EastEnders' Lacey Turner has become engaged to her hairdresser boyfriend Matt Kay during a holiday in Venice

EastEnders star Lacey Turner is set to marry her long-term boyfriend Matt Kay after he proposed on holiday.

Hairdresser Matt is thought to have popped the question during a romantic trip to Venice.

He shared a picture of the couple – who were childhood sweethearts – on Instagram shortly after Lacey, 28, said yes.

She is seen looking overwhelmed and excited in the adorable snap, in which she is flashing a stunning diamond ring.

Matt wrote: “She said yes….ooooosssshhhhhhhh.”

He added the hashtag “#fiance”.

Lacey, who plays Stacey Fowler in the BBC1 soap, and hairdresser Matt first started dating in their teens.

Our Girl fans reacted positively to Michelle Keegan's debut in the BBC1 military drama, although original star Lacey Turner was missed by many

Michelle Keegan made her hotly anticipated debut in the lead role in BBC1’s second series of Our Girl on Wednesday.

And, after months of waiting to see how she would tackle the role of Corporal Georgie Lane, viewers were mostly thrilled with her performance in the gritty drama.

Fans dubbed the 29-year-old as 'beautiful' and 'stunning' in her portrayal of the Army medic, especially considering the hot and dusty conditions of the show, which was filmed in South Africa.

There were plenty more comments about her acting prowess, with the words 'amazing' and 'brilliant' being bandied about.

However, there was also an overarching sense of somebody being missed... the first series’ leading actress, Lacey Turner.

Michelle took over in the starring position in the drama from the EastEnders actress, who played Molly Dawes, a down-and-out young woman who joins the Army due to her life going nowhere.

It seems that for many on Twitter, Michelle just couldn’t live up to her predecessor.

Former Coronation Street actress Michelle was revealed as Lacey’s replacement after the EastEnders star decided not to take part in the second series.

The second series opened with Georgie being dispatched to Kenya on a humanitarian mission, after being jilted at the altar.

It was a dramatic opener, as she battle with adverse conditions at the start of her six-week posting in the African country, and the episode ended with her being taken hostage by Al-Shabaab militants.

Michelle said the role had amplified her respect for people in the armed forces: “Don’t get me wrong, you always respect people in the armed forces, but I have newfound respect for them, it is unbelievable what they do for the country.”

Our Girl also stars Luke Pasqualino as Special Forces officer Elvis Harte, and Ben Aldridge as Captain Charles James.

Our Girl continues next Wednesday at 9pm on BBC One.

Our Girl star Luke Pasqualino: ‘Elvis is very alpha male!’

Our Girl’s Royce Pierreson: ‘Michelle and I were thrown in at the deep end. There was no time to be scared!’ (VIDEO)

Angela Lonsdale: ‘Grace is the comedy character in Our Girl.’ (VIDEO)

Our Girl’s Ben Aldridge: ‘Captain James has changed...he's slightly more war weary!’ (VIDEO)

Michelle Keegan: 'I got stuck into the stunts on Our Girl!' (VIDEO)

Michelle Keegan: 'I'd never seen a real gun before Our Girl... it was intimidating!'

Captain James is back in danger on the front line in BBC1's new series of Our Girl this week, so What's On TV caught up for a video chat with Ben Aldridge to tell us more about his battle-ready character…

Ben revealed how Captain James changed in this new five-part Our Girl series which begins on Wednesday September 7 (BBC1, 9pm). Also what it was like filming with Our Girl’s new lead actress - former Coronation street star Michelle Keegan - and how they all fared at the boot camp to prepare for their gruelling roles as soldiers, who will been seen on a dangerous humanitarian mission in Kenya.

“I think Captain James has changed, without giving too much away, although he’s back doing what he absolutely loves – he loves being a soldier and a captain. In this series, however, he’s slightly more war weary.

'This is his fifth or sixth tour of duty and he’s got to a stage where maybe he’s starting to question what he’s doing and the ethics of war. In the last series Molly had started him on an ethical debate within himself, about why we were at war in Afghanistan. I think he’s still thinking those things. Although in Series 2 we’re not going to war as such, we end up in a similar situation. I also think he’s matured.”

