😭💔 Stacey Solomon is BACK – and her Crafty Christmas special just made the whole nation cry! One raw confession, one shocking twist…

Stacey Solomon left fans in tears when she returned to screens on Wednesday for her annual Crafty Christmas special.

The festive one-off sees the Loose Women star, 35, find clever ways to cut costs, upcycle, and spread some homemade cheer during the festive season.

And this year’s instalment was particularly tear-jerking as Stacey, her husband Joe Swash and their children, helped throw a Christmas party for her grandmother Gwen’s care home.

The X-Factor star even went back to her roots to put on a performance and belt out some songs for the elderly residents.

Stacey’s aunt Mary and niece, who live in Canada, also paid a surprise visit to the family in the festive special.

Before the episode aired, Stacey took to Instagram to share that she was tuning in at the care home alongside the residents, who were ‘so excited and happy’.

She quipped: ‘Guys I’m at my grandma’s care home watching crafty Christmas and I’m actually crying at all of the staff and residents. They’re so excited and happy.’

And fans who were watching along were equally emotional, as they took to X to praise the show.

Viewers wrote: ‘All I do is cry around Christmas time. tonight it’s at Stacey Solomon decorating her Nan’s care home for a Christmas party??? I need help.’

‘To hear Stacey Solomon sing at her nans nursing home… What a voice she has.. wish she would sing more @StaceySolomon plus I absolutely #CraftyChristmas as always do every year.. such a heart warming and Christmasy program.’

‘They can never make me hate Stacey Solomon, her positivity and light is contagious I just love her.’

‘I’ve got zero interest in crafting but I’m tuned into this Stacey Solomon show purely for the vibes.’

‘Oh my, Stacey Solomon singing On My Own from Les Mis as a promise to Tony in the residential home has got me.’

‘Well it wasn’t the best for craft ideas but it was lovely what Stacey Solomon done for the care home & the careers & she can sing #craftychristmas.’

‘I love Stacey Solomon – so positive and warm. This programme is so lovely with so many carers taking part – not often seen and do so much good work. #craftychristmas.’

It marks her third annual show, with the previous two specials airing in 2022 and 2023.

The new series includes fabulous ideas for all ages, with son Leighton helping Stacey create personalised Christmas crackers, and three-year-old Rex making marbleised baubles for the tree.

Elsewhere, Stacey and Joe are currently filming for their new Kardashian-style reality show for the BBC named Escape to Pickle Cottage – the name of her £1.2million home in Essex.

The Osbournes-style fly-on-the-wall series sees the pair open the doors to their Essex property, giving an insight into their busy lives and their blended family.

They share three children Rex, four, Rose, two, and Belle, one, plus Stacey has two older sons from a previous relationship, Zachary, 16, and Leighton, 12. Joe also has a son Harry, 16, with his ex-partner.

Stacey and Joe are known to have one of the strongest relationships in the industry.

The former Loose Woman occasionally features Joe in her BBC1 series Sort Your Life Out, but never before have they filmed a reality show dedicated to their own relationship.

The episode comes just after Stacey shared some adorable pictures with her grandmother in celebration of her 96th birthday. 

She took to social media on Monday to pay tribute to her gran with an array of snaps from the special day.

Stacey wrote on Instagram: ’96 today it’s Great Grandma’s 96th birthday today. She has been our constant comfort & love all of our lives & we are so lucky to have her.

‘So today we had afternoon tea in the front room & spent the day cuddling & catching up.’

The TV star  made sure to note in her caption how ‘happy’ she was to have her grandma just around the corner from Pickle Cottage in Essex.

She added: ‘Even Joe made it to celebrate. HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA We are so so lucky to have you in our lives & I can’t even tell you how happy we are that you’re round the corner to us now.’

She concluded: ‘We get to spend so much precious time with you! to the moon and back grandma.’

Last year, Stacey detailed how grateful she felt for being able to make ‘more precious memories’ since her grandmother moved to a care home nearby.

She posted a sweet snap cuddling her grandmother at Pickle Cottage, where she lives, and a picture of daughter Rose, two, on her lap.

She penned: ‘Got Grandma To Pickle Cottage. I can’t even describe how lucky & grateful we feel that we finally managed to convince grandma to move closer to us.

‘This week we’ve been settling her in and it’s been magical. Thank you Grandma for building up your confidence, we know how hard it was to leave a place you’ve been your whole life.

Stacey also posted a black and white picture of the children’s great grandmother, captioning: ‘The kids have always been obsessed with great grandma and now they get to grow up with her properly.’

In the slew of photos also saw Stacey hold her ‘grandma’s’ hand as they spent some quality time chatting on the sofa.

Adding: ‘I’m just so grateful she’s here now. She’s always been the best Grandma we could have ever wished for and to be able to make the most precious memories as possible is all we’ve ever wanted.

‘She’s settled in so well and is so so happy. She’s already made loads of friends too. Can’t tell you how excited I am for Grandma cuddles everyday from now on.’