Life with Nat - EP274: LACEY TURNER - Eastenders, Strictly AND her new book "Gold Dust"

Episode Date: October 21, 2026

Nat and Lacey have SO much to talk about, from their years together in Eastenders, Lacey's current stint in Strictly Come Dancing, AND her very lovely new book - Gold Dust - My Life (so far) with the Women Who Shaped MeGold Dust is our Book Club book, get it here https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/477888/gold-dust-by-turner-lacey/9780241809853Get in touch with Nat, buy tickets for upcoming live shows and link to Patreon, all the family's Instagrams, and more: ⁠⁠⁠lifewithnatpod.komi.io⁠⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hello everybody and welcome to Life with Nat. Today's Epp is so special to me because it really is one of the greatest pals I've had on Albert Square. Lovely Lacey Turner. She is jiggling her stuff on the dance floor every Saturday night at the moment in Strictly. I'm so proud of her. I know that it would take a lot of guts for her to do that. Trust me, everyone might think,

Oh, Lacey, perform or whatever. But, you know, she's out of her comfort zone and she's doing so, so well. And I know she's a home bird. she's very much like me. She loves her kids. She loves her garden. She likes being at home. She loves her furniture and wallpapers.

And she's just such a lovely soul. And her book is out today. Thursday the 22nd, gold dust. And it's all about the women who shaped her. And I'm going to talk to her now. So here we go. Hello, my angel. Hello, darling.

You're okay. Yeah, I'm fine. How are you? I'm on my life. I'm a bit annoyed actually because I should be downstairs watching the results show. Oh, I know. I've folded it. Listen, we're not here to talk all strictly, but everyone's going to want to know.

You're doing so well. I still can't believe I'm doing it. It is really, it's, I love the Monday to Thursday. I love the training. but the Saturday night terrifies me and you can see it all over my face. Having known you for a very long time, I can see the panic in your face. But it's not coming out with your beautiful dancing leg, so don't worry about it. Honestly, you're doing the best job.

I should wear here more often. I did love it when JoJo passed you your rugs. He's so lovely, isn't it? Doesn't he look fabulous as well? Absolutely fabulous. He's amazing up there. I love it. I think it's fantastic, actually.

And I think, well, anyone who's been a bit negative, they've got to get over themselves. Things change. You know what I mean? It's like, get over it. That's all it is, isn't it? It's just we don't like change. But I love it.

I love it. I think the three of them are brilliant together. I completely agree. It's fantastic. I've got you on because I do a little book club and your book is out today when I'm putting this pod out Thursday the 22nd of October. I was very, very lucky to be able to get a copy.

And I have had a very, very thorough flick through. I'm not going to say I've read it all yet because I haven't had time. But I honestly, it is so beautiful. It is so you, and I love it, because I know you, every word on that page is you. And how do you feel about having a book, lace? I can't believe I've got a book, to be honest. Like when someone said, oh, you should do a book, and I don't have anything to talk about. I haven't really, can't write a book at 38.

And then somebody of Angelina said to me, why don't you write about yours, talk about the women in your life? why don't you write a book about the women in your life? And I thought, oh, my God, I'd love to talk about them. Because I have, I mean, you know my life. I've been brought up by really strong women. I've been at work surrounded by really strong women. Lovely, amazing, powerful women.

And I just, I thought, a lot of them, I've never thanked for everything they've given me. And I just wanted, I wanted everyone to know how amazing all the women are. in my life. So I thought, yeah, do you know what? I will do a book. Well, I think it's brilliant that you've done it. And as you say, for the listener, I'm going to make this book club of the month. So you need to go out and buy Gold Dust, buy Lacey.

