Lacey Turner has announced that she will make the jump and be off-screen later this year to focus on opportunities away from EastEnders, which she has starred in since 2004
EastEnders actress Lacey Turner has announced she will be taking a hiatus from the popular BBC soap.
The star, who recently returned to her role as Stacey Slater following maternity leave, is expected to be absent from our screens later this year. The 37-year-old actress, who first joined the show in 2004, revealed that she will be stepping away from the programme to explore other opportunities.
Speaking to The Sun, Lacey said: “It’s time for myself and Stacey to take a rest and who knows what Stacey will get up to in her time away? Knowing Stacey, it will never be boring.”
An insider informed the publication that Lacey decided last year to take “some time out” from EastEnders. They suggested that it “feels a good time” to give her character Stacey “a rest”, given Lacey’s “busy year” both on and off the screen.
The source added: “Lacey loves EastEnders, and it’s no secret how much EastEnders love Lacey, so it’s not a question of if she will be back, but when.”
An EastEnders spokesperson confirmed to the publication that Lacey will indeed be off-screen later this year, but assured fans there’s “plenty of more drama” to unfold before her departure.
They added that the show’s team eagerly anticipates “planning Stacey’s return” when Lacey “decides the time is right.”
The announcement comes just a few months after the soap’s 40th-anniversary celebrations, where Lacey played a pivotal role. She returned from maternity leave for the live episode, during which her character’s love interest, Martin Fowler – portrayed by James Bye – was tragically killed in an explosion at the Queen Vic.
The live episode featured several scenes of Stacey and Martin together before he succumbed to his injuries with her at his side.
At the time, actor James Bye confirmed he quit the show as it “felt right”. He said: “Saying goodbye is not easy, but after 10 years at EastEnders and on the night of the shows epic 40th anniversary – the time felt right.
“It’s an honour to leave on a story of this magnitude. A huge thank you to all the fans of the show – EastEnders wouldn’t be what it is without you – and to the BBC and EastEnders team for trusting me with this role for so many years.”
Lacey announced the birth of her youngest child, Gipsy, who is now three months old, back in January. Her family also includes older children Dusty, five, and Trilby, four, whom she shares with her husband Matt Kay.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
