Storylines
Stacey arrives in Walford age 16, moving in with her great-uncle Charlie (Derek Martin) after being thrown out by her mother Jean (Gillian Wright). She initially causes trouble through her promiscuous and immoral behaviour and was sent back home to her mum Jean but then returned back to the slaters, but eventually begins to settle down when joined by her mother and older brother Sean (Robert Kazinsky). It is revealed that Stacey had a troubled childhood, due to Jean's bipolar disorder and the death of her father when she was 11, after which Sean abandoned the family and left Stacey as Jean's sole carer. In 2005 Stacey becomes heavily involved in the murder of Den Watts (Leslie Grantham) when she gives her cousin Zoe Slater (Michelle Ryan) a false alibi for his murder, landing innocent Sam Mitchell (Kim Medcalf) in prison. Sam's family and Den's adopted daughter Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) pressure her into telling the truth, but eventually Den's wife Chrissie Watts is arrested for the murder.
Despite originally being unimpressed by Walford newcomer Bradley Branning (Charlie Clements), the pair fall in love and Stacey discovers she has fallen pregnant with his child. When Bradley uncovers the truth, he constantly urges Stacey to have an abortion. After hours of her pleading Bradley, she finally decides to abort and after doing so, their relationship dissolves. Bradley dumps Stacey when she embarrasses him at a work party. She confides in his father Max (Jake Wood) and they sleep together. Subsequently, they begin an affair and Max agrees to divorce his wife, Tanya (Jo Joyner). However, he terminates her plans as he learns that she is pregnant. He leaves Stacey and she reunites with Bradley, eventually marrying. Max propositions Stacey after the wedding ceremony and they are recorded kissing on Max's daughter Lauren's (Madeline Duggan) hidden video camera. Lauren gives a DVD of the recording to Bradley as a Christmas present, revealing the romance when he plays it in front of the family. Devastated, Bradley breaks up with Stacey again for six months. He eventually decides to give their marriage another chance, suggesting that they start a family. Stacey is uncertain and continues taking birth control pills. She flirts with Callum Monks (Elliott Jordan), leading to the pair kissing. She immediately regrets cheating on Bradley. Although she attempts to make her marriage work, Stacey divorces Bradley. She has a one-night-stand with Callum and they begin dating. She splits up with him over his harsh treatment of her mother.
Following the death of her best friend Danielle Jones (Lauren Crace), Stacey begins behaving erratically. She steals money from her family, seduces various men and drinks heavily. She is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but is non-compliant with her medication and becomes paranoid, experiencing hallucinations. Stacey has sex with Ryan Malloy (Neil McDermott) and is attacked by Archie Mitchell (Larry Lamb). She believes that they are both planning to kill her. After attacking Archie with a broken glass and accusing her friends and family of planning to hurt her, Stacey is involuntarily committed to hospital, where she befriends Becca Swanson (Simone James).
Upon her release, Bradley confesses his feelings for Stacey and they reconcile, but shortly after, Stacey discovers she is 3 months pregnant, making Bradley not the biological father. She tells Bradley that Archie raped her and is the father. Archie is murdered that night by an unknown assailant. Stacey and Bradley agree to pretend the baby is theirs, and re-marry on 18 February 2010. A jealous Becca reveals the rape to Archie's daughter Ronnie Mitchell (Samantha Womack), who tells Stacey that Archie was infertile. Becca informs the police Bradley had a motive to kill Archie. He and Stacey attempt to flee Walford, but Bradley is caught by the police and falls to his death while trying to escape. A distraught Stacey confesses to Max that she killed Archie while her world falls apart.
Stacey decides not to tell Ryan that he must be the father of her baby. He exhibits a romantic interest in her, which is later revealed to be part of a bet with his girlfriend Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks). Upset by this revelation, Stacey's waters break and realises she is in labour. Ryan stays with her as she gives birth to a daughter, whom she names Lily. When Ryan later rescues them from a fire at The Queen Victoria pub, Stacey admits that he is Lily's father. Ryan initially refuses to act as a parent to her, but bonds with her when Stacey and a jealous Janine are arrested for fighting during a night out. Janine's jealousy escalates to kidnapping Lily, but Ryan convinces her to return her. Stacey and Ryan grow closer, spending time together, and they passionately kiss. During this time, Lauren (now Jacqueline Jossa) discovers Stacey's guilt in Archie's death and records a confession on her phone. Stacey attempts to flee to Palma, Majorca, but Ryan stops her, telling her he has feelings for her and wants to date her. They start an affair, but unbeknownst to them, Janine finds out, who poisons Ryan in revenge. Ryan is hospitalised and on his return, he convinces Janine he loves her but publicly declares his love for Stacey in The Queen Victoria. Janine walks in as they are in a passionate embrace. She concedes defeat until Lauren, who still believes Max is emotionally involved with Stacey, gives Janine the recorded confession. The next day, Janine attempts to play the recording in front of punters in The Queen Victoria, but it has been recorded over because Lauren warned Max. Janine then reveals that Stacey killed Archie but no one believes that Stacey killed Archie. Stacey leaves the pub in tears, followed by Ryan. She then has a breakdown and reveals to Ryan that what Janine says is true.
The next day, Christmas Day, Stacey tells Jean she killed Archie, so Jean takes Lily away from her. Ryan convinces Stacey to leave with him as Janine will call the police. Stacey lets Janine in and she attempts to set Stacey up by grabbing a knife, placing it into Stacey's hand and stabbing herself. Stacey runs out of the house and Janine convinces Jean to call the police. Stacey contemplates suicide but Max stops her and says he will help her to escape. Stacey convinces Jean that Janine has framed her. Ryan plans to run away with Stacey, but Stacey states that events have happened rapid, and she is not sure whether she loves him. Stacey ends their romance. Ronnie and Roxy confront her, and Stacey confesses that she did kill Archie. Ronnie tells her to go, and Max drives her to the airport as the police arrive on the Square. At the airport, Max says he loves her and offers to leave with her, but she tells him she only ever loved Bradley. She and Lily then leave the country on an aeroplane; where they went remains unknown. However, it is later revealed that they are in Mexico when Stacey phones Kat the following day saying that her and Lily are safe and well.
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