Captain James is really great mates with a new Our girl character Elvis Harte, who’s played by Luke Pasqualino, and Ben explains there’s plenty of history between them…

“Elvis is a reminder of James’ past and wilder days. They were absolute rascals together back in the day, so you see who James used to be through Elvis, and you also see a slightly more mature version of James now. The pair of them would have been each other’s best men basically.”

Ben admits there was plenty of ‘bromancing’ between him and Luke on set in South Africa, as well as with other cast playing the soldiers out in Kenya.

“I have to say there was a lot of bromancing on Our Girl in general, as everyone got on exceptionally well. This is definitely the favourite cast I’ve ever worked with. We’re genuinely are good friends. That comes from getting thrown into boot camp together and we have that bonding experience without the cameras even being there. So for two weeks we can work each other out! They actively encourage us to get along and we all worked on our army banter at boot camp. I hope it plays well in the show.”

According to Ben, boot camp was as tough as the last series, and this time they were joined by Michelle Keegan, who plays army medic Georgie Lane….

"It’s a drastic experience,” laughs Ben. "It being Michelle’s first time, they had to put her through boot camp. I love it and I’m glad the BBC make boot camp happen because I don’t feel I’d be able to Captain James without it."

With former Corrie star Michelle Keegan taking the lead role of Georgie Lane in Our Girl, instead of EastEnders star Lacey Turner - who was soldier Molly Dawes in the previous series – it meant a different dynamic between the characters, as Ben explains...

“Captain James and Georgie already know each other well, and Georgie is friends with Molly. When Molly joined the section she was having to prove herself where are Georgie has already earned her stripes. He knows Georgie’s capable, up to the job and is going to smash it. So there’s a lot of mutual respect.”

* Our Girl Series 2 premieres on BBC1, Wednesday September 7 at 9pm

EastEnders' Lacey Turner was the big winner at the British Soap Awards, winning Best Actress, Best Female Dramatic Performance and Best Storyline, but she revealed she doesn't do speeches!

She told What's on TV on the red carpet: "I'm very nervous... Nooo, I don't too speeches. I'm very terrible, very terrible."

She said Stacey's postpartum psychosis storyline hadn't really been difficult to play, but it was essential that it was truthful.

She said: "It wasn't difficult to play, it was quite sensitive, and we worked hard on our research to get it right. For us it's just important to get it as close to reality as possible."

On screen husband James Bye (Martin) added: "It's a time consuming process, it doesn't just start with the script , they've got to do the reaserch, then we meet a lot of people who've suffered the same sort of thing as Stacey did. In that sense it is time consuming, but the result hopefully is as close to the truth as possible."

Any chance of happiness for Martin and Stacey?

Lacey said: "Hopefully! They have promised us a bit of happiness. It would be lovely if someone was happy on Albert Square."

Watch the interview with Lacey Turner and James Bye, above. "]

Watch the British Soap Awards at 8pm on ITV on Sunday night to see if Lacey made a speech!

If ever there was someone who could benefit from some warm and fuzzy moments, it’s Stacey Branning (Lacey Turner)… And she got one in Tuesday night’s episode, when she asked Martin Fowler (James Bye) to marry her and he said “yes”.

In Good Friday’s episode, Martin puts his money where his mouth is, presenting Stacey with an engagement ring and putting it on her finger.

Martin makes his romantic gesture when he visits Stacey and Arthur at the mother and baby unit, where she’s recovering from her postpartum psychosis.

It’s the sort of tender loving care Stacey needs. Martin’s love will help Stacey get strong enough mentally to leave the unit and return home to Albert Square.

They're engaged! Stacey and Martin make their engagement official

But don’t expect this love story to be without a few twists in the tale…

At home there’s Stacey’s half-brother, Kyle (Riley Carter Millington), who’s told her he used to be “Sarah” and has begged her not to tell Martin. So she’s keeping secrets from her fiancé already…

Then there’s Kush (Davood Ghadami) - baby Arthur’s biological father.

That secret’s out and Martin’s learning to live with it.

In Thursday’s episode, Kyle cooked duck lasagne (what the…duck?) as a special meal for Martin’s big announcement to ex-wife-and-constantly-interfering Sonia (Natalie Cassidy), daughter Bex (Jasmine Armfield), his aunt Kathy (Gillian Taylforth) and Kush…

“It’s good news for a change,” he told them all. “Me and Stace are getting married!”

