Stacey Solomon has responded to backlash after her sons, Zachary (17) and Leighton (12), made their acting debut on Hollyoaks. The proud mum took to Instagram to explain how the boys landed the gig — and why the experience meant the world to them.
Zachary and Leighton, who also appear in the family’s reality series Stacey & Joe, recently took on small roles in the Channel 4 soap. Zachary played a delivery worker, while Leighton starred as a paper boy. Clips from their scenes alongside cast members like Jennifer Metcalfe were shared by the show on Instagram — and Stacey was quick to like and comment: “Awwww thank you @hollyoaksofficial, they had the best day!”
But not everyone was supportive. Some critics accused the show of favoritism due to Stacey’s celebrity status, labelling the boys as “nepo babies.” One commenter wrote: “Makes me sick — it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”
In response, Stacey clarified that neither of her sons plan to pursue acting careers. “Zach wants to be a mechanic,” she said. “They were just invited to visit the set, and they were so excited they ended up as extras. It was a one-off — they had a great day, that’s all.”
She also revealed the opportunity came by chance after they met a Hollyoaks exec at the NTAs. Zach, a lifelong fan of the show, was thrilled by the invitation to the set. “He was over the moon,” Stacey said. “They were nervous but had the best time ever.”
