EastEnders Viewers Reject Surprise Romance
BBC One's EastEnders has sparked major controversy among its loyal fanbase following an unexpected romantic development between two characters. During episodes aired on Monday, November 17, and Tuesday, November 18, 2025, Vicki Fowler, played by Alice Haig, and Zack Hudson, portrayed by James Farrar, shared a passionate kiss that left viewers reeling.
How the Dramatic Kiss Unfolded
The surprising moment was the culmination of a highly turbulent period for Vicki Fowler. Still emotionally raw from being attacked by Joel Marshall the previous month, Vicki's week went from bad to worse. On Monday, she accidentally knocked Chelsea Fox's date, Damon, to the ground, leaving him unconscious after he hit his head. This incident came on the same evening she discovered Damon was married and learned that her attacker, Joel, was pleading not guilty.
Zack Hudson stepped in as a calming influence when Damon regained consciousness, persuading him not to report Vicki to the police. Later, as Zack comforted Vicki while she processed her recent trauma, one thing led to another, and the pair shared a kiss that few saw coming. The moment was made even more awkward when Kathy Beale walked in on them, forcing Vicki and Zack to hastily plead with her not to tell Sharon Watts.
Why Fans Are So Strongly Against the Pairing
The backlash from viewers has been swift and severe, flooding the comments section of the official EastEnders TikTok account after a video featuring James Farrar was posted. The core of the discomfort stems from the pair's complicated family dynamics linked to Sharon Watts, who has recently moved to America.
While Vicki and Zack share no blood or legal relation, their connections to Sharon make the romance feel uncomfortable for many. Sharon and Vicki are adoptive half-sisters through Den Watts, while Sharon and Zack are biological half-siblings through their father, Gavin Sullivan.
Fan reactions online have been overwhelmingly negative:
- One viewer pleaded, 'EastEnders, PLEASE don't make Zack and Vicki a thing, we're traumatised.'
- Another commented on the bizarre family logistics, writing, 'So Zack's my brother and Vicki's my sister, but they ain't related propa dodge.'
- Many others simply demanded, 'Zack please leave Vicky alone!'
A significant number of fans expressed that they would prefer to see Zack reunite with Chelsea Fox, with comments like 'He is so suited to Chelsea! EE get them together!' and 'We asked for Zack and Chelsea, not Zack and Vicki that's just so random and not needed.' Some viewers went as far as to describe the kiss as 'sickening' and threatened to stop watching the soap entirely if the romance continues.
It remains to be seen whether this kiss was a one-off moment of comfort during Vicki's emotional spiral or the beginning of a longer, more divisive storyline for EastEnders.
