{"id":531649,"date":"2026-04-15T05:50:13","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T05:50:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/531649\/"},"modified":"2026-04-15T05:50:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T05:50:13","slug":"unexpected-eastenders-romance-confirmed-for-former-couple-but-a-shock-follows-soaps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/531649\/","title":{"rendered":"Unexpected EastEnders romance confirmed for former couple \u2013 but a shock follows | Soaps"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"646\" height=\"364\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SEI_280878166-598c.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-26305243\" alt=\"The Queen Vic pub, with the EastEnders logo beneath it in the righthand corner.\" decoding=\"sync\"\/><br \/>\n\t\tA sexy reunion\u2026and a very not-sexy shock! (Picture: BBC\/Shutterstock)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/vicki-fowler\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Vicki Fowler<\/a> (<a href=\"http:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/alice-haig\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Alice Haig<\/a>) and <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/zack-hudson\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Zack Hudson<\/a>\u00a0(<a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/james-farrar\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">James Farrar<\/a>) are in a bit of a sticky predicament in <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tv-soaps\/eastenders\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">EastEnders<\/a> at the moment, aren\u2019t they?<\/p>\n<p>With their <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/04\/08\/eastenders-star-reveals-vicki-answer-definite-27887974\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">apparent inability<\/a> to keep their hands off each other, even as Vicki\u2019s wedding to <a href=\"http:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/ross-marshall\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ross Marshall<\/a>\u00a0(<a href=\"http:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/alex-walkinshaw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Alex Walkinshaw<\/a>) rapidly approaches, Vicki\u2019s turmoil over the idea of <a href=\"http:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/joel-marshall\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Joel Marshall<\/a>\u00a0(<a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/max-murray\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Max Murray<\/a>) returning to their lives, after he <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2025\/10\/06\/eastenders-confirms-nightmare-aftermath-joels-attack-vicki-ross-sickened-shock-24352465\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">beat her unconscious<\/a> and left her for dead, has created a chasm between her and her fianc\u00e9, a chasm Zack has been eager to step into.<\/p>\n<p>Yesterday saw a vulnerable Zack plead with Vicki to give in to her desires and make a go of things between them, but she was resolute: there couldn\u2019t be anything further between them, her heart lies with Ross. <\/p>\n<p>Deeply wounded, Zack turned to ex-friend with benefits turned regular friend, <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/sam-mitchell\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Sam Mitchell\u00a0<\/a>(<a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/kim-medcalf\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kim Medcalf<\/a>), and opened up about what had been happening between he and Vicki.<\/p>\n<p>As he filled Sam in, Vicki and Ross were dealing with their \u2018Joel\u2019 shaped problem again, with her reaffirming that she needs to know that he\u2019s chosen her over his son. With their respective hen and stag do\u2019s rapidly approaching, the topic had to be benched for now. <\/p>\n<p>\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/556048-7f9e.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-27764113\" alt=\"Vicki Fowler and Ross Marshall in their kitchen in EastEnders\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n\t\tThe Joel issue is still hanging over Vicki and Ross (Picture: BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron)<\/p>\n<p>Back in the Vic, though, Sam encouraged Zack to fight for Vicky \u2013 a fight he now had a better chance of winning.<\/p>\n<p>The hen do saw Vicki lament about her issues with Ross, but the other hens were resolute: Ross is a good guy, which seemingly got through to Vicki when she text him, suggesting they blow off the bashes and go home for a cuddle.<\/p>\n<p>Zack spotted his chance to fight for Vicki when <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/kim-fox\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kim Fox<\/a>\u00a0(<a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/tameka-empson\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tameka Empson<\/a>) set off in search of a stripper. <\/p>\n<p>\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"433\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776232211_15_556081-d2a2.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-27871281\" alt=\"Zack Hudson, stripped to his boxers in the Queen Vic pub\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n\t\tZack acted as a stripper for Vicki\u2019s hen do\u2026 (Picture: BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron)<\/p>\n<p>\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"419\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/556078-40f6.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-27871277\" alt=\"Vicki Fowler in 60's fancy dress in EastEnders\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n\t\t\u2026confusing her further (Picture: BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron)<\/p>\n<p>Zack, famed locally for his incredibly chiselled physique, was first to volunteer and headed across to Harry\u2019s Barn. <\/p>\n<p>As he sashayed and swayed, <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/kathy-beale\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Kathy Beale<\/a>\u00a0(<a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/gillian-taylforth\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Gillian Taylforth<\/a>), the only person other than Sam who knows of Vicki and Zack\u2019s connection, spotted the sexual tension and pulled the fire alarm, breaking the moment.<\/p>\n<p>Her plan was all for naught, though, as they ended up tonguing in an alleyway next to the club, interrupted only by Ross\u2019s calls for his beloved.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tDon&#8217;t miss a Soaps scoop! Add us as a Preferred Source\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>As a loyal Metro Soaps reader, we want to make sure you never miss our articles when searching for stories. We have all the latest soaps news, spoilers, videos, and interviews, with a vibrant community of highly engaged readers.<\/p>\n<p>Click the button below and tick\u00a0Metro.co.uk\u00a0to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.