stacey’s two children from a previous relationship Zachary, 14 and Leighton, 10.

Joe added to the publication he wouldn’t know what would have happened to him if he had not met Stacey.

The Samaritans can be reached round the clock, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you need a response immediately, it’s best to call them on the phone. You can reach them by calling 116 123, by emailing jo@samaritans.org or by visiting www.samaritans.org.