Zack Hudson will be diagnosed with HIV in a new storyline on EastEnders, it has been revealed.
The character - played by James Farrar - is a notorious ladies' man but has showed signs of settling down after recently learning that Whitney (Shona McGarty) is pregnant with his child.
In a plot which kicks off this week, former acquaintance Brett (Fabrizio Santino) arrives in the Square and informs Zack that he has been diagnosed with HIV and advises him to get tested too.
The storyline, which comes 30 years after iconic character Mark Fowler's (Todd Carty) diagnosis, has been developed in conjunction with the Terrence Higgins Trust.
The charity's chief executive Ian Green said: "During the height of the HIV epidemic in the 1990s, we worked with EastEnders on Mark Fowler's story to ensure HIV was portrayed accurately on screen.
"Mark was the first mainstream British TV character to be diagnosed with HIV. His story was viewed by millions and helped change attitudes about the virus when fear and misinformation was rife.
"Over 30 years on from Mark's storyline and sadly myths about HIV are still held by far too many people.
"The incredible progress we've made around HIV means people on effective HIV treatment can't pass on the virus and can have a normal lifespan. We hope that Zack's storyline will educate viewers on the reality of HIV in 2023 and spark conversations in living rooms across the UK."
EastEnders exec producer Chris Clenshaw added: "EastEnders has never shied away from covering sensitive issues and Zack's story is one of these.
"There are still so many myths and disinformation surrounding HIV, so working closely with Terrence Higgins Trust has enabled us to really understand what it is like for those that are diagnosed with HIV and we hope that this storyline will bring more awareness of HIV and what it is like to live with the virus in 2023."
EastEnders continues Mondays to Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One.
Neil Wilkes
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