And then we can discuss it. Me and all the listeners, we can do a big debrief on it, which will be brilliant. But honestly, listeners, whether you get the audio book, whether you buy the book, you will absolutely love it. It's got so much in it about our work and the place that we, have loved for so many years. But actually, more importantly for me, are your family members, your sisters, your mum, your nan,

all the experiences that you go through. And one thing I have to pick out, because I think it's something, we can talk about EastEnders in a minute, as we, of course, will. But one thing I did not know, and I read it, and I was like, oh, wow, I've got to ask you, is I did not know that you were at the birth of your husband.

sister. Yes. I didn't know. I didn't. I didn't. I was a best big ever. Honestly, when I read that, I thought, what an amazing

for your mum to choose to have her daughter was there while she gave birth to Lily. I really, I just want to know more about that because I thought it was amazing. I think it was my mum's idea of like contraception.

I think she was so, she was. she was trying to make sure that as we got older, we were careful, like this is what happens if you're not. But, no, it was just the most amazing thing ever. I was 13, Daisy was 11, and in that room was my mom, my nan, the midwife, me and Daisy. And it was just the most amazing thing I've ever experienced in my life.

And it's like, because Lily's, there's 13, years between me and Lily. So if you go in my mum's loft, there's loads of photo, like, packet albums, me and Daisy, me and Daisy, there's nothing of Lily because then's like iPhones were about and so everything's in a cloud or on a stick or something. She was like, I'm adopted, I'm adopted, I was like, I can promise you now. I watch you come out. You're adopted. But we cut her cords and everything. Like me and Daisy take full responsibility for her post- I feel like belly button. I love that.

We did say the all the time. We made that. We made that belly button. But no, it was just amazing. And then I went on to have dusty and gypsy in the same room at the same hospital. It was just amazing. So in my head, that's how birth went. And it was such a, like my mom wasn't screaming or anything like that.

So in my head, that's how my births were going to go. And they did go that way. That's incredible, really, when you think about it. That was planted at 13. And maybe you just never had that fear. You know, people talking. You read stuff. And yeah, I wonder if that is actually.

I never had that fear. I never had that like, oh, it's going to be awful. Because my experience of someone giving birth was like magical. Yeah. So I do think that my mindset going into birth, was that. So my births were lovely. Now, you know, you've got three beautiful children, two girls and a lovely little boy. How is it at the moment? Because, again, everybody messages me about their week and the mum load and how they feel and how stress they are.

And as much as they'll be so excited that you're on to talk about all the glamorous things, I do think they want to know just how Lacey's life is going with everything that's going on at the moment, being a mum, being on. unstrictly, writing your book, you've got all the press for this. How's it all going? How are you fitting it all in? Oh, it's chaos. It's absolute chaos. The WhatsApp group's pinging and I'm thinking, oh, no, what do you mean?

You need to have been bag for tomorrow. I've never been on Amazon so much in my life. I can't find the library book, don't where that went. Get to the point where you go, yep, yep. Oh, I'm just going to write it finished that you've read that. Don't worry, shut the book. Let's stop it. Oh, I can't even the homework.

I find hard myself. Thank God for GPT. But no, it's madness. I mean, I'm just the same as every other parent. It's just, there's so much stuff going on, isn't it? And you're just chasing your tail the whole time. Packing the bag, I'm packing the bag, packing the rugby bag, the PE bag,

the this, I've never left at the door with so many bags. Six bags go out of the door in the morning. It's a joke. But somehow we manage. And I've got, I mean, you know, Matt's brilliant, my mum's brilliant. So, you know, I'm lucky to have people that are helping me. But yeah, it's a lot. I can tell you something right now, whether you like it or not, it's not ending soon.

So this is going on for quite a while, babe. So as I said, I'd put my money on you, but I'm not allowed, which is annoying because I know you. but you're not going anywhere. I'm afraid this is right up until Christmas. You better get used to it. Oh my God. I've put no camps for half term. Then I suddenly thought, oh, oh, God, what can I do with them?

They'll have to come with you and just sit in the training room. You've met my two eldest state. Sit. Are you going to love? Chubby can't sit. They'll be having a punch up while I'm trying to. to do some sort of waltz. Can you imagine?

