Zack Hudson is the son of Gavin Sullivan, half-brother of Sharon Watts and father of Barney Mitchell, Peach Dean and Dolly Dean-Hudson. He is also the uncle of Dennis Rickman Jr and Albie Watts. He made his first appearance on 16 March 2021. He is portrayed by James Farrar.
Backstory
When Zack was young, his grandad brought him a black cat keyring he called Mr Tiddles. He views it as a lucky charm. Zack recalls being abused verbally and physically by his father, as well as time spent in foster care. Zack's birth mother would often drink and take drugs instead of taking care of him. In the foster system, Zack was cared for by Eileen, who showed him nothing but love, but he never felt like he belonged. He often slept around in adulthood, having numerous one-night stands. At some point, Zack met Brett Nelson and the two started taking steroids. At one point they shared needles, which lead to Zack contracting HIV.
In 2009, Zack had an affair with Nicola Mitchell, which led to him fathering Barney Mitchell. This was unknown to Zack, however, and at the time, Barney's father was believed to be Nicola's husband, Teddy Mitchell.
Storylines
2021 to present: Arrival, relationship with Nancy, Whitney's pregnancies and HIV struggle
When Sharon Watts and Kathy Beale attend Gavin Sullivan's funeral, they come across Zack, who makes a toast to Gavin, stating how much of an awful man he was. Sharon is shocked that someone shares her hatred of Gavin, and is taken aback when Zack flees the wake, having angered Gavin's cousins. Zack sneaks into Kathy's car and watches as the cousins smash up his own car. Before leaving the funeral, Zack reveals Gavin was his dad, leaving Sharon and Kathy speechless.
Zack arrives on Albert Square and moves in with his sister, Sharon, and his nephew, Albie. Zack starts a relationship with Nancy Carter and has a flirtatious friendship with her sister, Frankie. As Zack takes Frankie on a driving lesson, he stops off at the pub, has a few drinks and continues with the lesson. Zack starts to flirt with Frankie as she is driving and winds her up; as Frankie takes her eyes off the road, she ends up hitting Nancy. Despite this, he and Frankie cover up their tracks, but Frankie becomes too guilt ridden, and tells Mick. He decides not to tell Nancy, and keep their secret.
Zack is warned off by Mick not to go near his daughter, but Zack can't stay away, and Nancy asks him to enter a secret relationship with her. He agrees and they sneak around. However, Mick finds Zack's sock in the living room and once again warns Zack off. But he still doesn't listen and he goes back to Nancy. As they are fooling around upstairs, Linda is in trouble downstairs in the Vic because burglars have broken in wanting to take the charity money Whitney raised for Autism. Zack goes downstairs in his boxers and scares away the burglars. Linda and Mick are thankful and give Zack a chance but Mick tells him for a third time to not hurt his daughter again.
On 2 September 2021, Zack decides to tell Nancy that he and Frankie were the ones that hit her with the car. Nancy is heartbroken and angry and decides to break up with him. However, the two later rekindle their relationship. When Alyssa Lennox is left on his doorstep, both Zack and Martin Fowler believe they could be the father, however when Alyssa’s mother, Jada Lennox, turns up, she revealed Zack is the great-uncle of Alyssa, and that she is Dennis' daughter. Jada moves in with them after this, however when Zack reveals that Phil Mitchell convinced Sharon to do for full custody instead of the joint custody they agreed on, Jada takes Alyssa on the run. Zack later convinces Jada to bring Alyssa home, and they all move into 43 Albert Square
In 2022, Zack gets back together with Nancy and supports her when it is revealed that her great aunt Tina Carter was murdered by Gray Atkins. Zack attends the funeral which causes him to miss out on a major chef opportunity. When Nancy is informed by Sharon that Zack chose to miss out on the opportunity to be there for her, she is remorseful. The two decide to go into business together by creating a restaurant for poke bowls. Nancy and Zack put a deposit down on a space which they hoped to be their new venture. Unbeknownst to them, Janine Butcher, sent over a fake estate agent and conned them as she needed the money to give to Linda to get her to leave Walford. Linda instead chooses to keep the money, which she later uses to invest in Fox & Hair salon, unaware that the money originally came from Nancy and Zack. It is later discovered by Nancy and Zack that they did not get the space for their restaurant as their money was never received by the estate agent. This causes a strain on their relationship as Nancy is heartbroken over losing her life savings. Zack sells his car to try and show Nancy that he is still committed to their restaurant and is there for Nancy but the gesture falls short. Feeling that his attempts to make it up are useless Zack gets drunk with Sam Mitchell and they sleep together.
