EastEnders has hinted at Stacey Slater’s exit storyline as the huge Zoe Slater return week comes to an end.
Actor Lacey Turner confirmed earlier this year that she would be taking a break from the soap to spend more time with her family. Although it hasn’t been confirmed when she will be leaving, tonight’s episode laid some groundwork.
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In the latest instalment, Stacey arrived at the hospital shaken by seeing Zoe bleeding out from a gunshot wound in the same spot where she and the other members of The Six killed Keanu Taylor.
Kat gave her Zoe’s phone after a one-sided phone call with the man who’s been threatening her, who is secretly none other than Max Branning.
Stacey admitted to Jean that she feels guilty about not telling Kat about Zoe or giving Alfie the money to help her rather than buying the Vic. She felt like if she had done things differently, the incident wouldn’t have happened.
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Zoe’s phone buzzed with a text from Max asking if she was okay, and Stacey and Jean pondered if this mysterious texter was genuinely worried about her.
That led Stacey to express that this whole situation is bringing up even older, more painful memories.
“Martin, Bradley, just being in here and having to identify a body… I don’t want that for Kat,” she said. When Jean told her to let the past be the past, Stacey replied: “That’s easier said than done, Mum, when you live here, the one place where all those memories are.
“I mean, when I was away with the kids, it was like a breath of fresh air. Well, it was until Zoe turned up.”
“I mean, don’t get me wrong, I did miss my friends and my family,” Stacey continued, “but you know, not having to walk out the door and see the same thing every day, have all them memories in my head… I just want to pack a bag, grab the kids and just go. Go somewhere new, try something different, just get away from it all.”
The soap then added an extra layer of drama when Zoe’s phone received another text, and Stacey decided to call the number.
Although she seemingly didn’t recognise Max’s voice at first, he definitely seemed to recognise hers.
Will Max’s imminent return to the Albert Square make Stacey even more determined to leave?
