🌟 EastEnders favourite Lacey Turner is reportedly preparing to swap Albert Square for the Strictly Come Dancing ballroom in what could become one of the BBC’s biggest casting coups of the year.
The actress, best known to millions of viewers as Stacey Slater, is said to have signed up for the upcoming series of the hit dancing competition after taking an extended break from the long-running soap.
Lacey, 38, has been a central figure in EastEnders for years, with Stacey becoming one of the most recognisable, dramatic and emotionally complex characters in Walford. But now, after months away from the soap, the star is reportedly ready to step into a very different spotlight.
According to reports, the BBC is delighted to have secured Lacey for the 2026 series, which is expected to begin in September. Producers are said to believe she will be a huge hit with viewers thanks to her loyal fan base, down-to-earth personality and long-standing connection with British television audiences.
💃 For fans, the news is especially exciting because Lacey has previously admitted she had turned down Strictly in the past.
Back in 2017, the actress revealed she had been approached about joining the show but did not feel brave enough to take part. At the time, she confessed that she was “rubbish at dancing” and said she did not “have the guts” to appear on the programme.
However, she also praised Strictly as a brilliant opportunity to learn a new skill.
Now, nearly a decade later, it appears the timing may finally be right.
A TV source claimed Lacey has enjoyed spending quality time away from the screen and focusing on parenting, but now feels ready to try something completely different before eventually returning to EastEnders.
The source said Strictly bosses are thrilled because Lacey brings exactly the kind of star power the show needs: a familiar face, a strong fan following and a personality viewers will want to discover away from the drama of Albert Square.
✨ While EastEnders viewers know Lacey as Stacey Slater — fiery, vulnerable, loyal and often caught in some of the soap’s most explosive storylines — Strictly would give the public a chance to see the actress as herself.
That is often one of the biggest appeals of the show. Soap stars, actors, presenters and comedians enter the ballroom with familiar names, but the competition reveals a different side of them. Viewers watch them struggle, improve, laugh, cry and grow in confidence week by week.
For Lacey, that could be a powerful transformation.
She has spent much of her career delivering intense dramatic performances, often at the centre of some of EastEnders’ most memorable plots. Stacey Slater has faced heartbreak, family chaos, mental health struggles, romantic turmoil and explosive confrontations.
But Strictly would place Lacey in a world of sequins, live music, judges’ scores and Saturday night glamour.
🎭 It would also mark a major temporary shift in her career. EastEnders is one of the most demanding shows on British television, with fast-paced filming schedules and heavy emotional storylines. Taking time away from the soap gives Lacey space not only for family life, but also for a new challenge that could introduce her to an even wider audience.
The reported signing comes at a dramatic time for Strictly Come Dancing itself.
The 2026 series is set to launch after a major shake-up, with new hosts Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe taking over from Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
Tess and Claudia stepped down at the end of last year, marking the end of a hugely familiar era for Strictly fans. Their departure left enormous shoes to fill, and the BBC’s decision to bring in three new hosts has already generated huge attention.
Emma Willis has described herself as a long-time fan of the show and admitted that stepping into the Strictly ballroom is almost hard to comprehend. She has also paid tribute to Tess and Claudia, calling them iconic figures who helped define the programme for years.
Johannes Radebe, one of Strictly’s most beloved professional dancers, said the chance to host was beyond anything he had imagined. His move from dancer to presenter gives the new series a unique emotional connection to the show’s history.
Meanwhile, comedian Josh Widdicombe, who appeared in the 2024 Christmas special, has said he is giddy with excitement at joining the presenting team.
🔥 With the hosting line-up changing, the celebrity cast will be watched more closely than ever. Producers will want big names capable of drawing attention and reassuring fans that the show still has its magic.
That may be why Lacey Turner would be such a smart signing.
She is not a reality TV regular chasing attention. She is a respected actress with a long career, a strong soap fan base and a reputation for being grounded. Viewers already feel they know her through Stacey, but Strictly could allow them to connect with the real Lacey.
Her reported appearance also follows speculation that Loose Women star Denise Welch could be in talks for the same series. Denise recently fuelled rumours when asked directly whether she might be joining Strictly, joking that she was “pleading the fifth”.
Strictly has often cast stars from the world of daytime television and soaps, with past contestants from Loose Women including Kaye Adams, Ruth Langsford and Judi Love.
If both Lacey and Denise were to appear, the 2026 line-up could bring together soap loyalty, daytime TV familiarity and big personality energy.
🌟 Lacey’s involvement would also continue Strictly’s long tradition of attracting major soap stars. Actors from EastEnders, Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks have often done well on the show because viewers already feel invested in them.
Soap stars are used to long filming hours, emotional discipline and performing under pressure. But dancing live in front of millions is a completely different challenge.
There is no hiding behind a character. No second take. No script to fall back on.
For someone like Lacey, that could make the journey even more compelling.
Fans would likely tune in not just to see whether she can dance, but to see whether she can overcome the very nerves she once admitted had stopped her from saying yes.
💔 Her earlier hesitation may actually make her Strictly story stronger. Audiences love a contestant who arrives unsure of themselves and gradually builds confidence. If Lacey begins the series nervous, honest and out of her comfort zone, viewers may find themselves rooting for her from the first week.
Of course, nothing has been officially confirmed by the BBC. The full celebrity line-up for the 2026 series has not yet been announced, and representatives for Lacey and the broadcaster have reportedly been approached for comment.
But the rumours alone have already sparked excitement among fans.
For EastEnders viewers, the idea of Stacey Slater entering the ballroom is a thrilling twist. For Strictly fans, Lacey could bring exactly the mix of familiarity, vulnerability and determination that makes a contestant memorable.
💃 If the reports are true, Lacey Turner’s next big storyline will not play out in the Queen Vic, the Slater kitchen or the streets of Walford.
It will unfold under glittering lights, in front of a live audience, with a professional partner by her side and millions watching from home.
After years of delivering drama on EastEnders, Lacey may now be ready for a new challenge — one filled with nerves, sequins, sambas and the chance to show Britain who she really is beyond Albert Square.
And if she once said she did not have the guts to do Strictly, 2026 may be the year she proves herself wrong.