Alamious. Have they loved it though? Are they loving watching Mummy? I bet they love it. They love it. They love it. I was at Trilby is, well, it's funny because Dusty came home. Because obviously they've been in all the little BTs and everything and Dusty came home and she was like,

Mommy, I don't want to be on the telly. Everyone's talking to me and now I'm lost in the lunch queue. And then you've got the other one that goes in on a Monday morning. and goes, well, well, did you see me on the telly? To his whole class. Yet hasn't said a thing about it at home, hasn't mentioned it, but it goes bowling into school.

And the baby, she was, I thought she was saying, Mickey, but she was saying strictly. So she makes me put strictly on every morning. And when I tell you, she watches the whole program, she watches the whole program, the interviews, everything. No, she doesn't.

Dance when the dances are going and then she sits down and watches every interview, everything. Yeah. Bless her little heart. Yeah. I know. You've got to just enjoy now. Enjoy your time. I know everyone will be saying it to you.

Enjoy every second of it. It'll be over. You'll blink and it'll be over. And then you'll have a lovely Christmas to look forward to. Yes. Whilst I'm doing pantomime and Dunstable. Oh, I can't wait. I'm coming.

You're going to come? Yes. I'm coming. That's going to be my one this year. No, it should be good. But you know what I'm like? I love being at home. I'm a little bit anxious about it.

I know. I'm surprised. You love Christmas. I do, but the kids lace, you get to Eliza 16. No. Joan is year six, that sort of age where the questions are coming along. So actually I thought it's quite nice to change it up. Yeah.

It might be nice. Well, you still, you're doing. now. Yes, David's coming around as well, so I'll do it together. Oh, so you'll still have your Christmas Day. Yeah. You can't not have your Christmas Day. I also love my debrief of your Sunday roast on a Monday morning.

I miss that so much. Well, I think everyone wants to hear about that because you do, I was very honoured. I have to say, I did have a little tear in my eye to see a couple of pages in there. And you've mentioned me, which was so really, I've felt. very honest. A little bit. I can't. You're like a massive part of my life, especially there.

So I can't not talk about you. You're one of those women. Well, I think for us, the special moments are the ones which no one would ever know about, as in coming into work. You having your two bits of toast with your butter, sitting down with your cup of tea and us talking about our weekends or talking about whatever we want. Yeah. It's a funny old place, isn't it?

Because people say, oh, who do you see a lot? Who do you keep in touch with? And it's, I don't know about you, but for me, when you're in EastEnders, you're a family and you're there all the time. But because I don't speak to you all the time, or I don't see you all the time, you're still my family. I don't need to speak to you every five minutes.

Exactly. I could literally message you in three months' time, one thing, and it doesn't matter. I just feel like you can pick up from where you left off. But like I'd see your handbag on the floor and I'd go, oh, lovely, she's in. She's in already. The diary's out on the table.

Never met someone so organised in my name. It is an organisation. It's pure panic and just trying to pretend to look organised. But the diary is still there, wherever I go, people laugh. I love it. I tried to bought the diary. I think I wrote about a week's worth of things in it, and then it just almost, I forgot.

And the school brings me in, are you collecting your children today? Yeah, I am when they're finished. They are. Oh, are they? I can't do it like you. No, does it like you? Well, you say that, but I think what I've learned in the book,

you know, not getting too deep, because, again, everyone can read about it, but you've been for a lot. and one thing I must say is the way you speak with such class and bravery about your miscarriages in the book, about what you went through, your mental state, how you felt. And I know you did work with Channel 5 and you talk about it in the book and going on this morning and what have you,

but you really must be very, very proud of yourself for talking about those things. You don't need to do that. You didn't need to open up and you're going to help a lot of ladies. No, I thank you. I just felt like, I mean, you know what it's like, you have this platform that you've somehow got and I think you just think, if I hadn't have seen that girl on Instagram

talking about it, I would never have known where to go. So if she can reach me, then I can reach so many people. Why would you not? You know, and it's that thing, isn't it? talking about something and opening up. And then all it takes is for one person to talk about it. And then it somehow opens the door for everybody else to speak.

