EastEnders' Lacey Turner Leaves After 21 Years Citing Family Priorities

Lacey Turner, who has portrayed Stacey Slater on EastEnders since 2004, is set to take an indefinite break from the BBC soap later this year after more than two decades on the show. Turner, a mother of three, cited the desire to spend more time with her family and explore new work opportunities as key reasons for her departure, highlighting the 'never-ending' guilt she feels balancing motherhood and career. Despite the hiatus, EastEnders producers have left the door open for her return, with the character set to experience significant drama before her exit, including mental health struggles following the death of her character's ex-husband. Turner emphasized the importance of supporting parents rather than judging them and spoke out about parenting stigmas and cost of living struggles affecting families regardless of income or profession. She also reflected on her unique experience of filming the show's 40th anniversary live episode just weeks after giving birth to her youngest child. While Turner looks forward to focusing on family life and possibly expanding it further, she expressed mixed emotions about stepping away from the role that has defined much of her life and career.