EastEnders’ Lacey Turner says fans can expect ‘old school’ soap action as she prepares to leave the BBC show after two decades
EastEnders actress Lacey Turney has teased that fans can expect some ‘old school’ style episodes of the BBC soap in the run up to her big exit.
Lacey, 37, who first appeared on the series in 2004, will wave goodbye to her character Stacey Slater next week.
Stacey will head off to Brazil for a fresh start after being invited to go and live with her brother Sean, played by Robert Kazinsky.
But the departure, prompted by the death of Stacey’s husband Martin Fowler as part of the 40th anniversary celebrations, will be anything but smooth sailing.
The mother-of-three will receive a big shock during her farewell party at The Vic, when her former flame Max Branning, played by Jake Wood, returns to the Square.
Stacey will be left reconsidering her big move as Jake’s return makes her reconsider whether she wants to wave goodbye to Walford.
Lacey teased to Digital Spy: ‘She never expected to see him back in Walford, and she knows full well that whenever he’s around, there’s trouble!
‘Max has always had this hold over Stacey that she has no control over. I don’t know what it is about those two, but they’re always drawn together.
‘The week is typical old-school EastEnders, full of Slater drama’.
Despite the second thoughts, Stacey will decide to catch her flight and move away, after telling Max she wants nothing to do with him anymore.
Stacey will be left reeling when she sees Max kissing her cousin Zoe (Michelle Ryan) – not knowing the duo had already hooked up earlier this year.
But given the Slaters are known for their feisty showdowns, it could spell trouble between the cousins.
It comes after Lacey discussed her ‘never-ending guilt’ before making the bombshell decision to quit the soap opera.
She is stepping back to focus on her family life with her husband Matt Kay and their three kids – daughters Dusty, five, and Gipsy, four months, and son Trilby, four.
‘The older they get, the more you realise how quickly the little years pass. It’s bonkers, so I take it day by day, week by week,’ she told OK! Magazine.
‘You feel guilty leaving them, but also guilty for not earning, it’s just never-ending.
‘But we’ve got to stop judging and start supporting each other.’
Lacey said she is looking forward to taking a break, admitting she has never had one before, as she hopes to focus on her family and other work commitments.
She also hit back at the judgement that is often placed on parents and said she wants to put an end to the opinion that people have to be ‘rich’ to be good parents.
‘You don’t need to have the most expensive formula or toys or pram,’ she said.
‘I overheard a couple saving up to have a baby, that shouldn’t be the case.
‘Parenting isn’t about money, it’s about love, time, and doing your best.’