And it's quite an incredible thing when that happens, I think, because you just need one person to start it. And then it is like a ball rolling. And then all of a sudden you're surrounded by people who are in the same position when two days ago you had no idea that anybody, you was just completely alone. you're surrounded by people in exactly the same position. So therefore, you've just opened your, by opening your mouth,

you've opened your doors and all of a sudden you've got a support system. It's quite incredible. And I think if you can do it, you should do it because it does help yourself and other people. Yeah, well, I think it's very brave and absolutely fantastic. And yeah, as you say, I think the biggest thing about any problem, it doesn't matter what it is, is feeling on your own. So if you can, like you say, all you need is a couple of people to go, oh, me as well.

Oh, I did that. Yeah. And you can just breathe a sigh of relief and feel, oh God, I'm not, it is normal. I'm not on my own. Because it is so normal. But because of the whole stigma and, you know, years ago, you just didn't speak. Whereas now I think the world's changed.

in many different taboo subjects, you know, people are much more open to talking now. And I think it's brilliant. You know, it just gives people an immediate support system. Because I remember Googling it and it was like, I didn't know what to do next. And there wasn't even anything on Google other than call 1-1-1. You know, think, oh, right, okay, well, then there's nothing I can do. Well, carry on. But actually, what I needed was people.

No, it's fantastic. I'll tell you what I do want to say. You're sat in your beautiful home with that fantastic wallpaper behind you. And I was loving, obviously, because all the females in your life, but BB. Oh, yeah. Matt's mum. Yeah. And her love of colour and how you have learnt that really from her.

And I love that because you are. Can I just say to everybody, This woman would come into work and she is just, Lacey is filled with colour. She's got the most beautiful wardrobe, the most eclectic range of cardigans and shoes and beautiful jeans and lovely bags. And I didn't realise that a little part of that was from Matt's mum, which I like. Yeah. Matt's mum is, I never met anyone like her. And when I first met her, I was fascinated by her.

and she's been in my life now for like 23 years or something like that, 20, 20 odd years. And her style has never changed in 20 or years, but it's her style. She doesn't follow trends. You know, you'd never see her dress top to toe in Zara or anything like that. She has always dressed the same and she dresses for herself. And I loved it. And I used to just think, oh my God, she looks. so cool, but also she's so brave that she didn't. She never looked like anyone else in the room.

I remember her saying to me once, we were sitting in a room and it was all really quite boring and beige, and she was, and me and her were dressed, and she was like, oh, we're like a couple of donuts in a room for the bagels. And I knew straight away what she meant, and I loved it. And she did, she taught me about color, about, you know, just dress, be brave, wear color. put colour in your home and it does and my house is filled with colour because you walk in and you're just happy

it just makes me happy you talked about your mum obviously and your mum being I know your mum obviously but absolutely pristine turned out worked in the bank do you know what I mean

she was always immaculate but more of your side of the family was a bit more conservative a bit like my mum absolutely turn out yeah my mum's a plan Jane I mean, if I brought out like a floral, multi-coloured dress, she would never wear it. And she used to pre-worn people when they come in my house, like, oh, it's a bit bright in my laces house.

Just, yeah, she's been, I think she's been embarrassed, actually, to bring everyone in. I had a neon pink sofa and a teal armchair. And then, like, I had, like, dot-cotton wallpaper on the wall. So I think she would be like, oh, just, yeah, she'd just, she'd use some warm people. So they didn't go in and go, oh, this is a lot. But yeah, my mum is, my mum's very, but she always had like black dress, nice painting shoes.

She went to work, she was macular, always a Santander uniform. But she does not dress out there, my mum. I mean, an olive green silk trouser is about as far as she's getting lately. Well, she looks beautiful every time I see her. She is, right. I love I'm obsessed. You mentioned dot cotton there with the old ballpark. I love how you write about June.

