Joe Swash
{{Short description|English actor and television presenter (born 1982)}}
{{BLP sources|date=December 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Joe Swash
| image =
| imagesize = 200px
| birth_name = Joseph Adam Swash
| birth_date = {{Birth based on age as of date|41|2023|04|27}}
| birth_place = London, United Kingdom
| occupation = Actor, television presenter
| years_active = 1991–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Stacey Solomon|24 July 2022}}
| partner = Emma Sophocleous (2005–2008)
| children = 4
| family = Shana Swash (sister)
}}
Joseph Adam Swash (born {{Birth based on age as of date|41|2023|04|27|noage=y}}){{cite web |last=Hall |first=Tasha |date=27 April 2023 |title=Inside life of Joe Swash as he's rumoured for I'm A Celeb South Africa return |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/celebrity/inside-life-joe-swash-hes-29824509 |access-date=2 May 2023 |website=Daily Record }} is a British actor and television presenter from London, best known for his role of Mickey Miller in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders and various presenting roles with ITV2. He won the eighth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in 2008 and the twelfth series of Dancing on Ice in 2020.
Early life and education
Career
=Early work=
When Swash was seven, he made his first television appearance in an Andrex advertisement. In 1991 when he was nine years old he played the role of a little boy pretending to be an orphan in You Rang, M'Lord? then when he was eleven he was cast in the film The Adventures of Pinocchio, as The Fighting boy with Dawn French and Griff Rhys Jones and co-starring Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Richard Claxton and Correy Carrier. His character, known as Fighting Boy because he scuffled with Lampwick over a gun, was turned into a donkey after going on a Roller Coaster. He made minor appearances in several television series such as Casualty, The South Bank Show, The Bill, "Soldier Soldier" and Nickelodeon's LOL: Laugh Out Loud. In 2002, Joe Swash appeared as a participant in the ITV documentary Club Reps.[https://archive.today/20120904000004/http://www.heatworld.com/Article/8107/Joe+Swash/See+a+naughty+Joe+Swash+getting+kicked+out+of+a+hotel "See a naughty Joe Swash get thrown out of a hotel], Heat online, retrieved 26 November 2008
=''EastEnders''=
{{Main|EastEnders}}
Swash was about to give up on the idea of becoming an actor when he gained a role in BBC One soap opera EastEnders. He was cast as Mickey Miller and made his first appearance in EastEnders in April 2003 as a recurring character. Owing to a positive viewer reception, producer Louise Berridge turned Mickey into a regular character, and his on-screen family arrived a year later, including Mickey's little sister Demi, played by Swash's real sister, Shana. His son, Harry Swash, also appeared in the soap as his niece Summer Swann for a minimal period. On 26 February 2008, it was announced that Joe Swash, along with the actor who plays his stepfather, David Spinx, were being written out of EastEnders in a "big explosive storyline". He made his final appearance in July 2008. Since the announcement of his departure, Swash has been critical of the direction producers took with his character. He has blamed his three-month screen absence in 2005 on Mickey becoming little more than "light-relief".{{cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/joe-swashs-devastating-illness-led-24332989|title=Joe Swash's devastating illness which led to EastEnders axe and double bankruptcy|publisher=Daily Mirror|first=Kyle|last=O'Sullivan|date=16 June 2021|accessdate=24 June 2021}}
However, he has expressed an interest in returning.{{cite news |title=Joe Swash wants return to EastEnders |url=http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/news/EXCLUSIVE-Joe-Swash-wants-return-EastEnders/article-657711-detail/article.html|publisher=This is South Wales|date=31 January 2009| access-date=16 February 2009}} He later reprised his role of Mickey Miller for two episodes on 19 and 20 September 2011, in order to coincide with his on screen brother's departure from the soap. He reprised the role for two episodes on 9 and 10 December 2024.
=''I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!''=
{{Main|I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (British TV series)|l1=I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!}}
In November 2008, Swash entered the Australian jungle to appear in the eighth series of the British reality show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, which he went on to win.{{cite book |last=Busk-Cowley |first=Mark |title=I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!: The Inside Story |publisher=Bantam Press |date=2014 |pages=210–211 |isbn=978-0593073483}}
From 2009 onwards, Swash has been part of the presenting team on the spin-off series I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here, NOW!. He co-presented the show with Caroline Flack (2009–2010), Russell Kane (2009–2011), Laura Whitmore (2011–2015), Rob Beckett (2012–2014) and David Morgan (2015).
