Excitement as TWO EastEnders legends return to Albert Square

EastEnders logo

There are two very familiar faces heading back to our screens...

There's huge excitement for EastEnders fans next week when Kat and Stacey Slater are reunited on screen for the first time since last year.

The family reunion will be part of Eastenders spin off show Secrets from the Square with presenter Stacey Dooley.

Stacey Dooley in Albert Square

Stacey Dooley has spent the summer on the iconic EastEnders set (Picture: ITV) (Image credit: BBC/Kieron McCarron)

The last time we saw Stacey on screen was last year before actress Lacey Turner went on maternity leave with her first child.

More: Preview of all the best TV shows on in autumn 2020 including Honour, Des and so much more!

Kat left the soap back in March, leaving boyfriend Kush in the lurch to look after her kids and Jean Slater.

Lacey Turner as Stacey Slater

Lacey Turner reveals a secret about her first scenes as Stacey Slater... (Picture: ITV) (Image credit: BBC/Kieron McCarron)

Slaters reunited 

But the wait to see Jessie Wallace back on screen with Lacey Turner is almost over because the pair will be chatting about all things Slater related with Stacey Dooley on Thursday 3rd September.

Next week will see the last round of Secrets from the Square airing before normal episodes return to our screens on Monday 7th September.

Jessie Wallace plays Kat Slater EastEnders

Jessie Wallace reveals what's in store for Kat Slater and Stacey Slater... (Picture: ITV) (Image credit: BBC/Kieron McCarron)

We will also be treated to extra episodes of the show, with Shona McGarty and Natalie Cassidy (better known as Whitney Dean and Sonia Fowler) chatting to Stacey on Tuesday 1st September.

Lacey and Jessie will then be appearing on Thursday 3rd September, and on Friday 4th Stacey Dooley will be looking back over the series, sharing unseen moments that had perviously ended up on the cutting room floor.

Looking back at Slater history 

After being reunited, Lacey and Jessie will take a look back on the history of the Slaters.

Stacey and Lacey in EastEnders

Lacey gives Stacey Dooley a tour of the Slater house next week (Picture: ITV) (Image credit: BBC/Kieron McCarron)

The pair will also share their behind the scenes experiences from their time on the soap, from first day nerves to why the pair of them both hate filming huge arguments between their characters.

Jessie will also talk about her iconic 'You ain't my mother' scene and reveal a secret behind how it could have turned out very differently all those years ago.

BBC One airs EastEnders: Secrets from the Square, hosted by Stacey Dooley, at 8pm.

EastEnders episodes return to BBC One on Monday 7th September - see our TV Guide for full listings. 

Claire Crick
Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch

Claire is Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch and has been a journalist for over 15 years, writing about everything from soaps and TV to beauty, entertainment, and even the Royal Family. After starting her career at a soap magazine, she ended up staying for 13 years, and over that time she’s pulled pints in the Rovers Return, sung karaoke in the Emmerdale village hall, taken a stroll around Albert Square, and visited Summer Bay Surf Club in sunny Australia. 


After learning some tricks of the trade at websites Digital Spy, Entertainment Daily, and Woman & Home, Claire landed a role at What’s On TV and whattowatch.com writing about all things TV and film, with a particular love for Aussie soaps, Strictly Come Dancing and Bake Off


She’s interviewed everyone from June Brown — AKA Dot Cotton — to Michelle Keegan, swapped cooking tips with baking legend Mary Berry backstage at the NTAs, and danced the night away with soap stars at countless awards bashes. There’s not a lot she doesn’t know about soaps and TV and can be very handy when a soapy question comes up in a pub quiz! 


As well as all things soap-related, Claire also loves running, spa breaks, days out with her kids, and getting lost in a good book.