To be quite honest with you, everything you said about everyone, I thought, oh, yeah, no, that's right. I thought that. Oh no, yeah, that's what I would have writ. So I just, I love, but I did love the way you spoke about June because unless you sort of were there, we were so blessed and so lucky, weren't we, to have those women in our lives.

I feel sad that the younger generation who work there now, I mean, maybe it's different, maybe they feel that way about other people, but I just feel like we were so lucky to have like the four of them in one go with the knowledge they had and the etiquette they had and the way they worked. and I just feel like that is so rare now. I just feel like the fact that we had that, my God, that was the best lesson that anyone could ever have had coming into this industry.

I completely agree with you. And you mentioned a story in the book where you were rehearsing a scene and you were obviously just sort of doing it half pace, whatever, half-assed because of your line running or whatever. And Barbara, lovely Barbara Winston, I'm talking about, said, are you going to do it like that? You went, no, no, I was just rehearsing. Well, you know, you can't do it like that.

And I remember me doing something. And I remember, I don't know what it was. And I said, excuse me, pardon? And I said, oh, I'm just right. She said, I can't hear you. You need to speak up and use your mouth, dear. But all those things, we, you take it on. And I do think now.

Nowadays, if we were to say that to a youngster, I think we'd probably get called up for bullying or something, which I understand why all the rules are in place. But I do think it's a shame that the youth of EastEnders now, that all the chaperone and they're not sort of with us enough. They don't get, I get it. We didn't have that. When I was 16, I didn't have a chaperone. I think you have a chaperone now to, like, I don't know, 17, 18 or... I didn't have a chaperin or anything like that. It was just me and you lot, you know, when I started.

But it's, I talk about it in the book, like the things, the way we were taught, the way we were treated on set for me made me work how I work. And I'm so grateful for that. But I could not do that today. It wouldn't be allowed today, which I think is a bit sad. Because actually someone putting me out the door and saying, you know, You can't do it like that. You've got to do it.

You've got to give it your best shot on every go. That comes from Barbara being in a world where you gave it everything. Because if you didn't, someone else was going to fill the boots, you know, and then your job's gone. And I liked that. I liked that way of, I like to be pulled up. I was, I'm never late on set. I was late every day for work, but I was never late on set. You wasn't late for that.

I was like, 10.9, Matthew, I'm going to be. I come out of that door and all of a sudden I was Stacey's centre. I could get dressed in about four minutes, but I was never late on that floor. And I would say I pretty much knew all my lines. And that comes from them. And that comes from working with people like Pam, June, Barbara, Steve.

You know, if I had a scene with Steve, my God, I would not go in there unprepared. I completely agree. I remember doing scenes with Steve where Jamie, I don't know, he was beating me up. and I had these scenes and I was so petrified, but you just knew, didn't. If you were on set with Steve,

you just knew you had to do your best. Yeah, on your top of your game, yeah. And I love that. And I hope people still feel that somewhere there. It's nice. I mean, we come from like the days where you, I like to be a little bit scared of my boss. Do you know what I mean?

It keeps me on my toes. It reminds me that actually, I have a job to do and I have to do it properly. You know, I don't want to just bowl in and sit and have a coffee with my boss. I just, I like to be a bit. No, I agree with you. I think there should. I, again, I think it's brilliant now that there's mutual respect because I think

some bosses have so much power and then people get exploited so I understand that side. But I like the hierarchy. I do like, I like the fact that I completely agree. if we saw a boss in the corridor, it was like, oh gosh, Dom's here or... Yeah. Whatever, Jane's here or Matthew. I'd be like, the governor's coming.

It wasn't it? You can hear her voice, can you? And he's at, Governor's here? And he had her little feet. I loved it. But I just feel so lucky to have had that, to have been around in that time when they were all there.

But Wendy, I used to love sitting with Wendy. I used to love sitting with Wendy. There was nothing better. I used to go around to Wendy's in my pyjamas and do all our scenes. We'd have a packet of Marlborough lights, a bottle of my own, Sean Don. Happy days.

