LACEY Turner is returning to EastEnders for a short stint later this year.
Lacey, 38, who will also be filming Strictly Come Dancing, has agreed to reprise her character as Stacey Slater to film a few episodes in October and November.
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News of her return couldn’t have come at a better time as fans have turned on the soap’s top boss Ben Wadey following a string of big-name departures, dire storylines and reports of chaos behind the scenes.
A source told The Sun: “Lacey has created one of the soap’s most iconic character’s in Stacey Slater.
“She is loved by the fans. So the fact that she’s agreed to return, even if it’s only for a handful of episodes, will come as a huge boost for the loyal viewers.
“Lacey returning for a few episodes to turn the tide. This is not a permanent return.”
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However, the added: “It’s going to take more than Lacey returning for a few episodes to turn the tide.”
Meanwhile, speaking ahead of the Strictly launch, mum-of-three Lacey told The Sun: “I’m actually most looking forward to the training.
“I think that I will enjoy that bit of it the most, and meeting everybody else.
“I’m obviously most terrified about the live Saturday nights and
sitting in the makeup chair for that long, I’m not very good at that!
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“I’m going to try my best and work on my patience.”
Lacey’s dislike of being centre stage means it’s all the more surprising she has signed up to be part of this year’s flagship BBC reality show.
She’s going to be slapping on the fake tan and sequins in the name of impressing her kids, Dusty, seven, Trilby, five, and 19-month-old Gipsy.
“I’m so excited, but worried. I don’t know why I said yes to it this year. But my kids love it.
“They watch it every year and they recreate the dances.
“Although, it normally ends in a punch-up as one of their feet is going the wrong way.
“Dusty does not like it when someone’s out of time!” she laughs.
“As I’m getting older, I’m getting braver. I’m trying to do all the things I’m scared of, because you do get to a point in your life where you think: ‘Right, I need to put on some big-girl pants now and show my gals and my son that you can do anything.’
“So that’s where I am.
“I did a marathon a few years ago and that was a crazy thing to do.
“I can tick that off now. I won’t be doing another one! And now it’s Strictly.
“Then I’m sure my stupid brain will come up with something else for me to do.
“Everyone keeps saying: ‘You’re the bookies’ favourite,’ but I think: ‘How do you know? You haven’t seen me dance!’”
Lacey first appeared on EastEnders in 2004 at just 16. Her highly acclaimed run ended six years later, before she returned in 2014 before leaving again in October last year.
One of the most iconic EastEnders story lines ever was Stacey’s affair with her partner Bradley’s dad, Max Branning, which was revealed to the whole family during Christmas Day dinner in 2007.
“That was crazy,” she recalls. “We never knew it was going to be that big.”
There have been some hard-hitting story lines too, including when Stacey was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2009 and batted postpartum psychosis in 2016.
Like countless fans, Lacey is still devastated that long-running character Martin – played by James Bye – was killed off during the 40th anniversary live episode last year.
“People really believed in Stacey and Martin’s chemistry,” she explains.
“I’ll never get over it that they killed him off. I’m heartbroken as a viewer.
“Even now, if I walk down the street people say: ‘That was terrible.’ They were pretty special together.”
On leaving the show as a permanent fixture last year, Lacey said: “I’m glad they didn’t kill Stacey off.
“I’d be heartbroken if they did. I love that job, I really do. I love the people, I love the show. I’m a big fan and I still watch it.
“It’s such a massive part of my life. I don’t think I could ever let it go and say goodbye forever.”
Does she worry about the future of the show, competing against streaming giants?
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“The world’s changed, and how people watch TV has changed,” she says.
“Some things for the better and some for the worse. You have to go with the times, otherwise you’ll get left behind.”