EastEnders icon Lacey Turner has only just welcomed her new baby, but she’s already set to make a major return to the BBC soap in next week’s live episode.
The Stacey Slater star gave birth to her third child just last month, announcing the happy news on Instagram.
However, motherhood isn’t going to keep her from celebrating the 40th anniversary of EastEnders, and she’s set to reunite with the cast amid her maternity leave in order to take part in the live episode.
‘I’m really excited! I am a big EastEnders fan and have grown up watching it,’ Lacey enthused.
‘To see it hit 40 years is epic. I did the 25th but I think I might have missed one of the anniversaries, so I am very happy to not miss this one.’
Lacey is hoping that things will go to plan during the live episode, but insists she isn’t nervous.
Denise decides, you choose. How to vote
To access the vote, viewers must have a BBC Account. You can register for an account at BBC.co.uk/account, on or before February 19.
The vote will officially open at 8:30pm on Wednesday February 19 at BBC.co.uk/EastEnders. It will close at 7:10pm on Thursday February 20, so the result can be incorporated into the live episode, which will broadcast at 7:30pm from BBC Elstree Centre that very evening.
‘I really enjoy taking part in the live episodes which is weird because anything live would normally scare the life out of me. You get such an adrenaline rush from it. Hopefully this one will go as smoothly for me!’
Lacey has played Stacey on and off for 20 years, and been part of some huge storylines, though she admits that it doesn’t feel that long.
‘It’s crazy. I don’t feel old enough to have been there 20 years or to have had the same job for 20 years. It’s amazing that you can play the same person for 20 years and not get bored of them.’
Lacey played a huge part in the 25th anniversary live episode in 2010, when Stacey was revealed as Archie Mitchell’s killer.
She confessed the truth to Max Branning moments after Bradley Branning fell from the roof of the Queen Vic in devastating scenes, as police chased him, believing him to be responsible for Archie’s death.
This year’s live episode is set to be just as dramatic, if not more so, as the Queen Vic is rocked by an enormous explosion.
Not only that, but viewers will get to choose the outcome of one storyline, as Denise Fox (Diane Parish) decides whether her heart lies with Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) or Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara).
There’s a gun-wielding Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins), and a sinister return for Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy) and Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer) when Reiss Colwell (Jonny Freeman) lurks in the shadows.
For Stacey, the lead-up to the live episode sees her attempting to swallow her feelings for Martin Fowler (James Bye).
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But, with a little push from Jean Slater (Gillian Wright), will she finally tell Martin how she really feels?
One person who won’t be taking part in the events is Michelle Collins, who exclusively told Metro that her character will be notably absent.
She said: ‘I’m actually not going to be in the live. I am allowed to say that.
‘It’s quite complicated but I am in the lead-up to the live. I actually think it’s very well done.’
Of her relief, she continued: ‘I’ve done a lot of theatre but I don’t think it really matters. Live TV is very different to live theatre, so I think there’s going to be quite a few very terrified actors.’
This article was originally published on 11th February 2025.
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