![\"EMBARGOED](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SEI_193693071-3c48.jpg\")
\n\t\t(Picture: BBC\/PA Wire)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\t(Picture: BBC\/PA Wire)<\/p>\n
EastEnders star Laila Morse<\/a> secretly battled cancer for a second time in 2025, according to her co-star Lacey Turner<\/a>.<\/p>\n Laila, 81, first marched into Albert Square as Big Mo Harris<\/a> in 2000, as \u2018nan\u2019 to the Slater sisters and rock to their dad Charlie.\u00a0 <\/p>\n The actress has dipped in and out of the soap ever since, and battled breast cancer in 2005.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n However, Lacey \u2013 who stars as Mo\u2019s bolshy great-niece Stacey \u2013 has revealed Laila was struck with cancer again last year, but until now has kept her battle with the disease secret from the public.\u00a0<\/p>\n Lacey\u2019s autobiography, Gold Dust: My Life (So Far) with the Women Who Shaped me was released earlier this month and naturally the Big Mo actress is among the trail-blazing heroines to be featured.\u00a0 <\/p>\n In it, Lacey, 38, celebrated Laila with all her heart, writing: \u2018As a person, she is such a positive presence with an unstoppable energy. Nothing phases her. She carries absolute faith that everything will work itself out and be alright.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018Mo is undoubtedly an Albert Square matriarch. Away from the cameras, she\u2019s had to overcome some brutal setbacks.<\/p>\n \u2018Laila is hardcore, one of life\u2019s survivors, something that was never more evident than when she was diagnosed with cancer in 2025. More than 20 years after beating it for the first time.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n Lacey revealed alarm bells rang when some of the cast were celebrating Michelle Ryan<\/a>\u2019s return to the BBC soap after 20 years at executive producer Ben Wadey<\/a>\u2019s house, when she asked why Laila wasn\u2019t there.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tAsk Metro<\/p>\n Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about \u2013 powered by Metro and trusted publications.<\/p>\n \u2018Shane, Jess, Jill and I were there but Laila was missing. \u201cWhere\u2019s Laila,\u201d I asked. \u201cOh, Laila\u2019s not well, but don\u2019t panic, it won\u2019t be anything serious,\u201d\u2019 Lacey recalled.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t The Strictly star went on holiday for a few weeks and didn\u2019t read too much into it until she got back and Laila bluntly told her: \u2018\u201cHey, you won\u2019t f***ing believe this, they ain\u2019t polyps, it\u2019s f***ing cancer.\u201d\u2019<\/p>\n Lacey wrote that she was stunned but even in the face of cancer, Laila was remarkably nonchalant, assuring her: \u2018Nah don\u2019t worry about it, I\u2019ll just get it cut off and I\u2019ll be alright.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018She shrugged it off as if it was nothing more serious than a common cold, and went in for surgery as calmly as you like,\u2019 said Lacey.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2018She was in agony after the operation though, raging that \u2018she\u2019d never felt f***ing pain like that in her life, and said they \u2018should\u2019ve just left it there I\u2019m nearly done anyway.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n Metro has contacted Laila\u2019s representatives for comment on this story.\u00a0<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"Lacey](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/PM_19137303-f3be-e1792570687305.jpg\")
\n\t\tLaila stars as Stacey Slater\u2019s great-aunt Big Mo in the BBC soap (Picture: BBC)<\/p>\n![\"Laila](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/SEI_133617527-5354.jpg\")
\n\t\tLaila battled breast cancer in 2005 (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
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