If you’re anything like us, you’re already missing undisputed EastEnders legend, Stacey Slater. Actress Lacey Turner, over her 21 years on the Square, has been nothing short of phenomenal, winning numerous accolades alongside the hearts of the nation.
Said hearts broke (if not, were seriously bruised) when it was announced by ‘Enders bosses that Lacey would be embarking on an indefinite hiatus and would be bowing out of the show.
Fans worried about never seeing our Stace’ again needn’t fear, however, as a behind-the-scenes video featuring Lacey Turner comes complete with a promise that she ‘won’t be long’.
Panic over, right?
Stacey Slater: from the beginning
Arriving back in the halcyon days of 2004 with her enormous hoop earrings and chunky French manicure, Stacey was initially presented as a gobby, malicious little mare, though we soon learned her spikey demeanour was as a result of caring for her mum, Jean Slater (Gillian Wright).
Jean’s bipolar disorder resulted in erratic behaviour and number of suicide attempts, and upon finding her mum living in squalor and deeply unwell, Stacey admitting Jean. into a mental health facility.
An unlikely romance developed between shy, sweet Bradley Branning (Charlie Clements) and brash Stace’, and the two quickly fell in love, before she caught the eye of Bradley’s dad, Max (Jake Wood).
Their affair became one of the biggest ever ‘Enders storylines ever and its subsequent Christmas day reveal was the most watched television episode of 2007.
One of Stacey’s most heralded storylines involved her being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, like her mother, with the plot being praised for its sensitive handling in a time when mental health conditions were sorely misunderstood and stigmatised.
Stacey was later revealed as the culprit behind Archie Mitchell’s (Larry Lamb) murder, after a prolonged ‘whodunnit?’ storyline, leading to a bitter feud with the arch-bitch of Walford, Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) and a temporary departure.
Stacey later found true love in Martin Fowler (James Bye) and experienced another mental-health setback when she struggled with post-partum psychosis.
A feud with former best friend Ruby Allen (Louisa Lytton) later developed as the two women fought over Martin, leading to a prison stint for Stacey, which in turn lead to a marriage-of-convenience with her cellmate, Eve Unwin (Heather Peace).
Stacey later dealt with stalking as a result of her adult-content creation, which she turned to following the families financial troubles, her daughter Lily (Lillia Turner) pre-teen pregnancy, being a sixth of the now-infamous ‘six’ involved in the murder of Keanu Taylor (Danny Walters), an affair with Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) and, finally, the traumatic death of her true love, Martin.
I know, right? No wonder Lacey needs a break!
Stacey Slater’s exit
On-screen, Stacey began to question her place in Walford, as it contained so many traumatic memories of Martin and his grisly demise.
A lifeline seemed to come in the form of brother, Sean (Rob Kazinsky) , who offered for her and her kids to join him in Brazil.
Though Stacey turned him down amid Lily’s determination to stay on Albert Square, the re-emergence of Max and the revelation of his relationship with her cousin, Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan), convinced Stacey that there were just too many ghosts wandering around Walford, and she double-backed on her decision to leave.
Lacey Turner’s promise
A beautiful, heartfelt video shared to YouTube following her on-screen departure, Lacey can be seen tearfully finishing filming her final scenes to a rapturous round of applause from cast and crew, before being gifted a bouquet of flowers.
As a crew member presented her with the gift, she said: ‘I’ll keep this short because I know you hate these things, thank you so much for everything, you’ve been brilliant, everyone loves you here, we’ll miss you, please come back to us.’
Bashful Lacey tearfully replied: ‘I’ll be back in a minute!’. As she thanked the audience that turned out to bid her goodbye, she said: ‘I am coming back, I won’t be long. I can’t do speeches, but thank you all, I love you very much and it’s a very special place to work.’
A dramatic montage of followed of some of Stacey’s most dramatic moments, leaving us all yearning for the return of who has become one of ‘Enders most beloved characters of all time.
Don’t leave us waiting too long, Lace’!