EastEnders fans delighted as Stacey Fowler makes surprise return amid Jean's breakdown

EastEnders viewers were overjoyed as Stacey Fowler (Lacey Turner) made a surprise return to the soap.

Stacey has been on the run ever since she attacked Phil Mitchell with a wrench and his son Ben threatened to kill her if she ever returned.

But now that her mentally unstable mother Jean Slater is desperate for her to come back, Kush Kamezi called Stacey on the phone.

But he was not honest with her, insisting that Jean was doing well, when in fact she is spiralling out of control.

She has been losing touch with reality and thinking she is speaking to her dead partner Daniel, and recently collapsed in the market.

Kush lied and pretended to Stacey that her mum Jean was fine (BBC)

Dialling Stacey's phone number at the end of Tuesday's episode, Kush awaited for the much-loved character to answer the phone.

Stacey distinctive voice could be heard saying: "I got your message, what's up?"

Putting on a pretend jolly demeanour, Kush replied: "No nothing, I wanted to touch base, see how you were."

Jean desperately wants Stacey back (BBC)

"Is Arthur alright?" asked Stacey asked of her son.

"Yeah he's great, he actually drew you at nursery and you've got green hair," replied Kush, and they both laughed.

Stacey then asked how her mum was, and Kush replied a little too quickly: "She's fine, she's absolutely fine."

Stacey Fowler was warned not to come back to Walford (BBC)

The conversation was then cut off - but it's already been confirmed Lacey is returning as Stacey this year - so perhaps it could be very soon.

Fans will be keen for her to come back to help Jean cope with her mental health issues, but will Phil refuse to let her back into Walford again?

One viewer wrote: "So good to hear Stacey Slater's voice tonight. I've really missed @LaceyTurner / Stacey and it's going to kick off when she's back, but at least it'll be her and Jean vs the world!"

"Stacey’s phone call cameo? Best moment of 2020? Definitely #EastEnders " added another.

A third wrote: "After that phone call it can't be too long till Stacey comes back #Eastenders ".

Others added: "Hearing Stacey's voice f***ing missed her. #EastEnders " and "hearing stacey’s voice has saved me omg! #EastEnders ".

* EastEnders airs Mondays at 8pm and Tuesdays at 7.30pm on BBC One