“So Arthur will really be my brother,” Bex said.

Then Kush offered himself for babysitting duties “while you’re wedding planning”, he said.

Bex didn’t like that, though. She’s still very bitter about Kush’s role in Martin, Stacey and Arthur’s life together.

“I just want Arthur to know he’s my son. Is that wrong?” Kush said to everyone.

A sweet kiss for Stacey and Martin. But will things turn sour?

No one knew how to answer and Kush left the room – but he overheard Martin saying he can’t see him and Kush being mates again.

No. They’re enemies now. And while Martin and Stacey are preparing to make their love work for ever, Kush and Martin are at war… And every war has its casualties.

See Martin and Stacey seal their love with a ring and a kiss in EastEnders on BBC1 at 7.30pm.

Having acted out on-screen rape, abortion, an affair with her father-in-law and murder, Lacey Turner might have been forgiven for thinking there was nothing left for EastEnders producers to surprise her with.

But when current boss Dominic Treadwell-Collins  sat Lacey down for a chat last year and revealed that her character, Stacey Branning, would believe that her newborn baby was the son of God, the storyline sounded so outlandish that she wondered if he was pulling her leg.

TV Times catches up with Lacey during a break in filming to talk about her post-partum psychosis storyline.

How did you react when Dominic told you about the 'son of God' storyline?

“I was in shock; I didn’t know if I believed him or not and then I realised he wasn’t joking and he was deadly serious.’”

With such a challenging storyline you must have done a lot of research to portray Stacey’s illness...

“She is currently suffering from post-partum psychosis, an illness that is believed to affect one in a thousand women after giving birth; particularly those who, like Stacey, already have a mental health condition such as bi-polar.

“They can arrive as quickly as two hours after delivery, and involve hallucinations and delusions that are devastating for the sufferer and their family.

“I found myself feeling quite stupid, because I didn’t have any idea that this could actually happen. Having understood the facts, I decided I needed to talk to real-life sufferers."

How did you find manage to find them?

“I worked closely with the charity MIND and they brought two women to the set, Kathryn and Eve, who work as media volunteers. They’ve both suffered from post-partum psychosis, so for me and James Bye [who plays my partner, Martin Fowler], their stories were vital to hear. I’d listen to them and find myself laughing one minute and crying the next. My god, they are seriously strong women.”

So once you understood the condition did you find it daunting having to act out the storyline?

“I thought: ‘How the hell do you play that your child is the son of God?!’

“I soon found out that for people who suffer with post-partum psychosis, it’s quite common for their hallucinations to be attached to religion. But then it was a difficult thing to act because I’m not religious at all. So I thought the best way to play it was that Stacey’s baby, Arthur, was the most precious thing ever; like he was made of glass and she had to protect him with her life. And that was how I’ve managed to get through it, really.”

Is it right that you avoided shampoo for added realism?

“I just thought ‘Well, Stacey, hasn’t had a wash.’ I mean, I did wash; I promise you I washed! But I didn’t wash my hair for three weeks, much to James’s disapproval. I wanted to see if it would start to clean itself, but it didn’t get that far.”

Filming the storyline must have been very exhausting for you?

“It’s physically draining on your body to use that amount of energy all the time. And I’ve only touched on post-partum psychosis – those poor people who go through it for real...”

It must have been mentally draining, too?

"Of course, but for all the stress involved, there have been moments to lighten the mood. Many of those provided by the babies playing little Arthur. Sixteen have been licensed for the role because, by law, infants can only be on set for five hours a day.

“We’ve had a few baby farts during scenes! They do make you giggle – and it is important to have a little giggle.

What’s it like having babies on set?

“They are lovely. We’ve had them since they were three weeks' old, and because they were strapped to my chest for quite a long time, they know my smell and they’ve all got used to me. I love having them around; they make me broody. I can tell them apart and I know all their names.”

You’ve received many messages of praise for your portrayal of this mental illness, so you must feel proud that all your work has paid off?

“It’s a huge relief; this was a subject that I knew absolutely nothing about and I feel overwhelmed by all the praise. A lot of people who suffer with mental illness have said ‘That looks like me on the telly.’ That’s heartbreaking to hear, and I just hope that out of this, more people are aware of post-partum psychosis and mental illness in general.”

