In a dramatic turn of events that threatens to tear families apart, EastEnders' Zack Hudson finds himself in another compromising situation when he shares an unexpected kiss with someone he really shouldn't.
A Moment of Madness
The Walford lothario, played by James Farrar, crosses a dangerous line next week when he locks lips with Vicki Fowler, portrayed by Alice Haig. The shocking moment occurs after Zack comforts Vicki during one of her most vulnerable periods.
Vicki has been struggling to recover from the violent attack by her troubled stepson Joel Marshall several months earlier. Her trauma resurfaces when she witnesses concerning behaviour from a man Chelsea Fox is dating, leading to a confrontation in the laundrette where Vicki pushes him and he hits his head.
As panic sets in, Zack arrives and immediately springs into action to protect her. Back at home, their heart-to-heart conversation about the lasting impact of Joel's attack creates an intimate atmosphere that unexpectedly develops into passion.
Family Complications and Discovery
The situation becomes particularly messy due to their complicated family connections. While not directly related, both Zack and Vicki share Sharon Watts as a sister, making their kiss highly inappropriate within their family dynamic.
Alice Haig, who plays Vicki, explains the unexpected nature of their connection: 'They feel like they've dealt with something big and they have a laugh about something and it develops into an intense moment of passion. They don't expect to end up kissing.'
Unfortunately for the pair, their attempt to keep the kiss secret fails spectacularly when Kathy Beale walks in and catches them in an embrace. Both Vicki and Zack desperately insist it was a moment of madness and beg Kathy not to tell Sharon.
Fallout and Future Drama
Zack later seeks out Kathy to apologise further, prompting her to advise him to focus on his biological son Barney Mitchell instead of getting involved in Vicki's drama. Barney needs support following his father Teddy Mitchell's recent arrest for Okie Okyere's murder.
Meanwhile, Joel's father Ross Marshall tells Vicki he hasn't given up on their relationship and makes a grand gesture to remind her of their good times together. However, Vicki remains unimpressed, leaving viewers to wonder if her kiss with Zack has ignited new feelings.
Alice Haig teases the potential love triangle: 'I can completely understand why Vicky might be torn between them! I think it'd be brilliant because Zack and Ross have such different energies and characters, but they're also both really great men.'
EastEnders airs these explosive scenes from Monday November 17 at 7:30pm on BBC One, with episodes available to stream first from 6am on iPlayer.
