Lacey Turner has made a high-scoring debut on the new series of Strictly Come Dancing, revealing that her departure from EastEnders gave her the “brave” push needed to finally join the BBC competition.
The 38-year-old actress, best known for her long-running role as Stacey Slater in the London-based soap, took to the dance floor on Saturday, 26 September 2026, for the first live show of the 24th series. Partnered with professional dancer Vito Coppola, Turner performed a Cha Cha to Whitney Houston’s ‘How Will I Know’.
The performance earned her a total score of 27 from the judging panel, consisting of Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke, and Craig Revel Horwood.
A “brave” move
Turner’s decision to join the programme follows her exit from EastEnders in October 2025. The actress has reportedly explained that her time away from the fictional Albert Square was a deciding factor in her signing up for the 2026 series.
She described the move as an attempt to be “brave,” noting that the pressure of filming a daily soap often made it difficult to commit to the intensive Strictly rehearsal schedule in previous years.
Turner is not the first EastEnders star to swap the Queen Vic for the ballroom, following in the footsteps of former colleagues such as Kellie Bright and Jake Wood. However, her participation comes during a transitional year for the show, which features a new presenting trio of Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and professional dancer Johannes Radebe.
What’s next for Lacey Turner?
Outside of the ballroom, the actress is preparing for the release of her debut memoir. Titled Gold Dust: My Life (So Far) with the Women Who Shaped Me, the book is scheduled for publication by Penguin on 22 October 2026. The memoir is expected to detail her career and the personal influences that have guided her since she first joined EastEnders as a teenager.
While fans have questioned whether her character Stacey Slater will make a permanent return to the soap in the future, Turner’s immediate focus remains on the competition at Elstree Studios.
The next episode of Strictly Come Dancing will air on Saturday, 3 October 2026, on BBC One, where the first couple of the series is expected to be at risk of elimination following the second round of performances.