Initially wanting to inform Nancy of what happened, Zack changes his mind when Nancy apologizes for the way that she has been acting. It is revealed at a party for Tina at the Prince Albert, that Zack slept with Sam when a photo appears on screen for everyone to see. Nancy decides to end the relationship as she feels as though she cannot trust Zack. Desperate to keep Nancy, Zack proposes hoping to show her he is sorry. Nancy rejects his proposal and instead chooses to leave Walford after everything that has happened. After Nancy leaves, Zack goes on a downward spiral which is worsened after Tom Cotton gets his old car and gives Zack a day to get the money to buy it back, however he is unable to and the car is sold, and Zack punches Ben Mitchell after an argument over Gavin's inheritance. Zack is later hired by Sam as a bartender for Peggy's, where she orders Zack to help her kidnap Lewis Butler. Zack and Sam later begin to have a fling and when Sam's psychopathic ex-boyfriend Donovan turns up looking for a reunion, Sam lies that she is pregnant with Zack's baby to get rid of him. Zack overhears and is delighted by the prospect of being a dad, but is disappointed when Sam tells him she lied. Later Sam asks Zack to go official, however Zack rejects her due to still not being over Nancy. Sam and Zack then end their fling,
Shortly afterwards, Zack has a one-night-stand with Whitney Dean, resulting in her pregnancy. Ravi Gulati hires Zack as a chef at Walford East, however when Zack is informed by Jean Slater that Whitney is pregnant with his baby, Zack accidentally makes a wrong order leading to him clashing with Sam and Ricky Butcher. Zack then quits his job at Walford East but later rejoins after he opens up to Ravi about Whitney's pregnancy and Ravi gives him some advice, Zack the meets Whitney but the two end up arguing with Zack accusing Whitney of getting pregnant on purpose. Whitney pushes Zack over the edge when she calls him too immature to be a dad and that her and her baby don't need him, a heartbroken Zack then packs a bag and briefly leaves Walford. Zack returns the next day and after a heart-to-heart with Whitney the two agree to co-parent, during a foot massage Whitney and Zack lean in to kiss but are interrupted by Chelsea, Finlay and Felix.
On 1 January 2023 Whitney prepares to make a move on Zack but is taken aback when Zack tells her that he has been offered a dream job on a cruise and is considering taking the job. Zack is shocked when his old friend Brett Nelson shows up in Walford looking for him, Zack confronts Brett and it's revealed Zack and Brett used to take steroids together and even shared the same needles. Brett then reveals to Zack that he has HIV and that Zack should get tested straight away, Zack struggles to process potentially having HIV and keeps it a secret from Sharon and Whitney. Zack storms out of Walford East and once again quits after having an argument with Nish, Suki and Ravi after accidentally breaking a glass.
Zack then goes to the hospital and finally gets an STI test that reveals his worst fears, he is indeed HIV-positive. Zack takes this news very badly, he misses Whitney's twelve-week ultrasound scan, later taking a photo of the ultrasound scan Whitney has on her kitchen fridge. Zack meets Brett in the park and grabs him in rage, but Brett calms Zack down and Zack breaks down in tears, Brett assures Zack having HIV isn't a death sentence but Brett urges Zack to tell Whitney and any other women Zack had slept with about his HIV. Zack eventually confides in Sam and tells her about his HIV, Sam supports Zack and tells him he needs to pick up his medication for the disease and tell Whitney the truth. Zack picks up his medication but does not tell Whitney, hoping that her blood test results from her twelve-week pregnant appointment will disclose her HIV status. After hearing from Martin that his brother Mark Fowler died from HIV, Zack also discovered that his and Whitney's baby might have Edward's syndrome. Zack decides Whitney has got enough to deal with and decides not to tell her about his HIV but does vow to start supporting her.
Zack and Whitney decide to co-parent and Zack becomes ever more present in Whitney's life, although the two have agreed to just "be friends." Both are excited at the prospect of becoming parents. Zack buys a present for the baby, a small peach-coloured baby comforter. He also begins to uncharacteristically open up about his childhood, confiding in Whitney that he wants to be the father Gavin never was.
