BBC EastEnders fans fume as they ‘rumble Lauren’s real agenda’ with Zack amid Whitney ‘split’

EastEnders viewers are convinced Lauren Branning is up to something on the BBC soap, after meddling in Zack Hudson and Whitney Dean’s romance ahead of an exit

EastEnders viewers think they know Lauren Branning’s plan, after she appeared to encourage Zack Hudson to call things off with Whitney Dean.

Amid Zack and pregnant Whitney’s relationship hitting the rocks after her hopes to care for teen Britney, he confided in her best pal Lauren this week. But things took a turn when Zack misread the signals and tried to kiss Lauren, leaving her furious.

Lauren vowed to tell Whitney the truth despite Zack begging her to stay silent, only for his flirting with a customer to leave him in hot water once more. As Lauren ended up agreeing to not say anything, she gave Zack food for thought when they had a heart-to-heart over Whitney.

Zack vowed never to act out again, saying he loved Whitney and wanted to make things work. But Lauren shared her concerns that it was all going to end in tears for the pair, and that they were possibly bonded by grief and not actually in love with each other.

Zack and Whitney’s baby daughter Peach died last year, with Whitney terminating her pregnancy after Peach was diagnosed with Edwards’ syndrome, as nurses confirmed the baby would not survive. After struggling with their grief the pair got back together, and late last year Whitney learned she was pregnant again.

Since then the couple have seemed on track, until a recent visit to Milton Keynes led to Zack returning to Walford without his partner despite her being pregnant, and having had a car accident. Her desperation to help teen Britney after some trouble left her and Zack rowing.

It was after this that Zack made a pass at Lauren, leaving her disgusted and threatening to expose him. During their later chat, Lauren advised him and Whitney to figure out if their relationship and caring for Britney was what they really wanted.

She told Zack there was a young girl’s life needing to be considered, and that supporting her to make Whitney happy was not enough. As Lauren appeared to advise Zack to consider his future with Whitney, fans fumed believing she had an agenda and was “wanting Zack for herself”.

Taking to X, one fan theorised: “Lauren is defo just after Zack for herself,” as another agreed: “Lauren stop it you know exactly what you are doing.” A third added: “Lauren breaking up a happy couple.”

The comments kept on coming with one reading: “Lauren is determined to split up Whitney and Zack.” Another added: “Lauren clearly wants him and will soon end up in bed.”

STACEY Slater is one of six women in Albert Square to keep a dark secret about Keanu Taylor’s disappearance.

Coming up in EastEnders, her illicit lover Jack Branning begins to put two and two together as he grows suspicious of her.

BBC One viewers were shocked when Stacey (portrayed by Lacey Turner) bedded another Branning man, who also happens to be married.

Since their first tryst, Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) neglected his wife Denise Fox (Diane Parish) for the benefit of his new mistress.

But when the hairstylist spiralled and her mental health reached an all-time low, Jack was crushed to realise how much she was struggling, particularly with their marriage hanging by a fragile thread.

Denise was sectioned as the symptoms of her psychosis became overwhelming and a potential cause of danger for her and everybody else in her close circle.

Next week, Jack tries to be present for Denise while his affair with Stacey seems to be going south as he begins to wonder why she is also paying a visit to his wife.

It all begins when Stacey and Jack are thrown together as Lily Slater and Ricky Branning celebrate Mother’s Day at Walford East with their baby daughter Charli.

Later on, Amy Mitchell and her half-brother Ricky beg Jack to let them see Denise, and he promises to speak to the latter’s own daughter Chelsea (Zaraah Abrahams) to try to make it happen.

However, Denise is refusing to see anyone, which causes a preoccupied Johnny Carter (Charlie Suff) to insist that Stacey needs to get to Denise before Jack or the kids do in an attempt to avoid their big murder secret from being thrown out into the open.

Regular viewers of the London-based program will remember that Charlie found out about Keanu’s death when his mother Linda – the killer – confessed everything to him.

In later scenes, Johnny piles on the pressure to get Stacey to sort the issue of Denise for all the women’s sakes, so she asks Denise to let her visit.

Once at the hospital, Denise tells Stacey she’s no longer seeing Keanu but intends to stay put.

Stacey then argues that Denise needs her loved ones around her, just as Jack walks in and demands to know why his mistress is there.

Mortified, Stacey thinks on her feet to give Jack a convincing cover story as to why she’s with Denise, despite her refusing all other visits.

Jack is hurt when Denise turns him away and, during a talk with Dr Abe later, she explains that she feels safe in the hospital and wants to stay.

Will her request be accepted?

Meanwhile, Jack is still rattled by Stacey and Denise’s closeness and starts to do some digging.

What will he find?