<\/p>\n<p>\n<a class=\"metro-button metro-cta-button\" data-vars-module=\"cta_button__soaps-preferred-source\" style=\"background-color:#000000\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=metro.co.uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer nofollow noopener\">Add us as a Preferred Source<\/a>\n<\/p>\n<p>\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776232212_341_SEI_278522320-46a3.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-25627285\" alt=\"Soaps authors collage Fact box image only Picture: Metro\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n\t\tNow you can ensure you never miss a story from the Soaps team<\/p>\n<p>\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"429\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776232212_887_556098-b218.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-27871308\" alt=\"Vicki cups Zack's cheek in an emotional EastEnders moment\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n\t\tVicki promised to tell Ross everything\u2026 (Picture: BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron)<\/p>\n<p>\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"435\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776232212_706_556100-3a3a.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-27871312\" alt=\"Vicki Fowler and Ross Marshal stood talking in the kitchen\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n\t\t\u2026but his revelation sees her change her mind again (Picture: BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron)<\/p>\n<p>Today\u2019s episode saw Vicki prepared to tell Ross everything, though his declaration that Joel would live with his mum upon his release and he was officially choosing her shut her up as she changed her mind again.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, an incredibly anxious Sam was lifted when her son, Ricky Branning (Frankie Day) offered to accompany her to her radiotherapy review. At the appointment, Sam was told that her cancer was completely gone and her course of radiotherapy had concluded. Finally, she received closure: she\u2019d won the battle with cancer.<\/p>\n<p>Back on the Square, Zack asked Vicki if she\u2019d told Ross about them, but learns that she has no intention of doing so, sending him to sulk in Harry\u2019s Barn.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"436\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/556094-97b2.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-27871302\" alt=\"Sam Mitchell and Ricky Branning returning home in EastEnders\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n\t\tAfter being told she\u2019s cancer free\u2026 (Picture: BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron)<\/p>\n<p>\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"421\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/556096-de6c.jpg\" class=\"article-image wp-image-27871305\" alt=\"A party featuring many EastEnders characters celebrating Sam Mitchell\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n\t\t\u2026Sam comes home to a party (Picture: BBC\/Jack Barnes\/Kieron McCarron)<\/p>\n<p>Sam returns home to a party, but she was utterly overwhelmed and excused herself to fetch some ice, finding herself sat beside Zack in the bar. After allowing Zack to pour out his anguish over Vicki, Sam hit him with the news that she\u2019s cancer free, but the experience had left her feeling vulnerable and aged, and with the realisation that she\u2019s not indestructible.<\/p>\n<p>Zack, with his experiences of HIV, could sympathise and offered his own perspective. They\u2019ve both dealt with life-changing and, potentially life-threatening, diseases, but they\u2019re currently both in control. It isn\u2019t long before they\u2019re retreating to the office and locking lips.<\/p>\n<p>While the tryst left Sam even more thoughtful, Zack returned home to tell Vicki that he\u2019s moving on. Before he can, though, Vicki\u2019s phone buzzed with a picture of them kissing the night before and a request for money.<\/p>\n<p>It seems as though moving on won\u2019t be easy now their secret is under serious threat. Who\u2019s blackmailing Vicki and if their secret explodes, what carnage will that create?<\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\">Arrow<br \/>\nMORE: <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/04\/13\/eastenders-confirms-brings-grant-back-not-assume-27960163\/?ico=more_text_links\" class=\"\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">EastEnders confirms who brings Grant back and it\u2019s not who you assume<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\">Arrow<br \/>\nMORE: <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/04\/12\/eastenders-joel-destroys-ross-vickis-wedding-desperate-results-27921210\/?ico=more_text_links\" class=\"\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">EastEnders\u2019 Joel \u2018destroys\u2019 Ross and Vicki\u2019s wedding with desperate results<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\">Arrow<br \/>\nMORE: <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/04\/09\/eastenders-spoilers-next-week-a-sinister-blackmail-threat-looks-set-destroy-lives-27899953\/?ico=more_text_links\" class=\"\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">All EastEnders spoilers for next week as a sinister blackmail threat looks set to destroy lives<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"metro-button share-bar-comments\" data-vars-position=\"bottom\" href=\"#metro-comments-container\"><br \/>\n\t\t\tComment now<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\tComments<br \/>\n\t\t<\/a><a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" class=\"metro-button share-bar-preferred-source\" data-vars-position=\"bottom\" href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/metro.co.uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\tAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tAdd as preferred source<br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tThe Soaps Newsletter \u2013 Daily<\/p>\n<p>All the latest soaps spoilers and gossip, in your inbox every morning.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A sexy reunion\u2026and a very not-sexy shock! (Picture: BBC\/Shutterstock) Vicki Fowler (Alice Haig) and Zack Hudson\u00a0(James Farrar) are&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":531650,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[18398,8439,1078,96,59,50283,122718,18401,30117,1609,56,54,55,8442,114104],"class_list":{"0":"post-531649","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-entertainment","8":"tag-alex-walkinshaw","9":"tag-alice-haig","10":"tag-eastenders","11":"tag-entertainment","12":"tag-gb","13":"tag-james-farrar","14":"tag-kim-medcalf","15":"tag-ross-marshall","16":"tag-sam-mitchell","17":"tag-soaps","18":"tag-uk","19":"tag-united-kingdom","20":"tag-unitedkingdom","21":"tag-vicki-fowler","22":"tag-zack-hudson"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/531649","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=531649"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/531649\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/531650"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=531649"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=531649"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=531649"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}