Joe Swash reveals he didn’t post on Father’s Day because he is still heartbroken over the death of his father Ricky when he was 12

Joe Swash has revealed that he didn’t post on Father’s Day because he is still heartbroken by the death of his father Ricky Swash who passed away when Joe was just 12 years old.

Former EastEnders star Joe, 42, took to Instagram two days after Father’s Day to explain why fans didn’t see photos of his father who sadly died aged 39.

Alongside a carousel of photos of himself, Ricky, and their family, Joe wrote: ‘Some people have asked about my dad over Father’s Day and why I didn’t post.

‘I lost my dad when I was 12 and it’s still something I haven’t quite got over still. BUT this is my dad Ricky! The BEST DAD EVER!!’ 

The photos saw Ricky relaxing in a chair, Ricky carrying a baby Joe on his hip, and Ricky pushing Joe in a pushchair while his elder brother and sister walked on either side.

Former EastEnders star Joe, 42, took to the social media platform two days after Father’s Day to explain why fans didn’t see photos of his father (pictured) who sadly died aged 39

Alongside a carousel of photos of himself, Ricky, and their family, Joe wrote: ‘Some people have asked about my dad over Father’s Day and why I didn’t post’

The final photo saw a grinning Ricky wrap an arm around Joe’s mother Kiffy.

Joe’s family were quick to support him in the comments with wife Stacey Solomon and father-in-law David Solomon both writing sweet messages.   

Stacey penned: ‘Best dads make the best dads. To the moon and back, Joe. X’.

Her father David Solomon sweetly reflected: ‘Wish I could have met him my Dad also died when I was 11.

‘We don’t get over it, we just become the best Dads. Love you, Dude: blessed to have the most incredible son in laws and sons (sic).’

Ricky died from unexplained cardiac arrest. This is known as Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome, or SADS. 

Joe, who has two sisters and a brother, opened up to The Sunday Times in July 2023 about this very difficult period of his life.

He said: ‘I didn’t cry in front of my mum and my sisters because I didn’t want to set them off and I got very angry when they cried. I couldn’t stand it. I still can’t relate to the boy I was when my dad was alive. I feel really sorry for him because he got left behind.

Joe continued: ‘I lost my dad when I was 12 and it’s still something I haven’t quite got over still. BUT this is my dad Ricky! The BEST DAD EVER!!’

Joe shared that the immediate three or four years after his father’s death in which he watched his mother Kiffy (pictured with Ricky) working all hours were ‘some of the toughest’ of his life

‘My mum worked nights as a cleaner and I’d always want to help. I wanted to protect her but I was also terrified that if she died too we’d be orphans. Those three or four years watching her deal with Dad’s death were some of the toughest of my life. But it was harder for her.’

Joe explained how, on top of her cleaning work, his mother Kiffy continued to run Ricky’s black cab business.

The former King Of The Jungle revealed that his mother was the one to encourage him to attend drama school.

He also said that it was a way of expressing himself and letting his frustration out over the loss of his father.

Joe admitted: ‘It would have been easy to fall into criminality — a lot of the kids I grew up with in Islington are dead or in prison. Mum kept me on the straight and narrow. When we all left home she felt she had more to give, so she trained to be a foster mum.’

The star is now father to Belle, 16 months, Rose, two, Rex, four, and Harry 16. He is stepfather to Stacey’s sons Leighton, 12, and Zachary, 16.

Joe and Stacey have been together since 2016 and married since 2022. 

After finishing The X Factor in third place back in 2009, Stacey went on to win I’m A Celebrity in 2010, where she met Joe who had began began hosting behind-the-scenes accompaniment I’m A Celebrity: Extra Camp following his win.

Joe and Stacey share: Belle, 16 months, Rose, two, and Rex, four. Joe is stepfather to Leighton, 12, and Zachary, 16 (all pictured). Joe is also father to Harry, 16