We think it could be a worthy winner this year’s British Soap Awards, although you have a bit of a reputation for avoiding social events don’t’ you?

“Well, I won’t be counting down the days to the big night as I’d much prefer to be at home, watching TV or re-upholstering old chairs, which I love doing. I mean, it’s nice to win, and the fact that people have picked up the phone for you is always lovely, but these events frighten the life out of me!

“I just hope that we can help people through this storyline. I don’t want to sound ungrateful, but that would mean a lot more to me than getting an award.”

For more information on post-partum psychosis, visit www.mind.org.uk

Stacey Branning gives birth at the EastEnders Nativity and it’s the start of major drama for the young mum, Lacey Turner reveals to Soaplife…

Stacey Branning has a baby on the way. Sadly, there’s one small problem… the baby she’s carrying isn’t partner Martin Fowler’s. The father is Kush Kazemi, the husband of her best mate, Shabnam.

“Stacey’s so desperate for Martin not to find out the truth about the baby,” Lacey says. “She knows it will break his heart and, if she had her way, Martin would be the father. Stacey can really see a future with him now, which is not something she’d have said a few months ago!”

Does Martin suspect the truth?

“I don’t think he has any suspicions about not being the father or about the fact Kush [Davood Ghadami] and Stacey ever slept together. That’s what makes it so sad. Stacey loves Martin [James Bye] and the thought of having a happy family with him is all she wants. But can she keep the truth from him?”

How is Shabnam and Stacey’s relationship at this point?

“Things are pretty good between them at the moment. Stacey did worry when Shabnam [Rakhee Thakrar] realised Martin wasn’t the baby’s father, but she’s been supportive of Stacey since then. Shabs realises how much Stacey loves Martin, so why would she want to rip apart what they have? But then they end up having an argument…”

About what?

“Kush tells Stacey and Martin that Shabnam has seen a doctor and Stacey goes to talk to her about it. Instantly, Shabnam snaps, but it’s only because she’s upset about her situation and she doesn’t want to talk about it. It hurts Stacey, though, as Shabs then tells her she wants the four of them to not live in each other’s pockets any more.”

How does Stacey feel about that?

“It upsets her that Shabnam doesn’t want them to be so close any more because she is Stacey’s best friend.”

What can you tell us about Stacey’s birth scene?

“Stacey’s waters break, but she’s sent home from the hospital as it’s too early for her to go in. She should really be putting her feet up, but Stacey doesn’t want to miss Lily’s big moment in the Nativity, so she goes along to watch. But then things start moving along and that baby is not going to wait!”

How would Shabnam would react if she learned the truth?

“She’d be devastated, angry, betrayed…and she’d have every right to be. But Kush and Stacey never set out to hurt anyone. They didn’t have an affair. It was one drunken night when Kush and Shabnam were on a break. What they should have done was told Shabnam then, but hindsight is a wonderful thing. If they knew then what they know now, maybe things would be different. That’s what makes this whole situation even more complicated.”

EastEnders, BBC1

The Nativity in Albert Square gets a live birth on Christmas Eve, when Stacey (Lacey Turner) suddenly goes into labour while watching her daughter Lily (Aine Garvey) on stage.

One minute Stacey’s in the audience, the next she’s the one everyone’s watching as it becomes clear she’s having her baby right there, right then.

Aunt Babe (Annette Badland) leaps into action and helps deliver the infant boy to a very happy Martin (James Bye), who thinks he’s the father.

But we know he’s not. We know Kush (Davood Ghadami) is the child’s father, the result of a one-night stand while he and Shabam (Rakhee Thakrar) were “on a break”.

Which is why being there for the birth of this baby is such a bittersweet moment for Kush… And such agony for Stacey.

Kush can't bear to watch as Martin and Stacey are handed his son

She knows Martin is excited about a son that isn’t his and she knows it’s killing Kush to keep quiet as his son is handed to him by Aunt Babe, with Shabnam looking on.

It was only three months ago that Shabnam and Kush went through the birth of their dead son, Zaiir.

Now Shabnam has to watch as her best friend gets what she lost - and Kush has to pretend to be happy for Martin.

