Lacey Turner admits the 'EastEnders' set had a "sadness" after Dame Barbara Windsor's death.

Dame Barbara Windsor

Dame Barbara Windsor

The 32-year-old actress - who has played Stacey Slater on the BBC soap since 2004 - felt the mood on the set change after it was announced that the iconic actress - who played Peggy Mitchell - had passed away in December following a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

She told OK! magazine: "There was a real sadness on set after [she passed away] but then we also had a celebration. It’s terribly sad but I’m glad she’s resting up there and dancing with her mates.”

Lacey worked with Barbara before her retirement from acting and she "learned" a lot from the Dame during her time on 'EastEnders'.

Asked about her favourite memory of the late actress, Lacey - who is married to Matt Kay - shared: "I have so many. She could walk into a room and everyone would know she was there.

"I learned so much doing scenes with her. She came to our wedding [in 2017] and she was amazing."

Barbara's husband, Scott Mitchell, previously revealed the legendary actress retained her "fighting spirit until the end" as he announced her death at the age of 83.

He said: “Her passing was from Alzheimer's/dementia and Barbara eventually died peacefully and I spent the last seven days by her side.

"Myself, her family and friends will remember Barbara with love, a smile and affection for the many years of her love, fun, friendship and brightness she brought to all our lives and the entertainment she gave to so many thousands of others during her career.

"Barbara's final weeks were typical of how she lived her life. Full of humour, drama and a fighting spirit until the end.

"It was not the ending that Barbara or anyone else living with this very cruel disease deserve. I will always be immensely proud of Barbara's courage, dignity and generosity dealing with her own illness and still trying to help others by raising awareness for as long as she could."