We were so lucky though. I'm like this thing like, how can I not write about that? That was such a lovely time of my life. I was so lucky to have that. How can you not put that in a book? Well, I'll tell you something. The other thing that I love, because my book, I wasn't allowed to photos in my book.

I don't know if I'm allowed to say that. What are it? I am. I don't know. So I'm really annoyed about it, actually. But hey-ho, there we go. But your photos are so gorgeous. Is there one of you in there?

There is one of me and you in here. We went to take that. An audience would take that, I think. That's right. I remember it well. Yeah. I remember James Corden being there and James Corden coming up to us. Do you remember that?

and saying, hi, nice to meet you, what are you up to? And he went, oh, I'm just writing this little comedy

thing. I don't know how it'll go. Gavin and Stacey turned up. Oh, stop it. I remember it well. But no, your pictures are absolutely gorgeous.

And it really does. It feels really, it just feels you. And I'm so happy I can say that because you know I don't get people on here, really. I have my family on here and I just have people

that I want on here. And when I saw the book, I thought, oh, it's perfect. We can do the book club and we can have a little chat, have a little catch-up. But it's lovely and I can't wait to finish it. So as I say, I've properly dipped in and out today, but finish it properly. And then I'm going to hand it over to Linda because she's going to love it. And that's the other

thing I love. There's something in there for every generation because it's not just about a certain age. I loved writing it. And the fact that if you go all the way back to my nan, you can see how it all goes down the food chain and how we sort of it gets diluted the more you you know the sort of old East end girl gets sort of diluted as you go down but I just loved it it was like the most wonderful therapy talking about like my mom and my nan and my sisters and and it's just a lovely thing for my children to have it's like a little treasure box in a book basically. It is.

And I'm not going to spoil it, but I did cry at the end because there's a beautiful. As you say, your children can keep that. They'll love it forever. There's a fantastic little beautiful little nugget at the end. You'll have to bite to see it. But yeah, it is so so beautiful for the kids as well, which I know your love. And I love the fact that you've put my life so far in brackets, because obviously you can do another one in a few years time.

Well, I'm still so young. I'm only 38. Lace, I get asked a question every single day, about 100 times a day. What are we doing? Are you going to go back to EastEnders any time soon? I mean, I can't believe I've been able to ask that question. Are you? I'll come when you come.

I'll come when you come. I would love to one day, but right now there's just no time. I've had such a lovely year at home. I genuinely have had a lovely time with the kids in my garden, doing my veg, being with my chickens. I just think I was so needed to just stop for a minute. And obviously I've got gypsy and I'm not having any more children because I'm so completely outnumbered

and I can't even keep up with the three I've got. So it's been so nice to just have her. And I've kept her a baby for ages. She's only just started walking, literally. Poor thing. We was watching Strictly and she was walking. And Trilby's going, she's walking, she's walking. And we're going, shh.

And he's going, she's walking. She's walking. And then we were like, oh, my gosh, she's walking. Oh, third child. But yeah, it's been so nice. So I've really, I've had such a lovely time off. But, you know, I love the people. I love the show.

I love the place. But just right now, there's just no time. And also you are. You're really busy. and it's lovely what I like and I would say exactly the same I love it there so much

I miss Jeff the Chippee I miss Ange do know but we do we miss the people that we miss that people don't know about it's the people that make that place it sure is and the people that no one see on the telly

yes yes it is so yeah I think it is lovely though to have a little rest and I like what you said you were tired Stacey was tired

and it was time for a break. And, you know, Stacey, more than any character I feel in your generation, when you're at workplace, you're not just at work, there are people that we know who go to work and they'll order a bacon sandwich in the calf and they'll sit in the Vic, and they might have a little storyline every now and again. When you're in, you're in, you're there every day, every hour,