Martin and Stacey with their Christmas delivery: a baby boy they name Arthur

That alone is painful for Stacey to bear. But what’s coming next will be even more shattering…

“Immediately after the birth, viewers will see the beginning of Stacey’s experience of postpartum psychosis,” reveals EastEnders’ boss Dominic Treadwell-Collins.

“As EastEnders viewers are aware, Stacey was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2009.  Although postpartum psychosis can affect a woman without pre-existing mental health issues, it is more likely to affect a mother who has bipolar disorder,” adds Dominic.

“Stacey's mental health story will be one of our biggest storylines over Christmas and the beginning of 2016 as we explore Stacey's bipolar disorder and its effects on her and those closest to her.

“We have always had a big commitment to Stacey's story and this time we want to explore the effects of postpartum psychosis on those with bipolar - something which, although a rare illness, is unfortunately more common when mothers with bipolar give birth.

“EastEnders have worked closely with Mind, Bipolar UK, other experts in the field and women with personal experience to show a story that is true and painful, while also filled with the usual twists and turns viewers have come to expect from EastEnders.”

And we expect one of those twists to be the shock of Martin finding out that the baby boy they name Arthur, after Martin’s father, isn’t his son at all.

EastEnders continues on BBC1, Monday, December 14, 8.00pm.

There’s romance for Stacey when Martin proposes, then baby tragedy looms, EastEnders' Lacey Turner reveals to Soaplife…

Pregnant Stacey Branning gets a couple of shocks this Halloween. First, she finds an engagement ring and guesses that Martin is about to propose… Then Stacey is electrocuted during her party and is rushed to hospital.

“Stacey’s dazed, but OK," Lacey reveals. “However, it can be dangerous for the baby so she goes straight to hospital.”

How does Stacey feel about having her second child?

“She’s really excited. She longs for a family with two kids. She’s come off her medication and she’s a bit worried about that side of things, though.”

Does she love Martin (James Bye)?

“Yes. He’s her safe option. I don’t think she ever meant to go there with Kush [Davood Ghadami]. He was handsome, he worked on the stall next to her and they had a bit of banter. I think it happened through too much wine.”

So why does she freak out when she finds an engagement ring?

“She’s very much into Martin and she wants her happy ending, but she’s been there before with Bradley [Charlie Clements]. It feels like something terrible happens every time she opens herself up. I don’t think I’d leave the house if it were me!”

What is it like when Martin proposes?

“Actually, it’s very sweet. It happens during a Halloween party at their place, so there are a lot of people in their tiny little flat.”

Then Stacey gets an electric shock…

“She’s bought some dodgy lights from Donna [Lisa Hammond] and they don’t work, so she gets Lee Carter [Danny-Boy Hatchard] around to look at them. He leaves the front off the plug socket off and, when Stacey goes to plug in the music, there’s a boom and a bit of smoke. She’s thrown backwards, but she isn’t unconscious.”

Is she scared for her baby?

“Of course. She goes to hospital with Shabnam [Rakhee Thakrar], as Martin’s busy beating up Lee. She’s in a bit of a panic because she can’t feel the baby moving. It’s also hard for Shabnam as it brings back memories of the loss of her son.”

Will the baby be OK?

“You’ll have to wait and see…”

EastEnders, BBC1

Watch what happens when our cheeky little friend to the stars asks EastEnders' Lacey about her dream Gogglebox night in…

Shabnam and Kush will be going through the most unimaginable pain as they work through their grief over the death of their unborn baby in EastEnders.

“Kush and Shabnam’s relationship will be tested beyond all limits,” reveals Rakhee Thakrar, who plays Shabnam. “Grief can be very isolating and everyone handles it in their own unique way.

“Shabnam’s trademark coping mechanism is to shut everyone out. Which will inevitably cause problems with Kush (Davood Ghadami). I hope they can recover.”

They’re clearly going to need the support of their family and friends… And Stacey’s a friend, right?

Well… Shabnam doesn’t know it but Stacey (Lacey Turner) shouldn’t be her first port of call in the turbulent days ahead.

And not just because Stacey is still secretly lusting after Kush.

Or because Stacey is pregnant and could prove to be a raw reminder of what Shabnam has just lost.