When Whitney experiences some bleeding, she fears she is miscarrying, this being a huge source of anxiety as she lost a baby before. She goes to hospital to find out what is wrong where a sonographer notes some abnormalities in the baby. Whitney opts to have further tests to find out what is going on. After a delay, Whitney and Zack discover their baby has the chromosomal disorder Edward's Syndrome. The consultant tells Whitney and Zack that most babies with this condition are stillborn or die shortly after birth and that the two of them can consider terminating the pregnancy. Initially hesitant, Zack would prefer Whitney continue with the pregnancy, whilst Whitney believes the kindest course of action is to end the pregnancy.
Whitney, after a lot of anguish at how wanted her baby is, takes pills to bring the life of the baby to an end. In the end, Zack is supportive of her choice. The two spend time together, talking about their baby for a few days before Whitney goes into hospital to give birth. At eighteen weeks gestation, Zack and Whitney's daughter is born, dead. She is wrapped in the comforter blanket Zack bought and is held by Whitney and Zack, who decide to name their baby Peach. They say she will always be their daughter, that she made them parents and that they will always love and remember her.
Zack later tells Whitney about his HIV, Whitney is furious with Zack for not telling her about it but later decides to support him. A couple of weeks later when Zack is due to have a boxing match with Ben, he is told he will have to have a blood test which would reveal his HIV. Zack later talks to Whitney and she encourages Zack to tell Sharon and Martin the truth. Zack finally finds the courage to tell Sharon and Martin and two support Zack later buying a take away, having some drinks and they raise a toast to Zack.
Zack and Whitney begin a relationship off-screen and Zack goes to see Ravi, who is under fire from Whitney after her best friend Chelsea Fox discovered Ravi's affair with Denise Fox. Zack asks Ravi if he can borrow some money and Zack then tells Whitney he is going to use it to buy them a flat, however Whitney is happy living at 1 Albert Square and doesn't want to rush her relationship with Zack. Whitney turns Zack's offer down, when Ben and Martin argue in the Vic after Ben had cheated during their boxing match. Zack gets involved in the argument and gets called a coward by Ben for not boxing him, after Ben hurls multiple insults at Zack a furious Zack reveals infront of the whole Vic that he didn't fight Ben because he is HIV positive. Ben attempts to shake Zack's hand but Zack refuses, the likes of Ravi, Harvey Monroe and Karen Taylor all judge Zack because of his HIV but all three later to Zack later on after after Ravi was educated about HIV by his son Davinder Gulati and Harvey and Karen were told off by Felix Baker. Zack later attends Albie Watts christening however the christening is interrupted when Albie's dad Keanu Taylor is arrested when drugs are found in his van.
As Ravi is walking through the Square he catches Finlay and Felix staring at him and asks them what are they look at, Zack calms him down and takes him for a chat. Ravi reveals to Zack that he wants to win Chelsea back, Zack tells Ravi that if he wants to win Chelsea back then he should get in Finlay and Felix's good book as they're Chelsea's friends. Ravi takes this advice and offers to help Finlay and Felix with their business ventures, Finlay and Felix reluctantly agree and shake Ravi's hand. Chelsea walks in to the Vic and catches them talking to Ravi and is furious and about to fall out with them, but is convinced by Whitney to forgive them. When they go back into the Vic Whitney, Felix and Finlay catch Ravi and Chelsea looking at each other from across the bar. The three encourage Chelsea to talk to him and Chelsea tells them that he has one more chance.
Elaine Peacock to make more of an effort with Gina and Anna Knight. Elaine takes them for a meal at Walford East, where Zack catches the sisters‘ eye. Elaine attempts to set Gina up with Freddie later in the pub, however unbeknownst to Elaine Freddie thinks that Elaine is flirting with him when she asks if he's single. Gina starts flirting with Zack, but he tells her that he‘s dating Whitney. Elaine believes that Gina is flirting with Freddie and tells her she has a chance, believing that she has set them two up. On 27 June 2023 Zack attends Lola's funeral, after the funeral Zack and Whitney decide to move in together, Zack moves into 1 Albert Square and wants to hang around with Felix. However, Felix tells Zack that he's got a drag night and it might be to lively for him and calls Zack grandad. Zack gets offended by this as he believes he's still a party animal and attends the drag night.
