EMOTIONAL Stacey Solomon has broken her silence on her nepo-baby sons landing Hollyoaks roles - and how they got them.
Singer Stacey's two eldest children, Zachary, 16, and Leighton, 12, stepped into the limelight with their acting debuts this week.
The Channel 4 soap's Instagram account sent fans into a frenzy on Tuesday, by sharing behind-the-scenes snapshots and a video of the boys filming on the iconic set.
And now their famous mum has set the record straight on how they ended up securing the gigs.
Taking to her Stories, she said in a video today: "So many are you messaging me saying, 'Was that Zach and Leighton I saw in Hollyoaks?' I know it's so random but it was!
"It's the funniest story. So when me and Zach went to the NTAs, we ended up meeting, on the red carpet, the exec of Hollyoaks and Zach is the biggest Hollyoaks fan. He's obsessed.
"When he was little he used to get so excited for Sundays to watch the Hollyoaks Omnibus.
"And he was like, 'Oh my God, I love Hollyoaks!' and he was talking to her and she was like, 'Why don't you come down and see the set?'
"He was just over the moon and so excited. Zach wants to be a mechanic when he's older, there's no interesting in acting.
"Neither Zach or Leighton want to do anything in that industry but he was just so excited to go and see the set."
Stacey added: "So the lovely lady from Hollyoaks invited them down and said, 'If you want, you can be a little extra in a scene!'
"Leighton caught wind and was like, 'I want to go to the Hollyoaks set.'
"So me, Zach and Leighton went up there and they just loved it. They were so nervous to be extras.
"They loved every second of it and the people at Hollyoaks were just so lovely and so kind and so nice to us and they just had the best day ever."
Stacey then reposted an image of them with show stars Chalie Wernham and Charlie Clapham, writing: "My boys. For anyone who is raising teenagers I don't know if it's the same for you but it's a rare moment with mine to see them really excited about something.
"So I can honestly say, watching how happy and excited they were this day made my heart so happy."
A video clip shared by Hollyoaks saw Zachary, dressed as a Parcel Patrons worker, bumping into Mercedes, played by Jennifer Metcalfe, while delivering a package.
Meanwhile, Leighton appeared as a paperboy, arriving late to collect his papers, earning a stern telling-off from Price Slice employee Pearl Anderson, played by Dawn Hope.
She fumed, "Oh Leighton, what time do you call this to be collecting papers? I'll be having a word with your mother. Go on."
While it’s unclear whether their appearance is a one-off or marks the start of recurring roles, Zachary and Leighton’s surprise appearance has certainly delighted fans of Stacey and the soap.
One wrote in the comments section: "Aww Stacey’s kids so lovely to see them on my favourite show."
Another added: "Welcome to Hollyokas family," while a third person said: "Omg it’s @staceysolomon pickles."
One more wrote: "I wasn’t expecting Stacey Solomon’s kids on here."
Zachary is Stacey’s son with her ex-boyfriend Dean Cox, while Leighton is from her relationship with her ex-fiancé Aaron Barnham.
It's not the only telly gig the boys have bagged recently, with the family set to star in a new TV documentary series.
The Loose Woman teased the news with a post this month that read: "Happy New Year everyone. 2024 was truly the f**k it year for us. And the most f**k it thing of all has happened...
"I don't know why I'm so nervous to share this but here goes..."
Stacey then left fans on tenterhooks for twenty minutes until she made the big reveal.
Some were even speculating in the comments that Stacey was about to announce she was pregnant with a sixth child.
But she was quick to set the record straight and revealed she and Joe were preparing for a new arrival of a different kind.
Stacey wrote: "A new year. A very new adventure. Coming Spring 2025. We’ve been so nervous & excited to share this. Here is us. All of us.
"In 2024 we opened up our home & made a series about our lives, family, work & everything in between. It was a huge leap into the unknown & it’s been an absolute whirlwind making it. But last year as a family we decided to say yes to more & do things we’d never done.
The Sort Your Life Out host continued: "We have spoken about making a documentary for a long time, lots of you have asked too. So here we go.
"A journey with us every second of the way. Through the laughter the tears & the craziness… "
She then promised fans: "We hope it makes you smile, feel good & hopefully enjoy getting to know us all a little more."
The show will air on BBC and be titled, Stacey and Joe.
A teaser reel for the series shows the couple and their kids - Belle, Rose, Rex, Zach and Leighton - as well as their dogs Peanut, Teddy and ducks Daisy and Delilah - larking around in home movie style footage outside their home, Pickle Cottage.
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