In 2016, the show was renamed I'm a Celebrity: Extra Camp. Swash has co-presented this show with Vicky Pattison (2016), Stacey Solomon (2016), Chris Ramsey (2016), Joel Dommett (2017–2018) and Scarlett Moffatt (2017–2018). On 20 July 2019, it was confirmed that Swash had left the show and would not return for the series that year.{{cite web |title=Joe Swash quits I'm A Celebrity… Extra Camp after 10 years as he says goodbye to 'jungle family' |url=https://metro.co.uk/2019/07/20/joe-swash-quits-im-a-celebrity-extra-camp-after-10-years-as-he-says-goodbye-to-jungle-family-10431810/ |website=Metro |date=20 July 2019 |access-date=8 December 2019}}
=''Dancing on Ice''=
In January 2020, Swash appeared as a contestant on the twelfth series of Dancing on Ice. Swash was partnered with Alexandra Schauman from week 1 until she sustained an injury in week 3. He was re-partnered with Alex Murphy in week 4. Swash and Murphy went on to win the series, beating Perri Kiely and his partner Vanessa Bauer.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-51800326|title=Dancing On Ice: 4.6m watch Joe Swash crowned winner of ITV show|publisher=BBC News|date=9 March 2020|accessdate=24 June 2021}}
=Other television appearances=
In 2009, Swash, along with ex-rugby player Austin Healey, appeared in the second series of Hole in the Wall, as a team captain.
In 2010, he was a team captain on What Do Kids Know? with Rufus Hound and Sara Cox on Watch.
In 2011, Swash presented the children's show Gimme A Break on the CBBC Channel. In 2011, Swash and Caroline Flack worked on ITV2 game show Minute to Win It as team captains. In November 2011 Driving Academy aired on the CBBC Channel, with Swash as presenter/narrator. In 2014, a brand new series was aired with celebrities taking part called Celebrity Driving Academy.
In 2013 and 2014, Swash was a regular team captain on ITV2 panel show Fake Reaction. In 2016, he joined the line-up on The Jump as a contestant.
In 2021, Swash appeared on the cooking show Celebrity Masterchef, when he made the final 3.
In 2023, he appeared in I'm a Celebrity... South Africa.{{cite web |date=26 March 2023 |title=I'm A Celebrity Unveils Line-Up For Upcoming All Stars Series In South Africa |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/im-a-celebrity-south-africa-all-stars-series-unveils-line-up_uk_641feb28e4b03793a8b004ec |access-date=26 March 2023 |website=HuffPost UK}}
=Theatre=
Swash subsequently performed as Buttons in the pantomime Cinderella, at the Central Theatre in Chatham, Medway.
In 2009 and 2010, he appeared in the pantomime 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' in Bristol.
=Other work=
In February 2009, Swash and TV presenter Tim Vincent broke a Guinness World Record for throwing the most pancakes to a partner as part of a challenge on Channel 4's The Paul O'Grady Show.
Personal life
Swash was forced to take a three-month break from EastEnders in 2005 after he contracted meningoencephalitis.{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/eastender-joe-has-deadly-brain-bug-559886|title=EastEnder Joe has deadly brain bug|website=Daily Mirror |date=4 October 2005|access-date=22 July 2016}}
On 16 June 2007, Swash's fiancée, Emma Sophocleous, gave birth to their first child, a boy.{{cite news|url=http://www.celebrity-babies.com/2007/06/eastenders-joe-.html|title=EastEnders Joe Swash becomes father for the first time|publisher=Celebrity Baby Blog|date=25 June 2007|access-date=26 June 2007}} On 19 January 2008, it was announced the couple had separated.{{cite web|url=https://www.celebsnow.co.uk/latest-celebrity-news/eastenders-star-joe-swash-and-girlfriend-split-217748|title=EastEnders star Joe Swash splits from girlfriend|last=CelebsNow|date=19 January 2008|website=CelebsNow|access-date=8 December 2019}} On 3 November 2009, Swash was declared bankrupt by London's High Court after failing to pay a £20,000 tax bill. Swash's agent Becca Barr said it was a mix-up and the actor was not in financial difficulty.{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/s2/eastenders/news/a185133/joe-swash-is-declared-bankrupt.html|title=Joe Swash is declared bankrupt|first=Daniel|last=Kilkelly|publisher=Digital Spy|date=4 November 2009|access-date=4 November 2009}}
Swash started dating Stacey Solomon in January 2016, after meeting on I'm a Celebrity several years previously. In 2019, the two announced that they were expecting their first child together, joining their family of Swash's son and Solomon's two sons. In May 2019, Solomon gave birth to their first child together, a boy.{{cite web|url=https://www.ok.co.uk/celebrity-feature/605225/stacey-solomon-joe-swash-baby-pregnant-dating-engaged-married-split-relationship-celeb|title=Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash's dating timeline|author=Kadrou, Hayley|publisher=OK! Magazine|date=22 February 2019|access-date=19 March 2019}}
