Zack Hudson and Whitney Dean face further heartache in EastEnders

GRIEF-STRICKEN Whitney Dean and Zack Hudson are struggling to cope after the loss of their baby.

Yet there’s still more heartbreak ahead for the pair as a huge secret remains next week in EastEnders.

Whitney Dean (portrayed by Shona McGarty) has been mourning for her unborn daughter after making the decision to terminate her pregnancy.

Both the market trader and Zack (James Farrar) were devastated when they found out their baby was suffering from Edwards’ syndrome and it was unlikely to be born healthy.

They were then crushed to learn Peach wasn’t even legally recognised, despite their trauma and pain.

In scenes airing next week on BBC One, Whitney and Zack try to find a way to make their suffering easier to handle.

Over at No.43, Martin Fowler (James Bye) and Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) are counselling Zack about being strong for Whitney as she’s going through physical and emotional turmoil.

Martin then explains that his late pal Kush and his former wife Shabnam planted a tree to remember their son, Zaair – and Zack has an idea.

Later on, he goes to see Whitney and tells of his plans.

Although she initially refuses to attend when Zack has planned, her best friend Chelsea Fox (Zaraah Abrahams) manages to convince her and she changes her mind.

Zack is pleased when she arrives, and after the ceremony, they stay back to grieve alone.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Whitney kisses Zack, and he responds
before pulling away.

Whitney’s devastated but she has no idea that Zack is actually keeping a bombshell from her.

As viewers of the London-based drama will remember that Zack was diagnosed HIV-positive before Whitney’s pregnancy heartache.

But while he’s been trying to cope with the loss of his baby, he’s been unable to tell Whitney the truth, despite Sam Mitchell’s (Kim Medcalf) advice.

The latter has been helping him process the news in secret and urged him to get treatment.

However, next week, Zack can’t find the words to share the news of his HIV diagnosis with Whitney.

But just as he tries to find the nerve to come clean, Whitney is mulling their bond over and Chelsea counsels her to talk to Zack about how she feels.

Whitney is terrified by his rejection and finds it hard to make a move.

Meanwhile, Sam accompanies Zack to the clinic and asks some difficult questions on his behalf.

She notably asks about when he can have sexual intercourse and if he and a partner can try to conceive.

Back in Walford, Sam implores Zack to tell Whitney the truth and he goes to see her, determined to finally open up to her.

How will she react?

EastEnders airs from Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One.