Zack goes with Whitney on holiday to meet Whitney's mother figure Bianca Jackson, when he returns he goes to see Martin and reveals him and Whitney had heard Martin and Stacey had got back together. However Martin gets defensive and insists it was a one-night-stand. On Peach's due date Zack goes to hospital and it's revealed that Zack's HIV is now undetectable, during a date Zack tells Whitney he wants to try for children again however Whitney tells Zack she can't put her body through it again and says she couldn't cope with losing a third child. In a last ditch attempt to save her relationship with Zack, Whitney puts forward the idea of adoption. Zack says he wants a child that is biologically his and him and Whitney agree to split up but admit their love for each other and spend one final night together. However the next day Zack has a change of heart and decides he wants to stay with Whitney and foster a child. When Whitney and Zack start looking at houses to move out and Ravi finds out they can't afford it he secretly gives Zack a deposit so that he can move in with Chelsea but tells Zack not to tell anyone.
Zack and Whitney meet a social worker who asks Whitney to talk about her past abuse at the hands of Tony. Whitney describes what happened to her and the social worker later informs them that they have made the next stage of the fostering process leaving Whitney and Zack delighted.
When Sharon sees Keanu try to fight Jay Brown, Sharon believes Keanu is too hot headed to be Albie's dad should she die, Sharon later asks Zack to be Keanu's legal guardian and Zack accepts without any hesitation. When Keanu later kidnaps Albie Zack and Sharon grab him but Keanu claims he went to get Albie an ice cream and when he turned around Albie had been taken.
In December 2023 Zack and Whitney finally get their foster child, a young boy called Ashton. Ashton is visibly sad but Zack manages to cheer him up by offering him apples. Zack takes Ashton to the park, where he talks to Howie Danes about his struggles bonding with him. Zack and Whitney later help Ashton make his own den to hide in and help him cone up with a concept for his own super hero, which he names "Zebra man". Zack then dresses up as Zebra man.
Zack and Whitney later find out that Ashton will be getting a new permanent home and Whitney is devastated. When Zack drowns his sorrows at Peggy's, Whitney is upset. She believes that Zack should come home and say goodbye to Ashton the proper way by spending the evening with him. However, Sonia asks if Whitney wants Sonia to let Sonia's ex-husband Martin to bring Zack home, Whitney refuses. She believes that it should be Zack’s decision to come back home and properly say goodbye to Ashton. Whitney later takes a pregnancy test and it comes back positive.
Whitney tells Zack about the pregnancy shock and he is delighted although Whitney is fearful of another miscarriage, although their emotions are pushed aside when Ashton is collected by the social worker and they have to say a heartfelt goodbye. Whitney later accompanies Sonia when she does a pregnancy test after her and Reiss started IVF, Sonia's test reveals that she is not pregnant and she is devastated. After seeing Sonia's reaction Whitney tells Zack that she wants to have an abortion. Whitney later changes her mind following a conversation with Yolande Trueman and tells a delighted Zack that she will keep the baby. Sam later finds out that Albie is Phil's son and later threatens Zack, telling him that if Phil doesn't see Albie then Sharon will face a custody battle. Zack later tells Phil to get Sam to back off but Phil tells Zack that he didn't know Sam went to see him, Phil later threatens Sam and tells her to stay out of his buisness.
In Milton Keynes, Whitney and Zack meet Britney Wainwright and Taylor Wainwright, 2 troubled children who cause chaos on the estate. At Bianca’s, it isn’t long before Whitney reveals the pregnancy and Bianca is over the moon.
Two weeks later, Bianca invites Britney and Taylor over for some dinner and Whitney tries to make conversation with them, but they aren’t interested. Whitney then learns that Britney is deaf, Bianca is also curious as to why Sonia doesn’t know about the pregnancy, and Whitney states that after all of the trouble with the IVF, Whitney didn’t want to make Sonia feel low. Whitney then sees Britney sitting in an alley alone. A week or so later, Whitney is walking through the streets and sees Britney eating pizza from a bin. She tries to speak to Britney but Britney is startled and runs away, Bianca then tells Whitney about how bad of a person Britney’s mum, Keeley Wainwright is. 8 days later, Whitney sees Britney and Taylor shivering and soaking wet in Bianca’s, after being locked out by Keeley. Whitney then storms over to Keeley’s and confronts her over the neglect towards her children. Britney then runs an ‘errand’ for her mum. 2 days later, Whitney is concerned and visits the school, and learns that Britney was supposed to enrol in September 2023 as a Year 8 student, but never did, and last went to school in Year 5. Back at Bianca’s, Whitney finds Britney there with a cut leg and Whitney searches her pockets, she finds drugs on Britney. Whitney is shocked and yet again storms over to Keeley’s and confronts her once again, Britney, Zack, Bianca and Sonia follow, although things are more aggressive this time, Keeley starts dissing Bianca until she throws a brick through Keeley’s window. Keeley then tries to drag Britney inside but she runs away, Whitney then chases after Britney but Britney refuses to talk and runs into the road, she doesn’t notice a car coming so Whitney quickly pushes her away but is suddenly hit by the car and forcefully hits the ground, losing consciousness.
