Dancing on Ice to feature three-hour special

19th January 2010
X-Factor star Stacey Solomon cheered up young patients at Queen’s Hospital with a surprise visit.

Stacey – who came third on the hit TV show and won over fans with her down-to-earth attitude – spent the morning on Tropical Lagoon children’s ward.
She was invited along by her sister Gemma, who is a student nurse working on the ward.

Stacey said: “It’s lovely to be here, to see where my sister is working and to have a nice quiet visit rather than a huge event. I love doing things like this and spending time with the patients.”

Stacey, who arrived alone and dressed down in comfy clothes, spent a long time with each child, chatting easily and joining in with their games.

And there was an emotional reunion with Kayleigh Tyler, six, who she first met when the X-Factor finalists visited Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Stacey, who comes from Dagenham and had son Zachary at King George Hospital, said: “I’m so proud of my sister training to be a nurse. I couldn’t do it. I think I would be in tears every day seeing the children.”
But Stacey’s visit put a big smile on the faces of the youngsters.
Fifteen-year-old Chloe Foster from Harold Hill said: “Stacey is absolutely lovely, but it was so surreal to meet her. I supported her when she was on the X-Factor, and when you see someone on television so much you feel like you already know them.”

Gemma Solomon, Stacey’s sister, has been working on Tropical Lagoon as part of her nurse training.
She said: “It’s so nice bringing Stacey in to work so she can meet the children. I’m getting used to people staring at us whenever I am with her now. It’s so funny.”
She added: “I’ve only been at Queen’s Hospital for two weeks, but I’m absolutely loving it. It’s a great hospital and I love the layout of the wards, as well as the staff and patients of course. I’m already hoping I can come back here for my second rotation.”