Swash and Solomon got engaged on 24 December 2020, after being together for five years.{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/breaking-stacey-solomon-joe-swash-23218332|title=Stacy Solomon and Joe Swash Get Engaged as He Proposes on Christmas Eve|website=Mirror|date=24 December 2020|access-date=31 December 2020}} In July 2021 the pair announced they were expecting a baby girl.{{cite web|last=Novak|first=Kim|date=2 July 2021|title=Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash confirm they are having a baby girl after four boys|url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/07/02/stacey-solomon-and-joe-swash-are-having-a-baby-girl-after-four-boys-14866123/|access-date=22 July 2021|website=Metro}} On 5 October 2021 Stacey announced on Instagram that the baby had been born.{{cite web|title=Stacey Solomon gives birth to her baby girl on her birthday|date=5 October 2021 |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/stacey-solomon-gives-birth-baby-girl-birthday-b958963.html}} On 24 July 2022 they were married in a small ceremony held at their home, Pickle Cottage, in Essex.{{cite web | url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/breaking-stacey-solomon-joe-swash-27568008 | title=Stacey Solomon marries Joe Swash in Jewish wedding at Pickle Cottage home | website=Daily Mirror | date=25 July 2022 }}
On 28 December 2022, Solomon announced she was eight months pregnant with her fifth child and third with Swash.{{cite news |last1=Harp |first1=Justin |title=Loose Women's Stacey Solomon reveals she's pregnant with third child with Joe Swash |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/a42356731/stacey-solomon-pregnant-third-child-joe-swash/ |access-date=19 May 2023 |publisher=Digital Spy |date=28 December 2022}} The couple announced the birth of their second daughter on 11 February 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.ok.co.uk/celebrity-news/breaking-stacey-solomon-baby-name-29098764.amp|website=OK! Magazine|title=Stacey Solomon announces baby girl's name after welcoming fifth child|last=Soguksu|first=Ayla|date=13 February 2023|accessdate=17 February 2023}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
!Title !Role !Notes |
|---|
| 1996
| Fighting Boy | |
| 2002
| Shooters | Boy #1 | Credited as Joseph Swash |
| 2018
| The Best of EastEnders | Mickey Miller | Uncredited |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable"
!Year !Title !Role !Notes | |||
| 1991 | You Rang M'Lord | Child | BBC Season 3 episode 2 |
| 1995 | Soldier Soldier | Sam Garvey | ITV Season 4 episode 8 Baby Love and episode 10 Going Back |
| 1996, 2001
|To be added | | |||
| 2000
|Young hoodlum in bar |Credited as Joseph Swash | |||
| 2003–2008, 2011, 2024
|Regular role; 368 episodes | |||
| 2006, 2008
| rowspan="32" |Himself | | |||
| rowspan="2" |2008
|I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! |Winner | |||
| All Star Family Fortunes
| | |||
| 2008–2011
|Co-presenter | |||
| rowspan="3" |2009
|Team captain | |||
| The Sunday Night Project
| | |||
| Total Wipeout
| | |||
| 2009–2012, 2014
|Panelist | |||
| 2009–2018
|Co-presenter | |||
| rowspan="2" |2010
|What Do Kids Know? |Team captain | |||
| The Cube: Celebrity Special
|Contestant | |||
| rowspan="2" |2011
|Team captain | |||
| Let's Dance for Comic Relief
|Participant | |||
| 2011–2014
|Driving Academy |Presenter / narrator | |||
| rowspan="2" |2012
| | |||
| Mad Mad World
| | |||
| 2013
|Take Me Out: Christmas Special | rowspan="6" |Contestant | |||
| 2013–2014 | |||
| rowspan="3" |2014 | |||
| Celebrity Dinner Date | |||
| Keep It in the Family | |||
| 2014, 2020 | |||
| 2015, 2016
|Panelist | |||
| rowspan="4" |2015
|Guest panelist | |||
| Big Star's Little Star
| | |||
| Celebrity Benchmark
|Benchmarker | |||
| The Chase: Celebrity Special
| rowspan="4" |Contestant | |||
| 2016 | |||
| 2016, 2022 | |||
| 2017 | |||
| rowspan="2" |2020
|Winner | |||
| Would I Lie to You?
| | |||
| 2020–2021
|Sonny (voice) | | |||
| rowspan="4" |2023
|I'm a Celebrity... South Africa | rowspan="4" |Himself | | |||
| Joe Swash: Teens In Care
| | |||
| EastEnders: The Six
|Presenter; 2 episodes | |||
| The Festive Pottery Throw Down
|Contestant | |||
| rowspan="2" | 2025
|Batch from Scratch: Cooking for Less |Co-presenter |With Suzanne Mulholland | |||
| Meal Deals: Behind the Bargain
|Presenter |
=Books=
- {{cite book |author= |title=Joe's Kitchen |location=Glasgow |publisher=Pavilion Books |date=13 October 2022 |isbn= 978-0008560720}}
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0841998}}
- [http://www.biogs.com/imacelebrity/swash.html Joe Swash profile from Biogs.com]
{{s-start}}
{{succession box|before=Christopher Biggins
(2007)| title=I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!
Winner & King of the Jungle| years=2008|after=Gino D'Acampo
(2009)}}
{{s-end}}
{{I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (British TV series)}}
{{Dancing on Ice}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Swash, Joe}}
Category:20th-century English male actors
Category:21st-century English male actors
Category:Alumni of the Anna Scher Theatre School
Category:British male film actors
Category:British male soap opera actors
Category:English male voice actors
Category:I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! (British TV series) winners