EastEnders legend praised by Gillian Wright as she quits after 21 years

Lacey Turner set to leave Walford, but for how long? (Picture: BBC)

Lacey Turner, best known for her long-standing role as Stacey Slater in EastEnders, is preparing to step away from the soap once again later in 2025.

The actress, who first appeared in the BBC soap back in 2004, has been met with praise and support from fellow cast member Gillian Wright, who plays on-screen mum Jean Slater, as she prepares for a temporary departure from Albert Square.

Lacey announced in May that she would be taking an indefinite break from the show, explaining that it was time for both her and her character to take a well-earned rest.

While the exact duration of her time away hasn’t been confirmed, she reassured fans that Stacey’s life off-screen is bound to be just as eventful as her on-screen one.

Lacey has played Stacey Slater for the past 21 years (Picture: BBC)

A BBC spokesperson also confirmed her upcoming absence, stating that although she’ll be off-screen later this year, there’s still ‘plenty of drama to come’ before she leaves.

The door has been left firmly open for her eventual return, with no plans to write the character out for good.

Lacey previously left EastEnders in 2010 and made her return in 2014. This latest break is thought to be focused on spending more time with her family, including her husband Matt Kay and their three young children: Dusty, 5, Trilby, 4, and their youngest, Gipsy, born earlier this year.

In a recent interview with Inside Soap, Gillian Wright shared her thoughts on Lacey’s decision, applauding her co-star for choosing to prioritise her personal life.

‘Everyone asks if I feel sad, and I don’t. I applaud her for taking a step back and reuniting herself with her family,’ she said. Gillian added that the two of them have worked together on and off for years and are used to maintaining their close bond even when not sharing scenes.

Despite Lacey’s upcoming absence, Gillian was optimistic about Stacey’s future in the soap. She assured fans that the character won’t be forgotten and said she’s confident Lacey will be back on the show when the time is right. ‘She deserves this, she’s worked really hard,’ she added.

Fans hopefully won’t have to go too long without this iconic duo on their screens (Picture: BBC)

Lacey recently returned from maternity leave in February, rejoining the show just in time for its 40th anniversary live episode. In that milestone instalment, Stacey played a key role in one of the year’s most emotional scenes, holding Martin Fowler in her arms as he died following a tragic explosion, a devastating moment that left fans heartbroken.

She has since been a key player in Zoe Slater’s (Michelle Ryan) dramatic return, having given the troubled character a place to stay when she found herself in trouble earlier this year.

With Stacey’s journey coming to a temporary pause, fans can expect an emotional farewell and, hopefully, a powerful return when the time is right.

This article was first published on August 28, 2025.

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