EastEnders Fans Slam ‘Rushed’ Stacey Slater Exit Ahead of Lacey Turner’s Break
EastEnders fans have voiced frustration over Stacey Slater’s ongoing exit storyline, with many calling it “rushed” and “contrived” as Lacey Turner prepares to take a break from the soap.
Stacey’s Brazil Dilemma
Stacey, who has been a fixture in EastEnders since 2004, has faced a turbulent few months following the death of Martin Fowler. In a recent twist, her brother Sean offered her an escape: a new life in Brazil, where he runs a restaurant.
Monday’s episode (September 29) saw Stacey wrestle with the decision. She tried to persuade her daughter Lily to join her abroad, but Lily insisted she and baby Charli would remain in Walford. Jean and Zoe Slater attempted to talk Stacey out of leaving, while Eve Panesar-Unwin fully supported the move.
Later, during leaving drinks at The Albert, Stacey stunned her family by announcing she’d decided to stay put. But with her grief still raw and her future uncertain, the decision may not be final.
Fans React: “Why Brazil?”
Viewers quickly took to social media to air their disappointment with the storyline’s pacing and premise.
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@babesmithh wrote: “Why are they rushing Stacey’s exit may I ask? They’ve had months.”
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@mcclunkeys joked: “I don’t know why they had to make it Brazil. Why not Kidderminster, it was good enough for Sonia after all.”
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@mattFarris criticised: “We get this mad dash to a waitressing job on another continent. Cliché and contrived, and nothing to do with Stacey’s history or character.”
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@shxda_ added: “We’re really meant to believe Stacey is gonna up and go to Brazil to work in a restaurant looooool.”
Others expressed heartbreak at the thought of saying goodbye. @Cafi2k posted: “The BBC needs to set up a helpline for Stacey Slater leaving the square. Lacey Turner needs to be made a dame.”
Max Branning’s Return Could Change Everything
As if the storyline wasn’t already complicated, Max Branning has made his dramatic return to Walford. With his history with Stacey, his presence could play a pivotal role in whether she finally leaves for Brazil — or chooses to remain in Albert Square.
A Legacy Character at a Crossroads
Since her debut, Lacey Turner has appeared in nearly 2,000 episodes and picked up a string of accolades, including six British Soap Awards and four NTAs. Fans see Stacey as one of the defining characters of modern EastEnders, which explains the passionate reaction to her planned departure.
Whether Stacey boards that plane or not, her exit storyline has already sparked fierce debate — and with Max back on the scene, the final chapter is far from predictable.