Next week is set to be full of drama for EastEnders’ Zack Hudson, as actor James Farrar teases a turbulent storyline involving secrets, high stakes, and emotional turmoil.
Zack is determined to take his secret son, Barney Mitchell (played by Lewis Bridgeman), out of Walford to protect him — despite the fact that Barney has no idea Zack is actually his father.
In an interview with RadioTimes.com, Farrar promised that fans can expect “fireworks, danger, and tears” in the intense episodes coming up.
Things take a dark turn when Zack uncovers incriminating information about Barney’s mother, Nicola (Laura Doddington). Ravi Gulati (Aaron Thiara) informs Zack that Nicola once asked him to help dispose of a body.
Long-time viewers will remember that Nicola was responsible for killing Shireen Bashar, who was dating her eldest son Harry (Elijah Holloway). Now that the truth is out, Zack uses Ravi’s revelation to get Nicola arrested.
When asked about Zack’s feelings toward Nicola, Farrar shared: “There’s definitely hatred, but it’s complicated — like many toxic relationships, there’s also lingering chemistry.”
“They’ve had a romantic past, and part of Zack wishes they could be civil. But Nicola constantly shocks him with how manipulative and self-centered she can be. I don’t think he ever realized just how far she’d go.”
Things escalate even further when Zack confesses to Harry that he is actually Barney’s biological father. That’s when everything begins to spiral.
Farrar described Zack’s mindset as he walks into the Arches: “He starts off feeling excited, thinking he’s doing the right thing by convincing Harry to take Barney away for his safety. But that excitement turns into desperation — and then fear — as Harry’s reaction isn’t what he expected.”
In a shocking twist, Harry kidnaps Zack by forcing him into the boot of a car. As the chaos unfolds, the vehicle ends up plunging into a lake — leaving Zack’s fate hanging in the balance.
Farrar warned that the situation is highly unpredictable: “Harry is emotional and impulsive, and so is Zack. When you put two volatile people together, the outcome can be incredibly dangerous.”