Whitney is rushed to the hospital and is told that the baby is fine, following this incident Zack tries to take Whitney back to the Square and asks her to stop seeing Britney. When Whitney refuses Zack returns to Walford alone, Zack gets drunk and tries to kiss Whitney's best friend Lauren Branning. The next day Zack begs Lauren not to tell Whitney, Lauren agrees to keep quiet, however when she's sees Zack looking like he's flirting with a customer at Walford East she changes her mind and tells Zack that she is going to tell Whitney. Zack prepares to tell Whitney himself but Lauren changes her mind following a conversation with Penny Branning where Penny reminds Lauren that the stress to a heavily pregnant Whitney could be bad for her, Lauren tells Zack that she will keep quiet.
When Whitney returns to Walford with Britney, Britney reveals Whitney has fostered her, initially angering Zack but he comes round. However, when Britney tells Zack he is angry and even more so when Whitney prefers Britney over him. Zack walks out and confides in Lauren. As they drink they grow close and they end up sleeping together. Bianca manages to discover the one-night-stand and slaps Zack and Lauren, but promises to keep quiet for Whitney’s sake, under the exception that Zack or Lauren eventually tells her. Shortly after, the social take Britney away and Bianca threatens Zack that he needs to get her back or else - he’s successful in bringing Britney home and everything remains peaceful for a few weeks. Whitney makes the choice to propose to Zack and they book their wedding.
A few days before the wedding, Whitney gives birth to Dolly Dean-Hudson and they seemed to have got their happy-ever-after until Britney overhears Zack and Lauren talking about their fling. On the day of the wedding, Britney exposes Zack and Lauren at the altar and Whitney attacks Lauren and punches Zack. Once returning home, Whitney states that their relationship is over and she wants nothing to do with him. A few days later, Whitney makes the choice to leave Walford with her daughters and promises Zack that he can visit them whenever. They say one last goodbye to Peach and Whitney leaves without Zack.
Zack struggles to cope after losing his soon-to-be wife and daughter and Lauren is called to support him. Zack is also informed by Ravi that he must take some time off of work to clear his head. Zack later snaps at Lauren and scares her which causes Peter to step up and defend her. He then goes into a downward spiral of anger and drinking. He is able to stay in touch with Whitney and constantly sees photos of Dolly, he manages to recover and get his life back on track after Bianca leaves. He then supports a teen boxing event in which he discovers Denzel Danes and Davinder Gulati have been using steroids.
Zack is put under pressure when a Crush occurs at Peggy's and he tries to help out, but things progressively get worse. Zack later allows Priya to help at the restaurant, which doesn't go down well with Ravi - but Priya smooths a deal.
Employment history
| Occupation | Years Active |
|---|---|
| Personal trainer at Crunch Time | 2021-2023 |
| Bartender at Peggy's | 2022- |
| Chef at Walford East | 2022- |
Residence
| Address | Years |
|---|---|
| 29B Albert Square | 2021 |
| 43 Albert Square | 2022-2023 |
| 1 Albert Square | 2023 |
| 3B Albert Square | 2023- |
Fight count
Punches
- Kheerat Panesar (24 May 2021)
- Ben Mitchell (28 July 2022) (knocked out)
Total: 2
Individual characters punched: 2
Total punches: 2
Background information
- On 2 June 2022, Zack states he is a graduate of The Prince's Trust.
- Zack named his first and favourite car Lucinda.
- Previously it was mentioned that Zack was thirty (born 1991/1992) but on this NHS File it shows his date of birth as 10th April 1988, which would make him thirty five as of April 2023.
- Zack’s blood type is Type B.