'I'm ready for motherhood': Lacey Turner admits she can't wait to have children with fiancé Matt Kay... as they spill all on romantic Venice proposal 

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He only popped the question back in September.  

But newly-engaged Lacey Turner and her long-term beau Matt Kay have already admitted that they are thinking about expanding their family together.

Talking to OK! magazine, the actress and her partner, both 28, admitted that they are beginning to feel broody - having been together for almost 10 years.

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 The next step: Lacey Turner and fiancé Matt Kay, both 28, admitted to OK! that they are ready to have children together

Lacey, who is best known for playing Stacey Slater in BBC soap EastEnders, couldn't contain her excitement as she discussed the prospect of having little ones of her own.

She said: 'I'm ready for motherhood, and I want four children - Matt wants three!'

While her fiancé added: ‘I’m ready, too. I felt really broody when my nephew was born four years ago.’

The pair became engaged in September - with the actress' childhood sweetheart taking to his Instagram to announce the exciting news.

She said yes! The pair became engaged in September - with the actress' childhood sweetheart taking to his Instagram to announce the exciting news

Revealing the news mere minutes after he proposed to the soap star, Matt uploaded a snap in which a visibly stunned Lacey shows off her sparking diamond engagement ring.

Captioning the shot, he wrote: 'She said yes ooooosssshhhhhhhh #fiance @laceyturner.' 

However the happy couple admitted to OK! that the proposal, which occurred in a gondola during their romantic break in Venice, Italy, almost didn't go to plan. 

Laughing at the memory, Lacey revealed: 'I said yes straight away, of course! Although as we cuddled afterwards the gondola tipped a bit and we nearly fell off!' 

Gentleman: Matt further admitted he had asked Lacey's parents for her hand prior to the proposal - who were thrilled at the news

Despite having known each other since they were 15 years old, the EastEnders actress admits she was still hugely taken-aback by her beau getting down on one knee.

Recalling the overwhelming moment, she said: 'I was sobbing after Matt proposed. It was such a shock.'

Meanwhile Matt confessed that he had been just as emotional - although being so comfortable with his long-term girl, his nerves did not set in until he was kneeling in front of her.

He added: 'I only got nervous about five minutes before I proposed. Although when we watched the video back of the proposal, I was shaking a bit when I was down on one knee!'

Long-term: The pair met when they were 15 years old, and have dated intermittently ever since

A proper gentleman, the barber also admitted his nerves had been eased by him asking Lacey's parents for her hand prior to the trip - who were more than thrilled for the childhood sweethearts. 

He said: 'I asked Lacey’s mum and dad if I could ask Lacey to marry me. Her mum gave me the biggest hug and said: ‘About time!’’

The pair met when they were 15 years old, and have dated intermittently ever since.

Their relationship got into full swing after Lacey split with ex-boyfriend Jake Gotlib in 2006, but the notoriously private star was initially coy about discussing her relationship.

'We'd been friends for a few years, which gradually developed into something more, and now he's my boyfriend and I'm very happy,' she told the Daily Mirror at the time.

The engagement had capped a successful few weeks for the TV star, whose role as troubled Stacey Fowler helped win her the award for Best Actress at the British Soap Awards.

Lacey beat off stiff competition from former Coronation Street star Paula Lane, Hollyoaks' Jennifer Metcalfe and Emmerdale's Lucy Pargeter to take home the accolade. 

Read the full story in this week's OK! Magazine - out today 

 Spilling all: Read the full story in this week's OK! Magazine - out today