EastEnders executive producer Jon Sen has promised an explosive return for Stacey Slater in upcoming episodes.

Save for a few cameo appearances, actress Lacey Turner has been absent from the soap since going on maternity leave last summer but is now back filming full-time.

On screen, Stacey's husband Martin (James Bye) has recently begun a relationship with her best friend Ruby (Louisa Lytton) in her absence and the pair have even been living together during the coronavirus lockdown.

"The big one [to look forward to] is Stacey – we have been waiting for her to come back," Sen told journalists this week.

"Lacey is amazing and part of EastEnders history and we have really missed her energy in the Slaters so the first two weeks we tease a mystery – where is Stacey?

"Are all of these things on the going on the Square to do with her? Then she's back with a bang.

"There are some fantastic Ruby versus Stacey scenes – and we can't wait to find out what Stacey does when she discovers what has been going on between Martin and Ruby. As a return that is a big moment."

EastEnders returns to BBC One on Monday, September 7.