Explore every episode of the podcast We Started Here with Lacey Turner

Today’s episode welcomes Ricky Whittle to talk to Lacey about his career and how it started. From policeman-turned-badboy Calvin Valentine in Hollyoaks, to becoming the lead role in blockbuster show American Gods, Ricky talks about how the skills and experience he took from working on a soap have been key throughout his career. And he talks about how being brave, taking risks, and being open to opportunity have paid off for him; from modelling, to being in Hollyoaks, to dancing on the Strictly Come Dancing stage, though to working on big Hollywood blockbusters.

Lacey is joined by actor Mandip Gill, who you might recognise for her roles as Phoebe McQueen in Hollyoaks, and Doctor Who’s sidekick to Jodie Whittaker, Yasmin Khan.    She talks about her childhood growing up with a big family who loved dancing and performing, to facing a fear of dogs to land her role in Hollyoaks!   Plus she shares some BTS stories of working on Doctor Who, and how she and Jodie built firm friendships on and off screen. 

Award-winning screenwriter and playwright Jimmy McGovern joins Lacey to talk about his incredible career as one of the UK’s most recognised writers.   From his early days as a writer of Brookside, to creating series like Cracker and the BAFTA-award winning Time, Jimmy shares some amazing stories about how winning a special prize for his writing as a child was what inspired him to make a career out of it, as well as how real people and real stories are the things that continue to inspire him today.    And he also shares some exclusives about some exciting upcoming projects!

Lacey talks to Queen of The Vic Anita Dobson to celebrate 40 years of EastEnders!  Anita talks about her time on the soap as the iconic Angie Watts from its very first episode in 1985, and reminisces about her career, working with the show’s creators Julia Smith and Tony Holland, and the impact her Walford character made.    Anita also chats about her mysterious role as Mrs Flood on Doctor Who, and being catapulted into the public eye at a Queen concert after a chance meeting with lead guitarist – and future husband - Brian May

Lacey chats to the Queen Vic's original landlady, Anita Dobson, who played the iconic Angie Watts in EastEnders. In this clip, she tells Lacey about her first scenes as Angie, and how she and Leslie Grantham (Den Watts) knew EastEnders was special. Follow wherever you get your podcasts so you don't miss the full episode when it lands on Tuesday!

Former EastEnders Co-Stars Rakhee Thakrar and Davood Ghadami are reunited with Lacey to talk about their incredible careers which pivoted for them both as Shabnam and Kush.  They talk about the importance soap in representing real people and their stories, and how the experiences of doing that taught them valuable skills which they have taken with them into huge roles in shows and movies for Netflix and Amazon Prime.  Plus the trio share some fun behind-the-scenes antics from their days on the Square… anyone for an orange?! 

Lacey is joined by BAFTA-winning Sixth Commandment writer Sarah Phelps. From her early career writing for radio dramas, to an impressive stint on EastEnders (where she wrote more than 90 episodes!) to writing award-winning incredible dramas and adaptations. Sarah tells Lacey about her career from the very beginning, from working with horses, to re-enrolling to study which was the moment that changed everything for her. And they go back into the archives to reminisce about some of their favourite EastEnders storylines and characters.

Lacey is joined by EastEnders co-star and creator of one of the most iconic characters on the square, Jessie Wallace aka Kat Slater.  Before she brought leopard print back into cult fashion status as Kat, Jessie started her career behind the scenes in theatre.  They chat about how Jessie’s interest in performing began as a child, her early days as a wigmaker while she was at drama school, and they reminisce over some of the most memorable scenes shared by the Slater family over the years. 

Welcome to We Started Here with Lacey Turner! In each episode, Lacey chats to incredible people in film and TV about how they started their careers working on some of our favourite soaps.