The life of Stacey Dooley
Broadcaster Stacey Dooley, 39, is giving us all the tea in a recent interview, and honestly, she's a total mood. Born in Luton, Stacey started as a shop assistant before landing a spot on the BBC series Blood, Sweat and T-Shirts back in 2007. Since then, she’s become a powerhouse for her investigative docs, including a high-stakes interview with an Islamic State soldier that snagged her a One World Media award, plus she’s an MBE recipient. She currently hosts the BBC’s Clickbait Clinic and lives in Merseyside with partner Kevin Clifton and their daughter.
Real talk on the hard stuff
Stacey keeps it 100 about her past, admitting that when she was younger, she had a bit of a shoplifting phase—mostly swiping "blue eyeliner and ice poles." She also mentioned that growing up, she didn't have a master plan, just a vibe of wanting to run a hotel or a dry cleaners.
Being a mom has shifted her perspective, too. She admitted that motherhood has made her more anxious and prone to "catastrophising," which she describes as "pretty grim." But the vibes are still high overall—she describes herself as lucky, funny, and unorganized. When asked about her biggest lesson? It's simple: "Take important things seriously but don’t take yourself too seriously."
The Strictly mishap
We all have those moments where we wish the ground would swallow us whole, and Stacey is no exception. Her most embarrassing moment? During the Strictly Live tour at the O2, her skirt literally fell off. She was left standing in the middle of the venue in what she called "big borrowed stage briefs." Big yikes.
Why it matters
It’s refreshing to see someone with such a successful career stay so down-to-earth. Whether it's her open take on changing her mind about political leaders or admitting she hasn't always had it together, Stacey reminds us that even when you're an award-winning presenter, you’re still just a person who occasionally has wardrobe malfunctions and worries about washing your hair before filming. Major main character energy, minus the ego.