Stacey has decided to stop taking her bi-polar medication because it could hurt her unborn baby.

And when Stacey’s off her meds she can be, well, unpredictable at best - and homicidal at worst (as Archie Mitchell found out).

No matter how many times Stacey tells Martin Fowler (James Bye) she loves him, it is clear to just about everyone - except Martin - that she doesn’t.

Martin is who Stacey has settled for because she couldn’t have Kush.

But what might Kush do now, in his grief-stricken state? And what might Stacey encourage him to do?

Would Stacey really risk adding to her friend Shabnam’s heartbreak right now?

Without her medication, Stacey just might…

EastEnders continues on BBC1, Monday, August 31, 8.00pm.

Another EastEnders mystery deepens when Jean (Gillian Wright) returns to Walford in the coming week and gets herself all worked up over that key Stacey wears around her neck.

It was supposed to be a happy return for Jean, who’s back to tell Stacey (Lacey Turner) she’s marrying Ollie Walters (Tony O’Callaghan).

But then she sees the key - rather prominently displayed on Stacey’s chest - and things turn dark…

We know Stacey’s brother Sean gave her the key, but she’s said she hasn’t got a clue what it opens.

Does Jean know? From her reaction, she clearly knows something about it, but what?

If it was anything good, we don’t think Jean would want to rip it off Stacey’s neck.

So, Jean thinks the key is bad news. But why?

Jean’s freaking out freaks out Stacey, who’s even more determined to hang on to the key - and find out what it unlocks.

“We keep going on about the key but we will find out a lot more about it,” promises Enders boss Dominic Treadwell-Collins.

Hopefully sooner rather than later…

EastEnders continues on BBC1, Monday, June 29, 8.00pm

Michelle Keegan has landed the lead role in BBC1's army drama Our Girl.

The former Coronation Street actress and Ordinary Lies star will play new female medic Corporal Georgie Lane, a brilliant and committed soldier on a posting in contemporary Kenya, in the new five-part series.

Georgie's mission is believed to be one that's 'full of surprises that will challenge her professionally in unexpected ways, and which will change her personal life forever.'

Michelle replaces EastEnders' actress Lacey Turner, who starred in both the pilot and first full series of Our Girl as medic Molly Dawes, who completed her training with the Royal Army Medical Corps before embarking on her first-ever deployment as a serving medic in Afghanistan.

Michelle said: "I've watched Our Girl and I'm a massive fan of the series so I can't wait to be a part of it. It's going to be a big, but exciting challenge for me, so I can't wait to get started."

Meanwhile, Lacey said of her departure: "I had an amazing time making Our Girl and taking Molly on her journey, Unfortunately, I won't be able to take her through this series as I'm currently busy working on EastEnders, but I know that Tony [Grounds] will write a fantastic series full of action and drama with great character. I hope everyone enjoys making the series as much as we did the first."

Our Girl will begin filming on location in January 2016.

One minute Stacey (Lacey Turner) thinks Dean (Matt Di Angelo) is the best thing to happen to her since she got out of prison, the next she can’t get away from him fast enough.

Stacey looks positively disgusted - and no wonder! She’s worked out that Dean raped Linda (Kellie Bright)!

Stacey and Linda have become mates and Stacey’s noticed that Linda isn’t happy around Dean. They get talking and Stacey tells her what Archie Mitchell did to her. It’s all too much for Linda… She doesn’t say anything to Stacey but she doesn’t have to: the look on her face says it all.

Stacey puts two and two together and comes up with a good reason to get as far away from Dean as possible.

Dean doesn’t understand…at first. Then he realises that Stacey and Linda have been talking - about him.

Can Stacey get away from angry Dean? And can Linda keep her secret from Mick (Danny Dyer) any longer?

Watch EastEnders on BBC1, Tuesday, December 23, 7.30pm 

Lacey Turner has told how she felt pressure to do justice to the military with her show Our Girl.

Lacey is reprising her lead role as Molly Dawes after the success of the one-off drama last year (see video below), and this series will see her character being deployed to Afghanistan as a serving medic.

“You feel pressure to get it right, because what they do is so amazing. I don’t want to disappoint them, really,” said Lacey.

