EastEnders’ Vicki Fowler shares a smooch with Zack Hudson next week, after she confides in him about the lasting impact of Joel Marshall’s attack. Is this the start of a genuine romance between Sharon Watts’ half-siblings?

Having been involved in a disastrous quiz night at The Vic, Vicki retreats to her sofa and opens up to Zack about the trauma that she has been carrying around since Joel brutally assaulted her. In response, Zack offers his reassurance – but one thing leads to another, and the pair lean in for a kiss…

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“Kathy walks in just as they lock lips!” says our EastEnders insider. “Zack declares that it was a moment of madness and Sharon doesn’t need to know about it.

“It’s down to Kathy to decide whether that’s the case, but with Sharon still in Florida they should be in the clear – if they can keep it from Ross, that is…”

The week kicks off with Vicki learning that Joel plans to plead not guilty at his trial. The unsettling news disturbs Vicki, but she still agrees to go to the pub quiz later that day.

At The Vic, Vicki and Ross are placed on the same team, which helps push relations between the two in the right direction. But when Vicki heads to the bar for a drink, Chelsea’s date Damon flags her attention for all the wrong reasons.

“Vicki is concerned when she first spots Damon, then she catches him on the phone to his wife,” explains our insider. “Vicki bellows out that Damon is a cheat, which causes a commotion in the pub.”

Subsequently, Vicki follows Damon into the laundrette, which triggers another blazing argument. Damon launches himself at Vicki, who defends herself by shoving him away.

The next thing Vicki knows, Damon is on the ground, having badly smacked his head. Before she has time to panic, Zack turns up and leaps into action – can he protect Vicki from facing even more grief?

Later, Zack offers an apology to Kathy, acknowledging that he shouldn’t have kissed Vicki in her vulnerable state. Wise as ever, Kathy then advises Zack to put his attention into son Barney, who needs his support right now.

Was Vicki and Zack’s kiss a huge mistake, or could it turn into something more?