Actress Lacey Turner has been spotted out and about amid reports of her taking a break from EastEnders.
The 32-year-old actress was seen picking up some refreshments in a plastic bag after paying a visit to the petrol station.
Lacey paired a baggy black t-shirt with blue jeans and sunglasses with a gold-coloured chain, looking effortlessly glamorous with her casual look.
The appearance comes amid reports that Lacey is set to take up to a year-long break from her role as EastEnders favourite Stacey Slater – despite only just returning to our screens.
A source told The Daily Star on Sunday: “Lacey will be taking a break.
“The top bosses agreed to give her some time off from the show.”
They teased: “Producers are now deciding how they will write Lacey out of the soap – and are said to be considering an explosive exit.”
The paper also claims that Lacey could be off our screens for up to a year following her temporary departure, but has no plans to permanently leave the soap.
The BBC declined to provide comment to Mirror Online when approached.
The actress made her previous temporary exit from the BBC One soap in August 2019 as she went on maternity leave.
Stacey’s exit storyline saw her flee the Square after striking Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden) with a spanner during a violent fight with her husband Martin Fowler (James Bye).
Lacey had welcomed daughter Dusty in July last year with husband Matt Kay, who the actress married in 2017.
Despite making cameo appearances during her maternity leave, Lacey was due to return full-time earlier this year but this was delayed due to the pause in filming as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Her return episode finally airs on Monday (September 21) as Stacey returns to Albert Square and finds her best friend Ruby Allen (Louisa Lytton) in a relationship with her estranged husband Martin.
Stacey will also find that she has some making up to do to mum Jean Slater ( Gillian Wright ), who has suffered with cancer and the loss of partner Daniel ( Adrian Edmondson ) in Stacey’s absence.
If Lacey is due to exit the soap, this will be the latest in a number of upcoming departures.
Jake Wood is set to bow out as Stacey’s former lover Max Branning later this year after 15 years in Albert Square, while original cast member Adam Woodyatt will take a break from his iconic role as Ian Beale.
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Actress Jessica Plummer departed the BBC One soap on Friday night as her character Chantelle Atkins met a tragic end as her domestic abuse storyline reached a fatal conclusion.
EastEnders continues on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays on BBC One.