you're in every storyline because you're so fantastic and you've got so many relationships within the show and because you do it so well that they trust you every time with those storylines that when you're there you are in the thick of it all the time. So I think it's really lovely that you've just had that little rest. Yeah, I think I needed it. And I, you know, I'll forever be grateful to that place for the fact that they trust me the storylines and that I've always been busy because it's, that is, you know,

you've got to be grateful for that. It's a lovely thing to have. It's your job at the end of the day. But, yeah, like you said, I just was always there at seven and left at seven every day. No, you really did. And I'm really pleased that you took a little break. And obviously, you talk about it within the book. I don't think anyone understands the anxiety, if I can just say,

the live episode was happening where Martin Fowler was dying. Obviously, no one knew at the time. So everyone was talking about this live episode and rehearsed, dates and what we're doing. And Lacey was about to have a baby. And we're all at work going, I don't know, what are they going to do? She's not going to be here. It's impossible.

What are they talking about? Rehearsal, live show. She's going to have a little tiny baby. She could have the baby a week before, what are we going to do? And, you know, the whole thing really was about you. So everyone was just running about like Headlid's chickens thinking, how is this going to work? Just smile. Oh, yes, it.

work itself out. I was coming whether I'd had that baby, not had that baby. I did it in a nappy for God's sake. But there was no way. Not a chance he was going without me there. I wasn't having it. But having Gypsy and then doing that storyline and that pressure of that live episode

and the emotions of losing your dearest friend, there, how did you do that lace, really? I actually don't know. I still, to this day, I mean, you know how bad it was. I couldn't even talk about it without literally crying. And I don't cry anymore, but I still get that heavy heart. Like, I don't think I will ever get over that, that decision, the fact that Martin Fowler is no longer alive,

that James By is not in the dressing room opposite me. I don't think I'll ever get over that. But it was the weirdest thing, though, when we did that live, I think I'd spoke to you about it before. I've never, I never did a rehearsal without sobbing. And then it comes to the night and not a tear fell from my eye. It was like my body was saying, no, this isn't the last time. No, do not.

It was the strangest. I'm sitting there, I was sitting there thinking, why is no tears coming? It was like, I just wouldn't, it wouldn't do it. it, it wouldn't have it. It was so strange. But I would never, ever, ever, I don't think get over that. If I'm not over it now, I don't think I'd ever get over it. It was a really sad time, wasn't it? It was a sad time. When we went over to Neptune House, which is now flattened, by the way. I know. Honestly, he drives me mad lace. He's sending me video, Mark sends me videos. This is where Studio D, I said, I don't want to know. I don't want to see it, and I don't want to hear about it.

He ignored me the other day. I saw him at EFS. Were you telling him, I've got the needle. And if I bibed my horn and I'll wave at him, can he please wave back? Don't pretend like you don't know me, Mark. He'll be devastated. I was a bib.

And I waved and he was just eating his thing on the bench outside and I find got time to stop. So I don't want. Tell him I've got the hump. I'll tell him in a minute. worry about that. But now I said, please stop sending me geographical things of where was this, where was that?

I said I'm very upset regarding everything changing. I don't like change. So the last thing I needed you sending me fucking videos. I've seen a video though and it's sad. All that history has gone. It's flattened. It's so weird. So weird.

But again, it's lovely and new people and I've seen the new family coming in and you're watching it and you think, oh, just everything changes so quickly. I haven't really watched it a lot. I don't know if you have. I haven't really watched it. It's just, it's always on in the background,

but that time for me is like bread, bath, all of that. So, but if they, I do go back and watch like bits that I want to watch, you know, like things,

storylines that I know, because I still sort of, I saw Jake and Adam actually a couple of days ago. They came in up to the studio on Friday and I saw Mo and Emma and Emma and and Jillie in the car park. That's what's so nice about being in Elstreet.

Oh, That's lovely. I feel, I still get to see everyone, so it's so nice. But yeah, if there's a storyline that I know is happening and I want to watch it, I'll make a point of sitting down and watching it. But I do, it's quite nice to be a viewer and not be in it. Yeah, I think it's a really good thing. I haven't watched much of it.

