As Stacey Slater exits Walford, here’s whether she’s gone for good
She's off to São Paulo!
EastEnders aired an exit for Stacey Slater and her children Hope and Arthur tonight, but has she gone for good?
Stacey’s brother Sean recently offered Stacey the chance of a fresh start by inviting her to live in Brazil with him.
Stacey was torn over whether she really could leave Lily, Charli and her mum Jean. But tonight she left the Square in the back of a taxi. Here’s whether she has any plans to return.
Showdown in The Vic
Stacey caught Max and Zoe kissing and screamed at Zoe for trying to get rid of her just so she could crack on with Max.
Zoe revealed that her and Max had been together before. A fuming Stacey marched into the pub and shared this revelation with Kat in front of everyone.
Stacey referred to Max as a “disgusting liar” and said she can’t believe she was stupid enough to let him into her house. Zoe promptly replied: “Not stupid, desperate.” She then pushed Stacey over the edge by saying if she is thinking about her and Max so much then she obviously didn’t love Martin as much as she said she did.
Zoe received a smack in the face for her troubles, with Stacey ordering Zoe not to mention his name.
Lily then told her mum she can still go to Brazil tonight and get away from all the drama for good.
EastEnders exit for Stacey
Max Branning went to talk to Stacey. Lily refused to let him in at first, but Stacey relented. Max told Stacey that he still has feelings for her and that it was like “a punch to the gut” when he saw her standing in the pub.
Stacey remained adamant that there was no chance for her and Max. Max then tried a different tactic, telling Stacey he was thinking about sticking around for a while.
As Max asked if they could spend some time together, Stacey announced that she was leaving for the airport soon. She told him to walk out her front door and never walk through it again. Stacey then started to pack, which included a photo of her and Martin.
Kat, Alfie, Lily and Eve were there to see Stacey off, but unfortunately, Jean was stuck on an underground train and missed the opportunity to say goodbye to her daughter.
Max rocked up again as Stacey was climbing in the taxi. He begged her not to leave. But she simply said “bye Max” and climbed into the taxi with Hope and Arthur. Stacey deleted a voice message from Max telling her to “be happy” and smiled as the taxi headed towards the airport and her new life.
Has Stacey Slater gone for good?
Earlier this year, it was announced that Lacey Turner, who plays Stacey Slater, would be taking an “extended break” from the BBC One soap.
Speaking to The Sun, the actress shared: “It’s time for myself and Stacey to take a rest and who knows what Stacey will get up to in her time away? Knowing Stacey, it will never be boring.”
An insider from the soap added: “Lacey made the decision last year to take some time out from the show. She’s had a busy year both on and off screen, so it feels a good time to give Stacey a rest.”
They added: “Lacey loves EastEnders, and it’s no secret how much EastEnders love Lacey. So it’s not a question of if she will be back, but when.”
So while the door has been left open for Lacey, a return is not currently on the cards. We’ve no doubt she’ll be back in the Square one day, though.
Read more: Max Branning on EastEnders: failed marriages, tragic children and history with Slater women
Is Hugh Laurie in The Night Manager series 2? Actor confirms role after 'tricky' experience
Episode 1 of the second series picks up nine years after Hiddleston's Jonathan Pine helped to bring down arms dealer Richard Roper, portrayed by Laurie in the first season.
When we last saw Laurie's villain, he was loaded onto a police van. However, rather than being prosecuted, his disgruntled buyers took control of the vehicle and drove away, leaving him screaming and panicking about his inevitable fate.
However, while it contains significant links to Roper, Laurie isn't a big part of The Night Manager series 2 cast.
***Warning: spoilers from The Night Manager series 2 episode 1 ahead***
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Hugh Laurie's villain still haunts Tom Hiddleston's agent in series 2 (Credit: BBC)[/caption]
Is Hugh Laurie in The Night Manager series 2?
No, Hugh Laurie in The Night Manager series 2 so far... apart from one brief scene in the opening episode.
Episode 1 opens with Jonathan and Olivia Colman's Angela Burr identifying Roper's body. We get a glimpse of his bearded corpse, but that's it.
As far as we know (unless there's an extraordinary twist in the later episodes), Roper is dead.
Laurie could theoretically appear via flashbacks that deepen the show's story (especially given the introduction of Diego Calva's Teddy Dos Santos, Roper's "true disciple"), but that remains to be seen.
If you want to catch up fully with Roper's fate and everything that went down before series 2, read our recap of The Night Manager series 1.
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Don't expect much of Hugh Laurie in series 2 (Credit: BBC)[/caption]
The Night Manager writer explains 'tricky' experience with Hugh Laurie
According to David Farr, a screenwriter on the show, Laurie was "very tricky" to work with.
Speaking at London's Blackheath Concert Halls (via the MailOnline), Farr recalled: "It was actually very tricky with Hugh because he’d tried to option the book when he was much younger because he’d loved it and he really wanted to play Pine.
"Then I was suddenly doing the television show and had written the first episode, and everyone liked it and Tom Hiddleston had signed up."
Laurie – who is executive producer on the series – is said to have had "fixed ideas" about Pine, and "none of his notes were about his character," Farr explained.
"They were all about Tom’s character – and I was like, 'Give me a break.'"
Farr said he still has a good relationship with Laurie. "I think if I’d been more mature, I could have dealt with it better. Hugh is a lovely man, very passionate. He’s not in the sequel that much, except in flashback," he added.
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Hugh Laurie is still an executive producer on series 2 (Credit: BBC)[/caption]
Hugh Laurie explains role in series 2
Laurie has stayed on as an executive producer in series 2. Speaking to the BBC, he said it was mainly his "love for the original novel" that made him want to carry on with the series.
"For season 2, I act as an executive producer, the senior prefect," he explained.
"I feel a sort of proprietorial responsibility to the original novel and to its future development. I can't help it, it's just very close to my heart, as are the people involved.
"But it's mainly my love for the original novel that has kept me involved as an executive producer, which they were kind enough to grant me."
Laurie also praised Farr's "development" of John le Carré's source material and director Georgi Banks-Davies.
"People will respond to her vision of these characters and her way of telling the story. The choices she makes will capture an audience and encourage them to join the ride," he said.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiF0nnSGUg4&pp=ygUadGhlIG5pZ2h0IG1hbmFnZXIgc2VyaWVzIDI%3D[/embed]