"If it was only the soldiers who sat down and watched it, and were happy with it, then that would be enough for me. It matters, because these people do this for real and you want to try to do them as much justice as you can. I hope we have.”

Lacey, 26, shot the series in South Africa, and had to struggle with the temperature - which often hit 40 degrees - and her bulky outfit.

“The kit alone is so uncomfortable to move in. I felt like a tortoise or a donkey,” Lacey continued.

“It was tough, because it was hot, and you’ve got your boots, trousers, jacket, vest and helmet on. I think it’s fair to say I’d rather work in the cold and rain.”

Plenty of that in EastEnders’ Albert Square, where Lacey has also resumed residence as Stacey Branning!

Filming for Our Girl also saw Lacey running up and down mountains, wading through rivers and hanging out of helicopters.

“I loved that,’ Lacey said. “It was exciting. I’d never done stuff with loads of action in it!”

Our Girl begins on BBC1, Sunday, September 21, 9.00pm.

If you missed the one-off drama that launched the series, here's a 10-minute recap.

http://youtube.com/v/V0LChe4atzw

EastEnders’ Lacey Turner talks to TV Times magazine about the challenges and rewards of filming BBC1 military drama Our Girl (Sunday, Sept 21) in South Africa...

Why did you want to come back to the character of Molly Dawes in Our Girl?

"I was keen to play Molly again because she’s a great character – so ballsy and so fearless. You don’t know what she’s going to do next and that’s exciting. The one-off was about Molly finding herself and belonging, and, this series, you see her grow into a woman, which is really lovely."

The action in this series picks up six months later as Molly's on her first nine-month tour of duty in Afghanistan with Two Section platoon…

"When she first meets Two Section, Molly’s not made very welcome by the group. They’ve been working together for six months and they spend all day, every day, with each other so I suppose you have to earn your way in. To be fair, she wins them over quite quickly with her witty comments and mischievous behaviour."

She gets off on the wrong foot with the Platoon’s dedicated leader Captain James (Lark Rise to Candleford’s Ben Aldridge) - and things get even more complicated when she discovers an old flame she’d rather forget, cocky Welshman Smurf (Game of Thrones star Iwan Rheon) is one of her teammates!

"There’s a love triangle! It’s quite nice because James and Smurf are so different."

You filmed in Cape Town, South Africa, which had to double for Camp Bastion in Afghanistan. Was the exotic wildlife an issue?

"The snakes weren’t the problem – it was the crickets! They were everywhere. We had this massive talk on snakes, they brought out all the different species that we could see out there, but I didn’t actually see one. However, I did have a few fights with a couple of crickets that lasted for nearly an hour each!"

How did you prepare for the role of Molly?

"You stay as fit as you can, but I don’t think anything can really prepare you for that heat, those clothes and those mountains! The biggest challenge for me was the heat. Some days it was really hot, like 47 degrees, and in the beginning you’re not used to wearing all the kit – you’ve got boots, socks, trousers, t-shirt, jacket, vest, helmet... And then there’s the bag, which weighs around six stone. It’s like carrying a small child – and the medic has two bags. So, yeah, it’s now fair to say I’d rather work in the rain!"

What were your favourite moments from filming?

"I loved hanging out of a helicopter where the doors don’t shut – you could fall out, you won’t, but you could! I’ve never really done something action-packed before, so it’s exciting!"

Did it give you a respect for people who are in the Army?

"What they do, their strength and bravery is so inspiring. I’m very humbled to be involved in Our Girl. You feel a pressure to get it right because what they do is so amazing and you don’t want to disappoint them really. For me, if all the soldiers were the only people who watched it and they were happy with it, that would be enough for me."

Lacey Turner says she was left in awe of female troops after shooting Our Girl because of her own lack of bravery.

The EastEnders star was given time off from the BBC soap to work on the drama, where she plays soldier Molly Dawes, but said she was nothing like her character in real life.

She told The Sun: "I'm not brave like her. I am the opposite, scared of everything. I spent most of the time running away from a cat.

"I'm there with 12 weapons, two military advisors and 10 boys, and I am scared of a cat. It was pathetic.

"Molly is brave, so brave. I would love to be like that. To say, 'I am going to do this with my life.' I am comfortable in my own skin, but not brave enough to get on a plane to Afghanistan."

