| Lacey Lloyd | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollyoaks character | |||||
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| Portrayed by | Annabelle Davis | ||||
| Duration | 2023–24 | ||||
| First appearance | 18 January 2023 | ||||
| Last appearance | 10 January 2024 | ||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||
| Introduced by | Lucy Allan | ||||
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Lacey Lloyd is a fictional character from the British Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks, played by Annabelle Davis. Her casting was announced in December 2022 and she made her first appearance on 18 January 2023. Davis was approached for the role by the soap's producer Lucy Allan, who she had previously worked with on The Dumping Ground. The character was not originally written for a little person and the producers worked with Little People UK, a charity founded by Davis' parents, in order to ensure that Lacey was portrayed authentically. Davis worked on developing Lacey's characterisation and wanted to ensure that the character was portrayed correctly as she felt that it was important to represent minorities on TV in order to raise awareness. The actress ensured that the character was professional due to the lack of small people in certain careers that appear onscreen, and she wanted viewers to see Lacey as more than just a little person whilst also highlighting the lives of disabled people. Lacey was introduced as an aspiring lawyer and the childhood best friend of Rayne Royce (Jemma Donovan).
Her introduction scenes showed Lacey attend an awkward job interview for James Nightingale's (Gregory Finnegan) law firm and move into a house share with Rayne and several other characters. The decision to introduce Lacey and Rayne was part of the producers' idea to throwback to the earlier years of the soap, where students would live together under one roof. Many of Lacey's storylines revolved around conflicts within her work and her friendship with Rayne. Davis learnt legal terminology in order to help her with the role. Lacey also begins a relationship with her housemate Nadira Valli (Ashling O'Shea), which was Davis' favourite plot. Lacey was also central to a special Hollyoaks episode regarding disability, which Davis has praised. Throughout 2023, Rayne and Lacey's friendship begins to break down and Lacey is later involved in a "whodunit" plot when she is considered a suspect in Rayne's murder. Lacey struggles with her grief and clashes with other characters, including Nadira.
Lacey departed Hollyoaks on 10 October 2023 when she left for a job in Norwich, with the character breaking up with Nadira. However, that December it was announced that Davis would be returning, with Lacey's return scenes airing from 4–10 January 2024. The character returned to tie up loose ends from her previous departure, with Lacey's return setting the stage for the conclusion to the mystery of Rayne's killer, with Romeo Nightingale (Owen Warner) being revealed as the killer. Lacey's return also led to Nadira's departure from the show, with Lacey and Nadira reuniting and leaving the village together. Lacey has been well received by critics and her relationship with Nadira has also received praise, whilst both of Lacey's departures and her reunion with Nadira were considered emotional. However, viewers often questioned why Lacey remained friends with Rayne and predicted that she would ruin Lacey and Nadira's relationship.