EastEnders spoilers follow.
EastEnders’ Zack Hudson treads a dangerous path next week, as he schemes to skip town with Barney Mitchell. Will he make it out with his son by his side – or will his plan descend into chaos?
After bumping into Barney, Zack instigates a chat that leads the teenager to reveal that he feels isolated from his family.
This sad revelation triggers the paternal instincts within Zack – and he later explains to Vicki that he’s thought up a plan to whisk Barney away from the ruthless family that raised him.
"Zack wants to take Barney up north," reveals our insider. "He tells Vicki that he is going to visit Whitney and the kids, but he’s bringing Barney with him too. Considering what we know about Nicola, it’s a move that could end in catastrophe for all involved.
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"Nicola doesn’t want Zack to even look in her boy’s direction, so just imagine if she found out that he wants to take him halfway across the country."
Later in the week, Zack puts himself in harm’s way for the umpteenth time when he gathers evidence to prove that Barney isn’t safe with Nicola and Teddy.
EastEnders bosses are keeping quiet about whether the dad-of-two succeeds in his efforts, but it soon becomes clear that his new plan has Vicki extremely worried.
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Nicola has already made threats against Zack’s ex-Whitney, their baby daughter Dolly and Whit’s foster child, Britney. So when Zack is reassured that the girls are safe from harm, he can finally breathe.
"Zack is relieved at first," explains our source. "After Nicola said that she knew where Whitney lived, he was terrified for them. But luckily, Whit lets him know that she has found a safe place for her, Dolly and Britney to live, without fear of being found."
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Afterwards, Vicki suggests that Zack should visit his family and let tensions calm down between him and the Mitchells. As we know now, the chef resolves to take her advice – but with an added risk that could change everything.
As Zack conspires to blow apart the Mitchell family, will Nicola uncover his master plan? Or will he play a dirty game to secure what he wants?
EastEnders airs on Mondays - Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer, where most episodes drop early at 6am ahead of their TV broadcast.
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