Eliza's absolutely every morning, I can hear it in her room, she gets ready for school and it's on. She's absolutely on it. And I know there's loads going on now because we've done. got all new year coming up, Christmas are going to be big. It's always massive, isn't it? So I look forward to that. And Mark's supervising Lance's next block, so he's really busy with that. So again, it is nice because I still feel like you can still talk about it, keep your hands in a little bit.

Because Mark's there, but yeah, it's all changed. But it's, honestly, the way you speak about it in the book and all of the women that we loved. And, you know, also, you have to remember, and I know that we talk about it. it with such grace and how wonderful it was. But, you know, you're a young woman. You've gone through quite a lot of loss as well with those women. Yeah. Yeah.

Do you know what I mean? I know we don't talk about that, but as young girls, you don't go into a job, really anywhere else, at a young age with a different demographic and a different generation of person, get so close to them that you're going to lose people of that age through work. It's very rare. It's funny because in my life I've never, I haven't really lost many people.

It's, you know, I never really thought about that. But when I did talk about Barbara, I was sitting, I was actually sitting on this over here. I was crying. I don't know what I, as she just was, I think because I was probably, although I didn't work with Bar the most, I was probably out of the four of them closest to Barbara. obviously when we lost Wendy

that feels like such a long time ago I remember going to a funeral and everything but I feel really young then whereas Barbara seemed to be like the most I really felt her lost in like a building and I think because obviously Scott's our friend and

my agent so it's it I don't know it was I just felt I got really choked up to them about Barbara I loved her And she loved you. And as you say, the book is a little bit of therapy and lovely to walk down memory lane and remember all those things.

You talk about, oh, I'll just do this and that's what I do. And oh, I'm nothing really special. And you are very, very, you need to stop putting yourself down. You are so special. What you've done, what you've created, the character you've created, the life you've got for yourself, your family. your children, Matt, everyone you surround yourself with,

all your friends, you are so special. I'm absolutely honored to know you. I could cry, because honestly, I'm very, very proud of what you're doing at the moment because I know it's out of your comfort zone. People might think,

oh, Lacey, Lacey, oh, entertainer. I know how hard that must be for you every Saturday. I'm sort of like, I hope she's all right. Genuinely, I think, oh, she'll be in makeup now. It's a long day Saturday. She'd be tired. Oh, no, it is. But I just don't feel, I'm just a normal person.

You know what I'm like, I'm very strong-minded. If I want to do something, I'm going to do it. But I'm just like everybody else. It's just like to go and get something if I want it. Yeah, and that's why people love you. That's why your book is going to be a huge success this week. I promise you now, it's going to be unbelievable. Everyone, get it.

Fernand's aunt. sisters, people, brothers, who like EastEnders, who don't, you will love it. Get it in the old stocking for Christmas. Come on early Christmas shopping. Get it in there. Or the audio book. Before we go, one question. The audio book.

How tired were you after doing that? Oh, do you know what? He's picked me out. I said, don't talk to me. I cannot listen to my voice for another minute. Oh, my God. And actually, I'm worried. I sound miserable in it.

you know I've got like monotone and my mouse upside down. So I always sound miserable and look miserable, but I'm actually not. But my God, I thought, please, please just don't ask me one thing. I can't talk anymore. Well, I'm sure it's going to sound beautiful. But I loved it. It was lovely to hear it out loud. Yeah.

And I did laugh at the bits that have always made me laugh. So hopefully they'll make other people laugh. Absolutely. Oh, Lace, well, listen. It's, we're 42 minutes in. I promised you 40 minutes. I want you to go and relax and do something for the evening. I'm going to go and watch the results show and I'm not joking.

I love you so much. Thank you for doing this. Thank you for having me. And we'll talk very, very soon. All right, darling. Love you. Love you. Thank you.

Bye, darling.