EastEnders Drops Bombshell: Two Characters’ Fates Sealed as Stacey Slater Exit Twist Hits BBC iPlayer

Warning: major spoilers for the Thursday 25 September 2025 episode of EastEnders, now on BBC iPlayer.

Big night in Walford. Stacey Slater makes a huge call about her future, Zoe Slater digs up old ghosts, and a family that has already buried too much grief gets pulled in two directions. It is messy, heartfelt, and very EastEnders.

Stacey says yes to Brazil (and books the flights)

After hovering on the fence, Stacey (Lacey Turner) decides to take her brother Sean (Robert Kazinsky) up on his offer and relocate the family to Brazil. Not hypothetically either — she goes ahead and books one-way tickets for herself, Lily (Lillia Turner), Lily’s little girl Charli, and Stacey’s youngest two, Arthur and Hope.

Lily is buzzing about the move. The plan is to loop in Charli’s dad Ricky Branning (Frankie Day) together — and Stacey wants to be in the room because Ricky’s dad Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) can be... a lot.

But Stacey gets pulled into Zoe’s storm

Before she can back Lily up, Stacey breaks the news to her mum Jean (Gillian Wright), who takes it hard. Then Stacey spots Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) with Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean), and that turns into its own situation. Zoe is sounding Sharon out about hiring a private investigator to track down her son.

Stacey and Kat Moon (Jessie Wallace) warn Zoe that involving Sharon is risky. Zoe is past caring.

'I just want to find my boy and be his mum.'

That hits a nerve, especially when Zoe admits she does not even know where her baby daughter was buried. Kat ropes Stacey into doing something kind but simple in the middle of all this chaos.

A small memorial, a big promise

At the allotments, Zoe remembers drinking there with her old mate Kelly Taylor (Brooke Kinsella) back in the day. Kat and Stacey hand her a plant to serve as a memorial for her daughter. It is understated and exactly what Zoe needed. Kat promises they will find Zoe’s son.

Lily faces the Brannings alone

Meanwhile, because Stacey is tied up, Lily has to tell Ricky and Jack about Brazil by herself. Jack goes straight to fury. Ricky is upset, but he shows up for Lily when she admits the family is desperate for a reset after losing her dad, Martin Fowler (James Bye).

Back home, Lily tears into Stacey for bailing when she needed backup. Then Ricky sends a photo — he has let Charli do his makeup — and that is the moment it clicks for Lily. She cannot take Charli away from her dad. With Martin still heavy on her mind, she makes the call: no Brazil for her and Charli.

So where does that leave Stacey?

Lily draws a line. She and Charli are staying put. Stacey is still holding those one-way tickets for herself, Arthur, and Hope — but with Lily opting out, does Stacey still go? This episode effectively sets two futures: Lily stays in Walford, and Stacey’s exit is suddenly very real... unless she blinks.

The episode in one pass

• Sean (Robert Kazinsky) invites Stacey to move the family to Brazil; Lily is all in.
• Stacey books one-way flights for herself, Lily, Charli, Arthur, and Hope.
• Stacey plans to tell Ricky (Frankie Day) with Lily, bracing for Jack (Scott Maslen).
• Jean (Gillian Wright) is hurt by Stacey’s news.
• Stacey detours to Zoe (Michelle Ryan) and Sharon (Letitia Dean): Zoe wants a PI to find her son; Kat (Jessie Wallace) and Stacey warn it is risky.
• At the allotments, Kat and Stacey give Zoe a plant in memory of her daughter; Kat vows they will find Zoe’s son. Zoe recalls old times with Kelly Taylor (Brooke Kinsella).
• With Stacey missing, Lily tells Ricky and Jack about Brazil; Jack rages, Ricky supports Lily as she grieves Martin Fowler (James Bye).
• A photo of Ricky letting Charli do his makeup flips the switch for Lily: she will not take Charli away. She tells Stacey she and Charli are not going.

Walford rarely lets a clean exit stand. Stacey might be chasing sunshine, but tonight reminded her what she would be leaving behind.