Lacey Turner's sister Lily to join EastEnders

Lacey Turner's sister Lily to join EastEnders (Image credit: PA Wire/Press Association Images)

Lacey Turner's little sister is joining EastEnders just weeks after the popular actress bows out EastEnders. Nine-year-old Lily Harvey, whose older sibling has played Stacey Branning since 2004, hits screens in March. She has been cast as cheeky Shenice, the daughter of Kat Moon's new friend Martine, played by Tamara Wall, the Sun reports. Lacey, 22, is said to be 'thrilled' about her sister's new gig. A source told the newspaper: "She loved growing up on set and is happy to still have links. She'll give Lily lots of advice and has made the older stars promise to look out for her. Lily takes after Lacey, she's a star in the making." Lily, who lives with Lacey, sister Daisy and mum Bev, auditioned for the role despite her family link. Lacey leaves screens on Christmas Day, but details of exactly how she bows out remain a secret. Click here to watch whatsontv.co.uk's weekly soaps video preview, the Soap Scoop Get EastEnders storylines first! Sign up to receive our EastEnders Extra newsletter

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.