Stacey Dooley’s series Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over is returning tonight for a brand new series, which kicks off with Stacey heading to meet high-profile adult content creator, Lily Phillips
Lily Phillips is an adult content creator(Image: Lily Phillips/Instagram)
Stacey Dooley is back for the sixth series of the much-loved Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over – the intimate show in which she spends time inside the homes of extraordinary people, delving deep into their lives beyond the headlines.
Even for Stacey, its staying power feels surreal. “I can’t quite believe we’re on our sixth series. It does feel wild, but brilliant,” she says. “It’s such an achievement and a testament in terms of how loved the series is.”
The “sleepover” format has always felt natural to her; “It’s immediately intimate,” Stacey says. And with this season’s line-up, she promises a few jaw-dropping moments.
First up is Lily Phillips – a high-profile adult content creator with a huge following and a knack for stirring up controversy. Stacey says she knew what to expect, revealing, “I knew that Lily Phillips was going to be an adventurous weekend, and I knew that it was going to be quite full-on, but I leaned into that.”
READ MORE: ‘Stacey Dooley came to my house but nosey neighbours couldn’t help themselves’READ MORE: Strictly’s Stacey Dooley warns ‘they’ll take me from you’ after daughter drama
Stacey’s first sleepover is with controversial content creator Lily Phillips
She continues, “I enjoy making episodes that are worlds away from my day-to-day life. That’s the beauty of it.”
Behind Lily’s ring light, Stacey discovered more than just headline-grabbing soundbites. “She was good company, very accommodating and there’s a real sweetness to her that I don’t think is immediately obvious, because what she’s saying is so outrageous,” Stacey, 38, says. “But, also there’s a scene at the end of the film that shows a side of her we haven’t seen before.”
From Lily’s unapologetic glamour in London, Stacey heads to Essex to meet Barrie Drewitt-Barlow – Britain’s first gay man to be legally recognised as a father in 1999. The visit was a whirlwind of opulence.
“I felt like I was in a resort in Marbella! I turned up and there was staff everywhere, it was bonkers,” Stacey remembers. “A million miles away from how I live!” Her time with Barrie involved more than enjoying the lavish surroundings. Stacey met his family, including partner Scott and their children. “Scott and the kids were a dream,” she says.
Her final stop is Birmingham, where she spends three days with Marie Buchan, the media-branded “Benefits Queen”. Stacey came away feeling like there was more to Marie than meets the eye.
“Spending time with her was really worthwhile. I hope people see a different side to her,” Stacey says. “She’s a woman who’s had a very hard time.”
While Stacey tackles each episode with an open mind, her perspective has inevitably been shaped by becoming a mum. She and her partner, former Strictly dancer Kevin Clifton, are parents to two-year-old daughter Minnie. Has motherhood changed her approach?
“I’m sure it probably has, you’d have to ask my director,” she quips. “Maybe subconsciously. When you’re interviewing or spending time with parents or a mum, you can’t help but think, ‘What if I found myself in this situation with my daughter, or if my daughter was in this situation?’”
Filming the three-part reality series is a break from daily life, but it has its challenges. “The first night is heaven because you get a bit of peace,” Stacey says. “Then the second and third night you start missing home.”
But her efforts pay off. If the audience response is anything to go by, Stacey Dooley Sleeps Over is as popular as ever.
“It’s always a joy,” she says. “When I get in the back of a cab and the cabbie says, ‘I’ve watched your Jewish family episode,’ or, ‘I’ve watched your episodes with the no parenting rules,’ everyone’s got an opinion. I’m thrilled and proud that it’s the sixth series.”
Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.