Stacey Dooley has meltdown about being childless and unhappy at 35 as she vows to put life before work

STACEY Dooley has a crisis about being childless at 35 in her new documentary – thanks to a group of nuns.

The documentary maker was forced to dig deep during her 10-day stay with the Sisters of St Hilda’s Priory Order of the Holy Paraclete in Whitby, North Yorkshire for her new show.

Living alongside the nuns as they worked and prayed, the Strictly Come Dancing winner realises she has prioritised her career over a happy homelife with boyfriend Kevin Clifton.

In one scene of the BBC One documentary, Stacey is asked about her life priorities.

Stacey says: “I’d like to prioritise happiness. My home life.

“For the last 15 years it’s been work, work, career, work, work and then your private life is on the back burner. I’m 35 so…”

A nun called Sister Helen interjects: “If you want a family…?”

With a sad grimace, Stacey replies: “I know. I need to start thinking about it, don’t I.”

For Stacey Dooley: In The Convent, she had to follow the convent’s strict rules, including prayers at 6am, a silent breakfast, Bible study, chores and helping in a food bank.

The nuns seek God in mundane day to day tasks.

And along the way Stacey could not help but do a little soul-searching of her own.

She chats to Sister Helen, who at 56 is the youngest of the 23 women living at St Hilda’s, about their slower pace of life as they make greeting cards to sell in the community shop.

Stacey says: “The way I choose to live, I’m much more likely to burn out aren’t I, working silly hours every day, here, there, everywhere.

FULFILLMENT

Helen replies: “You’re working in showbiz, that’s a notorious fickle business. Who’s to know how long Stacey will have a career, how long until ‘oh Stacey’s old hat now’.

Looking close to tears, Stacey replies: “What am I going to do, Helen? You’ve got a lot more stability and certainty and security.”

The programme, a one-off that airs on Monday, ends with Stacey in a reflective mood as she packs her suitcase to return home to London.

She says: “What I have learnt is there is an absolute sense of purpose and they know what they want to dedicate their lives to, and in turn I actually think they’re very fulfilled.

“There’s something to be said for trying to figure out what you want to prioritise and then just going for it.”

Stacey Dooley: In The Convent airs Monday, March 7 at 10.35pm on BBC One.