Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner)

[tammyy2j]

Kyle is more likely Stacey's half sibling from her dad Brian given how predictable the show has become plus now Stacey regresses back to homewrecker as she is pregnant with her best friend's husband Kush's baby

[tammyy2j]

http://www.ok.co.uk/tv/eastenders-ch...ristmas-scenes

Lacey Turner has been seen filming scenes as Stacey Slater for EastEnders' Christmas episodes.

And it looks like the BBC soap is going to be as dramatic as always.

In the pictures, Stacey is seen escaping from hospital with her newborn baby – who was recently revealed to be Kush Kazemi's child, rather than her boyfriend Martin Fowler's.

She appears to be very distressed in the pictures, her eyes red and blotchy from crying.

The pictures show Stacey running away with the child and hailing a taxi in the rain and pitch-black - and the driver is her uncle, Charlie Slater.

The outspoken character is dressed scruffily, in big shawl, tracksuit bottoms and boots.

Stacey's newborn baby is wrapped in a sling and wearing a baby-blue cap, suggesting she's given birth to a boy.

These are the first pictures of Derek Martin returning as Charlie, having left the soap in 2010 after 10 years on Albert Square – apart from a few guest stints in 2011 and 2013.

However, it's thought he's set to be killed off in a dramatic New Year plot.

Charlie will meet a grisly end when he returns to Albert Square for one final time in January, coinciding with his daughter Kat Slater – played by Jessie Wallace, who recently broke her leg –and Alfie Moon's (Shane Richie) comeback.

Kat will apparently be hit the hardest by his sudden death.

An insider told the Daily Mirror: "Charlie's death is going to hit Kat hard.

"The storyline will be the catalyst for her to learn more secrets which will see her and Alfie eventually head to Ireland.

"Charlie's death is going to be a real tearjerker for the audience, too, and they will be waiting to see if he and Kat can mend bridges before he dies."

[Perdita]

Stacey Branning is set to battle a rare mental illness over Christmas in EastEnders.



Due to give birth just before the holidays, Stacey (played by Lacey Turner) will suffer from postpartum psychosis, which affects new mums and can cause mood swings and hallucinations.

The Mirror reports that EastEnders bosses have worked with charities to learn about the condition. Women who suffer from it have made "several" trips to Elstree to talk to Turner and staff.

"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," executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins said.

​Stacey gets out of the cab with a baby carrier​
© BBC

The condition can affect a woman without pre-existing mental health issues, but it is more likely to affect a mother who has bipolar disorder. Stacey was diagnosed with the disorder on the soap in 2009.

Treadwell-Collins noted that he wants the storyline to explore the effects of postpartum psychosis and "look at what we are doing as a country to help mothers experiencing this".

Clare Dolman of Bipolar UK has praised EastEnders for "raising awareness of this devastating condition" and said that several of the charity's volunteers have visited the soap's studio to tell writers and researchers what it is like.

Mind's Alison Kerry added: "We have been working with the EastEnders team to develop this storyline over several months and have been impressed by the dedication they have shown in portraying postpartum psychosis sensitively."

The news follows the announcement that EastEnders will shock fans by killing off one of its characters on Christmas Day.

[Dazzle]

Women who kill their babies are often unknowingly suffering from postpartum psychosis.

I actually thought my daughter was suffering from it just after she'd given birth (nearly a year ago now!). She stayed with me for a week after the birth and one night she woke me shouting that the fire alarm was going off. It wasn't, so I suggested she'd fallen asleep feeding her baby daughter and dreamt it. She insisted she hadn't fallen asleep and that the fire alarm had sounded, so I went to look for the source of the smoke (even though I couldn't smell anything). There was nothing amiss but she absolutely kept insisting it wasn't a dream.

Knowing about postpartum psychosis, I began to seriously fear she'd hallucinated the whole thing and felt very worried. Luckily, nothing similar happened and we both agree now she fell asleep momentarily and dreamt the whole thing. Phew!

I hope nothing bad happens to Stacey or her baby.

[tammyy2j]

Could Shabham push Kush for custody of Stacey's baby if she discovers and truth and stays with him?

[Rear window]

Could Shabham push Kush for custody of Stacey's baby if she discovers and truth and stays with him?

Well if Stacey's not well enough to look after the baby then her best friend might offer to look after it...

[Rear window]

Could Shabham push Kush for custody of Stacey's baby if she discovers and truth and stays with him?

Well if Stacey's not well enough to look after the baby then her best friend might offer to look after it...

[Dazzle]

Well if Stacey's not well enough to look after the baby then her best friend might offer to look after it...

That would be nice, but what I fear is that Shabnam and Kush might try and use Stacey's illness to get custody of the baby. Shabnam's pining for Jade and Zaair, and it's been suggested she's going to be told she can't have more children. Plus she's likely to hate Stacey when she finds out her baby's paternity. Also, I wouldn't trust Kush an inch.

I hope EE don't go down this route because Shabnam's currently one of the only characters on the square that I like.

[Perdita]

​EastEnders favourite Stacey Branning will become convinced that her newborn baby is the son of God in tragic scenes after she gives birth.

Stacey will welcome the arrival of a baby boy in a touching Christmas Eve episode, but there won't be an easy time ahead for her in the aftermath as she starts battling a rare mental illness.

Show bosses recently announced that Stacey will begin suffering from postpartum psychosis, which affects new mums and can cause hallucinations.

Although it takes a while for anyone to realise what is wrong, Dot Branning will become concerned when Stacey claims that her son has been sent by God as a saviour for everyone.

Dot, who recently encouraged Stacey to show an interest in Christianity, knows that her claims are very worrying but isn't sure what to do for the best.

​ Stacey tells Dot about seeing a vision of her dad on Halloween​
© BBC
Stacey's struggles will follow an eventful few weeks, including the revelation of what her secret key opens. Her best friend Shabnam Masood will also soon realise that her husband Kush Kazemi is the father of Stacey's baby, which is sure to cause fireworks between them all.

As Stacey's inner turmoil builds, she decides that she needs to be closer to God. Wanting to be up high, Stacey finds herself drawn back to the Queen Vic roof, where her beloved husband Bradley died in 2010.

With Stacey's worried partner Martin Fowler in hot pursuit as she heads for the top, it seems that her issues will come to light. But can her loved ones pull together to offer the support she clearly needs?

Stacey, Kush, Shabna and Martin in new EastEnders Christmas picture
© BBC EastEnders
EastEnders boss Dominic Treadwell-Collins recently explained: "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 - and look at what we are doing as a country to help mothers experiencing this."

[Dazzle]

I think Stacey's postpartum psychosis storyline could be excellent if researched and written carefully (and not overly sensationalised). Lacey Turner has proved herself capable of a realistic and sympathetic portrayal of mental illness, and the other actors involved are all good too.