After 5 years with Eastenders, actress Lacey Turner is exiting the soap

She’s starred as Stacey Branning in the BBC1 soap for 5 years but actress Lacey Turner has decided the time has come to leave for pastures new.

The 22-year-old actress says it’s time for her to “try something different” although she’s enjoyed her years at the soap immensely. The young actress can also walk away with the security that she can always return to the soap as the new Eastender’s boss Bryan Kirkwood confirmed the door would be left open for the character of Stacey.

But Stacey isn’t alone in leaving the hit show. Earlier this month it was announced that the characters of Minty, Libby Fox, and Danny Mitchell would also be exiting the soap. Gillian Wright who plays Stacey’s mother is also leaving, as is legendary actress Barbara Windsor who has played Peggy Mitchell on and off for several years.

Since joining the cast of Eastenders back in 2004 as part of the Slater family, Lacey Turner has been fortunate enough to be involved in a number of dramatic storylines. The on/off romance between Stacey and Bradley and her affair with Max kept viewers’ glued to their seats, and Stacey’s involvement in the death of Archie Mitchell saw the character take centre stage once again earlier this year.

It’s been reported that the actress is leaving the soap in a bid to pursue a career in film.