EastEnders star Lacey Turner’s husband posts gushing tribute after she appeared in live ep just weeks after giving birth
LACEY Turner's husband has posted a gushing public tribute to her after last night's explosive live 40th anniversary episode.
The actress, who plays Stacey Slater, only gave birth to the couple's third child five weeks ago, yet was back on set for one of the most high-pressured episodes in the soap's history.
And she didn't disappoint, delivering an acting masterclass as her on-screen ex-husband Martin Fowler tragically died after being crushed by a beam.
Taking to Instagram last night, Matt Kay wrote: "I am absolutely bursting with pride for my wife and the incredible job she did at work this evening.
"Her dedication and hard work shone through as she tackled an extremely tough challenge with grace and determination, especially considering she gave birth just five weeks ago."
He called her camaraderie with co-stars and commitment to achieving her goals "inspiring".
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"She consistently goes above and beyond," he wrote. "And her passion for what she does is evident in every project she undertakes.
"I am so grateful to have such an amazing partner by my side, and I can't help but admire her strength and resilience. She truly is incredible."
Martin's death was the big talking point as the Albert Square spectacle ended with actor James Bye saying farewell to the programme.
The heartbreaking situation came about after a huge explosion tore through the Queen Vic pub.
Martin heroically stayed to rescue Stacey, who had been trapped in the debris.
Ultimately, he ended up with one of his legs crushed underneath a steel bar.
The live episode saw Martin given morphine while firefighters tried removing the beam.
He and Stacey declared their love for one another and the stall owner said he wanted to marry her again.
But as they spoke about their future, Stacey realised something was wrong.
Speaking privately to a paramedic, she was informed about the severity of Martin's condition.
Once the beam was lifted, his body would be flooded with deadly toxins.
Stacey couldn’t bring herself to tell Martin what was happening, but he quickly realised his time was up.
He chose to tell her what he’d say at their wedding, saying: “No pressure but I have loved this woman since the very first moment I saw her.
“I thought she was the sexiest thing I’ve ever clapped my eyes on. It’s alway been Stace because she feels like home and adventure wrapped into one.
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“I know that this time and we are going to be in here in the Vic celebrating our anniversary in 40 years time.”
He then suffered a cardiac arrest and died leaving Stacey devastated.
EastEnders' 40th anniversary cameos so far
With the 40th anniversary of EastEnders coming up, fans are looking forward to some more incredible cameos from iconic faces of Walford's past. But who have we had so far?
Tracy-Ann Oberman - Oberman returned as Chrissie Watts, a character she last played nearly two decades ago.
Paul Bradley - Bradley returned as Nigel Bates, a character he last played over 25 years ago.
Micheal French - French returned as David Wicks, a character he last played two decades ago.
Patsy Palmer - Palmer returned as Bianca Jackson, a character she last played in 2019.
Ricky Groves - Groves returned as Garry Hobbs, a character who has not been seen since 2009.
Cliff Parisi - Parisi returned as Minty Peterson, a character who was last seen on the square in 2010.
Ross Kemp - Kemp has returned to play Grant Mitchell, a character he first played in 1990. The BBC has described Kemp's storyline as "explosive". Kemp said it was an "absolute honour" to return to the show.
Other aspects of the EastEnders 40th anniversary celebration include: A wedding between fan favorites, A huge explosion at the Queen Vic, and A live interactive episode.