Lacey Turner’s EastEnders exit was shaped in part by the decision to kill off Martin Fowler, the actress has revealed while discussing her time away from Albert Square. Turner, who has played Stacey Slater across multiple stints since 2004, said she struggled to imagine Stacey’s future in Walford without Martin and began to question whether she also needed a break.
The new detail adds important context to Stacey’s departure. Rather than a single sudden decision, Turner describes a period in which changes around her on-screen family, her own pregnancy and the loss of a long-time co-star all contributed to her choice to step away.
Martin Fowler’s death changed how Turner saw Stacey’s future
Martin Fowler died during EastEnders’ 40th-anniversary storyline in 2025 after the Queen Vic disaster. Turner has now explained that she found the decision difficult and asked whether there was another way to handle Martin’s exit.
According to Turner’s account, the production’s decision had already been made. That left her thinking not only about the emotional impact on Stacey, but also about what the character’s everyday life in Walford would look like without Martin.
James Bye’s departure was particularly significant because Martin and Stacey’s complicated relationship had remained central to both characters even when they were not together. Their shared history and children meant Martin’s presence continued to shape Stacey’s stories.
Other departures and family life also mattered
Turner’s decision was not presented as being caused by Martin’s death alone. She was preparing to have a baby, while other familiar colleagues were also moving on. Natalie Cassidy’s departure added to the sense of change around a cast and working environment Turner had known for years.
Turner still returned for the anniversary period despite giving birth shortly beforehand, then continued filming Stacey’s mental-health storyline. Eventually, however, she decided that both she and Stacey needed time away.
That distinction is important because it avoids turning the story into a simple dispute between actor and producers. Turner disagreed with the creative decision over Martin, but her own departure also reflected personal timing and a feeling that Stacey had endured an extraordinary amount of drama.
Does this mean Stacey Slater is gone for good?
There is no reason to treat Turner’s comments as a permanent farewell to Stacey. The actress has spoken warmly about the character and has left open the possibility of another return.
Stacey’s current absence therefore works as a break rather than a definitive ending. EastEnders has repeatedly brought major characters back after extended periods away, and Stacey herself has already had more than one chapter in Albert Square.
For viewers, the most revealing part of Turner’s new account is how closely an off-screen career decision was connected to an on-screen relationship. Martin’s death did not simply close his story. It changed the shape of Stacey’s future too, and helped Turner decide that the right moment had arrived to step away.
Why the timing of the revelation matters
Turner’s explanation comes while she remains highly visible away from EastEnders, giving fans a clearer picture of why she chose a different pace after years of major Walford storylines. It also arrives as the soap continues reshaping the Slater and wider Albert Square stories without Stacey as a permanent presence.
For now, the safest conclusion is that Stacey’s story is paused rather than finished. Turner’s comments explain why she left, but they also leave the door open for another Albert Square chapter when the timing is right.