If you’re still devastated by the loss of EastEnders‘ Stacey Slater, then you’ll be pleased to know that Lacey Turner has already confirmed her return. The fan favourite character exited Walford during last night’s episode when she jetted off to Brazil for a fresh start.

Following a dramatic showdown with her cousin Zoe and former flame Max Branning, Stacey bid farewell to her family and headed to the airport with her children Arthur and Hope.

However, as the mum-of-three left behind her eldest daughter Lily and granddaughter Charli, viewers remained hopeful that Stacey would be back.

Now, Turner, who has played Stacey on-and-off since 2004, has confirmed her return to the soap in an emotional goodbye video shared on YouTube.

The video features footage of Turner on set as she filmed her last scenes, before being given a huge round of applause from the cast and crew. The actor was presented with a bouquet of flowers and tearily thanked her colleagues while reassuring them: “I will be back in a minute.”

“Thank you, everyone. I am coming back, I won’t be long. I can’t do speeches but thank you. I love you all very much and it’s a very special place to work,” she said.

The video also included clips from Stacey’s most recent stint on the soap, proving that the character definitely deserves a break in the South American sun.

The dramatic montage recapped 12-year-old Lily’s shocking pregnancy and the family’s mounting debt, which led to Stacey joining an OnlyFans-type website to earn some cash. However, instead of solving their money issues, the site resulted in Stacey being stalked by sinister teacher Theo Hawthorne.

Meanwhile, Stacey was also part of the iconic 2023 Christmas storyline which saw six formidable Walford women covering up the murder of Keanu Taylor. And the character was front and centre for yet another traumatic experience in The Vic, when Martin Fowler tragically died during the soap’s live 40th anniversary episode.

Will Stacey’s return usher in a happier chapter for the family, or are the Slaters doomed for more gloom?