EastEnders star Lacey Turner has said that ‘it’s what she needs’ ahead of Stacey Slater’s impending exit.

News of fan favourite star Lacey’s break from the BBC soap, which she joined back in 2004, emerged during the summer.

Appearing in nearly 2,000 episodes over the years, Lacey’s work has seen her win six British Soap Awards and four National Television Awards.

This year has been one of Stacey’s busiest to date, with her continuing to mourn the death of her former husband Martin Fowler and buying the Queen Vic with Kat Slater.

Next week’s episodes will see Stacey trying to convince her daughter, Lily, to move to Brazil, where her brother Sean lives, with her.

While Jean and her cousin Zoe are both against her leaving, as well and Lilly wanting to stay in Walford with her daughter Charli, Stacey is unsure on what to do.

Adding to the drama of it all is Max Branning’s return, who Stacey infamously cheated on her husband and Max’s son Bradley Branning with.

Stacey is yet to discover Max has been seeing Zoe, who also returned this year, with plenty of drama once again on the way for the Slaters.

Speaking to the BBC, Lacey was asked what it meant to be associated with the famous soap family, with September marking 25 years since their arrival.

“The Slaters were always my favourite family growing up and when I got the job, I couldn’t believe I was going to be one! Now, they are like my real family, and I love them all to bits. I just love watching them on telly,” she said.

Asked if Brazil will be good for Stacey, she replied: “It’s the break that Stacey needs. She’s been through so much and losing Martin has been so hard for her. Walking past his stall everyday is too much. Brazil seems far, but I guess that’s what she needs.”

According to Lacey, Lily and Charli not going with her ‘nearly makes her change her mind’, but seeing Max and Zoe together ‘confirms she needs to go’.

“I love Zoe and Stacey together. When they were younger, all they did was argue and wind each other up, and that hasn’t changed… It has just been the best to work with Michelle [Ryan] again. She’s amazing, and I love Zoe and Stacey together,” she noted.

Lacey added: “Stacey has always tried to help everyone and always puts everyone before herself. That’s just the way she is, although it hasn’t always worked out that way! I think she’s always scared to leave her mum in case something happens.”

When it comes to Max Branning being back, Lacey said ‘it gives Stacey the shock of her life’ and she ‘never expected to see him back in Walford’.

“She knows full well that whenever he’s around, there’s trouble… Max has always had this hold over Stacey that she has no control over. I don’t know what it is about those two, but they’re always drawn together…

“When Stacey sees Max and Zoe kiss, it’s such a shock. She had no idea they knew each other, let alone that they were a couple, so I think she’s in such disbelief. She feels betrayed by Zoe, but she’s reminded that this is typical Max behaviour as it’s what he always does!”

She continued: “I love working with Jake [Wood], I always have. It’s amazing that you can just pick up where you left off, and it’s always interesting to watch them both together because there’s always something sizzling underneath for both of them.

“So, you can play so much in little things such as looks. It’s rare to have a story that has that much history, and that is still being played out today, but that’s the beauty of shows like EastEnders. It’s lovely that we can pick and choose those little moments.”