Should we be less critical of Stacey Solomon?

We all do stupid, senseless or irresponsible things sometimes (like the time we hugged Lee Ryan for a dare then wouldn't let him go until his security guard threatened violence!) but our bad behavior isn't splashed across Sky News or the Daily Mail because we don't have photographers trailing us in the vain hope that we'll slip up. But we're happy to judge celebrities like Stacey Solomon, who's been caught puffing on fags at seven months pregnant, because she's a public figure so the consensus is that she's fair game.

The road to redemption
Even though what Stacey did wasn't wise, swift damage limitation is important and she swung into action just hours after the photos were released and gave a series of interviews. The first rule of redemption is never to make excuses for what you've done or issue false promises, so Stacey did the right thing by admitting that she was still smoking one to three cigarettes per day, but she tearfully conceded that "nothing that I can say makes it right," and "I don't condone it in any way and I think it's important that people know that." The remorseful star also admitted that her actions were "selfish" and could be harming her unborn child.

Stacey, who already has a son, has already been sacked from one endorsement deal, Foxy Bingo's Mum of the Year campaign, and time will tell if she will lose anymore. She replaced Kerry Katona as the face of Iceland after Kezza's dubious behaviour, so will the family-friendly brand dump Stacey as well?

Either way, all isn't lost for the Dagenham lass who has carved out a decent career for herself co-hosting shows like 'Love Machine' on Sky Living. What does the public love more than a good egg? A redeemed sinner! Someone who has seen the error of their ways and turned themselves around is often more popular than a star who behaved themselves from the start, probably because we take comfort in knowing that our fave celebrities are also flawed like we are.

• The real risks of smoking while pregnant

Other famous mums who've been photographed smoking while they were expecting (and who bounced back) include Kate Garraway, who lit up just a few weeks before she gave birth to her daughter Darcey. At the time she said, "I am so cross with myself. I had done so well throughout my whole pregnancy and I can't believe I cracked at this late stage. Nobody can be more angry with me than I am with myself."

Kerry Katona was more defiant. She admitted that she smoked throughout her last pregnancy and enjoyed the occasional drink but wouldn't apologise for it. "I was smoking 20 a day before I was pregnant and I've cut down to one. In the morning, I like a little puff on a fag." She continued, "I honestly don't think a couple of puffs are going to do that much damage."

Back from the brink
Prince Harry's public persona has undergone a complete turnaround in the last few years. Not too long ago he was famous for dressing up as a Nazi soldier and stumbling out of clubs drunk and rosy-cheeked, then there was the leaked amateur video of him referring to "rag heads" and "Pakis."

As far as the press was concerned, the third in line to the throne was never expected to amount to much, but a massive overhaul of his image began in 2008 when he secretly served in Afghanistan and now he's on his first solo royal tour, representing the Queen in the Caribbean for her Diamond Jubilee. Harry has almost certainly had intensive lessons in diplomacy which will be put to use in official meetings on the tour, including one with the Jamaican prime minister where he'll attempt to convince them not to leave the Commonwealth!

Double standards
Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs and Ashley Cole are a few of the top flight footballers who have been caught up in cheating scandals recently and while they're reputations might have taken knocks , their popularity and earning power haven't suffered. They're all married (or, in Ashley's case, they were at the time), but as long as Rooney's form continues through the Euros, Giggs' legs withstand another season and Cole keeps scoring (on the pitch rather than off), all is forgiven.

Some stars indiscretions have been illegal, and they've managed to redeem themselves nonetheless. Kate Moss's "cocaine scandal" has been erased from most people's memories after photos of her snorting a white powder were splashed across papers in 2005. 'Cocaine Kate' as she was dubbed was questioned by police but never charged and she's never spoken publicly about the incident, so it's largely been forgotten. If Kate wasn't Britain's most famous supermodel, would her career have recovered so quickly? We doubt it.

Lindsay Lohan's brushes with the law have overshadowed her acting for over five years now, she's been behind bars and in rehab several times for cocaine possession, drink-driving and theft. But now she's trying to redeem herself by embracing the quiet life and claiming that she is a changed woman. "I regret the choices that I've made," she said recently, adding that she doesn't go clubbing anymore, "I've become more of a homebody, and I like that." But the repentant star also said that she knows it will take a very long time before Hollywood and her old fans trust her again.

But for a first-time sinner like Stacey Solomon, we should be more forgiving. Yes she's made a mistake, but she's remorseful and she's vowed to do her best to beat her addiction - hopefully with the support of her fans. And maybe we should lay off her, just a bit - you know, to stop stressing her out even more.

She is pregnant after all.

• The real risks of smoking while pregnant
• Stacey apologises for her actions