Stacey Dooley has admitted there was ‘nothing glossy’ about the ‘chaotic’ moment she found out she was pregnant with her daughter Minnie.
The TV presenter, 38, has just released a new book called Dear Minnie, in which she wrote a heartfelt letter to the now two-year-old, who she shares with Kevin Clifton.
Professional dancer Kevin, 41, and TV personality Stacey, who won Strictly Come Dancing together in 2018, welcomed the little one, who is their first child together, in January 2023.
In the letter, she detailed the moment she realised she was expecting back in 2022, after taking a pregnancy test in the Selfridges toilet.
Stacey opened up on the story on Wednesday during an appearance on Dish from Waitrose podcast with hosts Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett.
Talking about the process of writing the letter, she admitted: ‘It was very easy. I was sort of sat upstairs, I had five minutes and it was kind of a balance.
Stacey Dooley has admitted there was ‘nothing glossy’ about the ‘chaotic’ moment she found out she was pregnant with her daughter Minnie
The TV presenter, 38, has just released a new book called Dear Minnie, in which she wrote a heartfelt letter to the now two-year-old, who she shares with Kevin Clifton
‘I didn’t want it to be too gushy and too I love you I love you I love you, cause that’s so obvious, who doesn’t love their kid?
‘I also wanted it to be real. The way I found out wasn’t beautifully calm. It was quite chaotic. I talk about buying a pregnancy test in Selfridges, you know that little chemist area.’
The documentary maker recalled: ‘I just picked it up cause I had five minutes and she [the chemist] got it and, she was such a sweetheart this woman, she put a bit of sellotape over the bag so you know people couldn’t see in it.
‘I went downstairs, you know it’s roasting down there. So I’m like sat on this toilet, the lady’s knocking cause there’s a big queue you know mid-situation. I sort of instinctively knew, it was more like confirmation.’
Elaborating on the chaos, she continued: ‘And then I talk about getting in the back of a black cab and he’s got the hump because I wanna go south of the river.
‘He doesn’t wanna go south, he’s kicking off with another cabby. I’m facetime Kev, he’s got a radio mic on because he’s doing an interview so I’m like [whispering] I’m pregnant. Are you happy? I’m happy, I’m really happy.’
She laughed: ‘There was nothing glossy about finding out.’
Elsewhere in the episode, she revealed a quirky behind the scenes Strictly secret that ensures the big names are kept out of the limelight.
Stacey gushed: ‘Every year, everyone’s desperate to know who’s taking part, who’s in the line up of Strictly and so they never use your name. They give you a faux name, a code name, and 2018 we were all cheeses and so I was Cheddar.
In the letter, she detailed the moment she realised she was expecting back in 2022, after taking a pregnancy test in the Selfridges toilet (pictured in December 2021)
She laughed: ‘There was nothing glossy about finding out (her pregnancy announcement pictured)
Stacey first spoke about the moment back in 2023
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‘And you have no idea who else is doing so legitimately you’re going around Elstree Studios with your runner and the runner would be going ‘I’m with Cheddar. we are coming to the studio,’ ᴅᴇᴀᴅpan.
‘And then you’d see the other running going ‘Hi, I’m with Brie. Brie’s just gone to the toilet but I’m waiting outside’. It’s the funnest gig you will ever do in your life.’
She admitted: ‘I can’t articulate how fun it is. It is the funnest gig I’ve ever done in my life. Kev was the perfect partner for me, he was so chill. This is a little bit naff to admit but it’s true, now my little girl watches me and Kev dancing sometimes.
‘We did a Minions number and I cannot tell you how impressed she is so that’s really sweet. She’ll have all that when she’s older and she’ll be repulsed as a teenager.’
It comes after Stacey showed off the latest renovations inside her stunning Liverpool home on social media.
The presenter bought the property in 2020 with her partner Kevin and has been documenting the makeover ever since.
Taking to Instagram in November, Stacey proudly shared a clip of her living room which boasts high ceilings with intricate plaster coving throughout.
Despite there being no furniture, the presenter has well and truly put her own stamp on the property, painting the ceiling an olive green – a colour which has been used throughout her home.
Captioning the video, she penned: ‘Me, to my painter [painter emoji] upon arrival at home.
Since winning Strictly Come Dancing together in 2018 and going public with their relationship, the pair have gone from strength to strength
It comes after Stacey showed off the latest renovations inside her stunning Liverpool home on social media
‘I LOVE IT (so much I couldn’t wait for a fancy reveal when it’s all finished) ‘BIG HOOPS’ ON THE CEILING BABY (from my collection w/ @coatpaints obvs have a working relationship with this gorge collection but zero obligation to post. (Just v v into it).’
In 2023, Stacey showed off her dining room which featured a huge bay windows.
In the lavish room the walls have been painted a trendy dark grey to match the marble fireplace.
Guests can dine around the large dining table with seating for up to eight and above it hangs a vintage chandelier.
There is modern art on the wall and a large bay windows that look out onto a leafy back garden.
Stacey said that she was ‘Walking around in disbelief’.
The journalist and her ex Strictly star partner upped sticks to live closer to Stacey’s mother after they fell in love with the Liverpool property after just one viewing.
Professional dancer Kevin told the Liverpool ECHO: ‘Stacey loves looking at houses on the internet. Looking at interiors and stuff is her favourite thing to do.
‘She just happened to have seen something she liked and thought, ‘Oh it’s not too far away from my mum’.
The presenter bought the property in 2020 with her partner Kevin and has been documenting the makeover ever since
‘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.’
Since winning Strictly Come Dancing together in 2018 and going public with their relationship, the pair have gone from strength to strength.
However, they like to keep their relationship out of the spotlight as Stacey told The Guardian: ‘Kev and I have agreed not to go into too much detail about our private lives because you can’t really indulge that and then ask for privacy.
‘That’s why we’ve turned down interviews that have offered us tens of thousands of pounds.’