Lacey added that she got the chance to swear in Our Girl, which she is not allowed to do in soap: "I got home and thought, 'My god, my language is disgusting'."

The actress plays Stacey Branning in EastEnders and said she was glad to get the opportunity to do other things, but found drama easier than soap.

She admitted: "I was curious to find out what else was out there and how everything works. It's actually easier. Once you've worked on EastEnders you can work anywhere. Dramas are single camera, very slow. There's time to be creative."

Our Girl screens on BBC1 this autumn.

After confessing to the murder of evil Archie Mitchell, Stacey Slater earned herself a five-year jail sentence.

But fans don’t have to wait that long to see again as her much-loved character is returning to EastEnders.

“Stacey’s in prison at the moment, but not for long,” teases Stacey actress Lacey Turner, 26.

“I’m so happy she’s coming back!

While the exact details are top secret, no doubt the writers have found a creative way of returning her to Albert Square.

“And I’ll be here for a while now,” Lacey told the Mirror.

The first week of August 2014 turns out to be an eventful week for all the Slater family. Jean (Gillian Wright), who like Stacey is bipolar, collapses in Kat's kitchen.

Kat finds her and they dash to the hospital, where Stacey – accompanied by a prison warden – is allowed to visit her ailing mother.

As it turns out, hospital is exactly the right place for Kat (Jessie Wallace) to be, as she dramatically goes into labour with her twins.

“It just happens,” explains Lacey.

“Her waters break and then Stacey is taken away by the prison guard.”

Despite her huge popularity and many TV awards, modest Lacey insists she’d rather spend her spare time at home than with celebrities.

“I am one of these people who does courses,” she reveals.

“I’ve done upholstery and interior design... I’ve got thousands of qualifications but don’t use any of them!

“I am very boring and hate going out.

“It’s only in the last year that I’ve given my occupation as ‘actress’. Before that I used to write, ‘I work for the BBC’.

“As I haven’t been to drama school, I didn’t like to call myself an actress.”

While Lacey might be multi-talented, Stacey appears less accomplished… How will she now get her life back on track?

“Stacey is a qualified colourist I’ll have you know,” laughs Lacey.

“Maybe she can get a job at Blades!”

Stacey and Dean (Matt Di Angelo)… That just sounds like more trouble.

EastEnders, BBC1, Monday, August 4, 8.00pm.

Pop star and TV presenter Matt Willis is adding another string to his bow - actor - as he prepares to star in EastEnders.

Matt (pictured with wife Emma) will soon start filming a short-term role as Stacey Branning's boyfriend Luke and will appear in EastEnders in early 2014.

Speaking about joining EastEnders Matt Willis said: "I am so thrilled to be a part of such an iconic show. I grew up watching EastEnders so this is really exciting for me."

The EastEnders press office says that Luke is an ambitious young man who is deeply in love and devoted to his girlfriend. Currently working hard in the City, Luke is determined to build a secure life for him and his family, but as drama always seems to follow Stacey wherever she goes, things will not be plain sailing for the duo...

EastEnders Executive Producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins added: “I’ve always loved Matt and it will be a real treat for viewers to watch him and Lacey together on screen as part of her return to the Square. Luke gives as good as he gets, so is a great foil to Stacey. Pity she’s been lying to him since the day she met him!”

Best known for being part of the award winning band, Busted, who have now merged with McFly to form McBusted, Matt also won I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in 2009 and has appeared on TV and in theatre in Wicked, Footloose, Miss Marple and, soon, Birds of a Feather.

Ex EastEnders star Lacey Turner will reprise her role as army girl Molly Dawes when Our Girl returns for a five-part series.

Our Girl, which screened as a one-off drama on BBC1 earlier this year, starred Lacey as Molly, who joins the army to escape her troubled life.

The show, which was a massive hit with viewers, saw Molly conquer her demons and prove herself before going on to join the Royal Army Medical Corps. The new series will follow Molly on her deployment to Afghanistan, and see her face challenges that will change her for ever.

Lacey shot to fame as mouthy Stacey Slater in EastEnders, last seen fleeing Albert Square in April 2010 after confessing she'd murdered Archie Mitchell.

Our Girl will return to BBC1 next year.