EastEnders airs unannounced return for fan-favourite character exactly 2 years after exit in early BBC iPlayer release

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Be warned: this contains spoilers for the episode that became available on BBC iPlayer at 6:00 AM on Monday, May 25, 2026, and will be shown on BBC One at 7:30 PM that same day.

EastEnders surprised viewers on Monday with the return of a popular character who hadn’t been seen in Walford for two years.

The major storyline on the BBC One soap opera this week revolved around the wedding of Vicki Fowler and Ross Marshall. A key source of tension was Zack Hudson, who had a past relationship with Vicki and was serving as Ross’s best man, creating an uncomfortable situation.

Zack’s workday at the Queen Vic was interrupted by an unexpected phone call on Monday, and he quickly became less focused on helping Ross with the wedding to attend a secret meeting.

We spotted Zack again, this time having dinner at Knight Fusion with a woman who turned out to be his ex-fiancée, Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty)!

Whitney unexpectedly returned to Walford after two years. She originally left to start a new life with her daughters, Dolly and Britney (Lola Campbell), following a difficult farewell to Zack and her home.

Shona McGarty left her role on the soap after fifteen years to pursue other opportunities in 2023, officially departing the show the following year. Her recent return feels natural and provides a welcome update – and a crucial moment for her character, Zack!

Viewers may remember Whitney and Zack’s breakup happened when she found out he was having an affair with Lauren, who was also a close friend and, as Whitney knew, her adopted cousin (played by Jacqueline Jossa).

The conversation between Zack and Whitney is very friendly and playful. Whitney shared pictures of Dolly and Britney with Zack, and he responded by playfully teasing her.

Whitney shares that she’s feeling happy and content right now. Just then, Zack expresses his desire for them to rekindle their relationship and for Whitney to have help raising their children, rather than parenting alone.

Even though Zack was hoping for a positive response, Whitney turned him down, explaining that she’s now in a relationship with someone else, which deeply disappointed him.

Could this new heartbreak drive Zack to do something he will regret?

On Monday, Gina Knight (played by Francesca Henry) unexpectedly had to visit with her cruel adoptive grandfather, Eddie Knight (Christopher Fairbank), because her father, George (Colin Salmon), needed to quickly attend to his other daughter, Ivy.

Will Mitchell’s plans to hang out with Oscar Branning were disrupted when he had to look after his sister, Janet.

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In the end, Grant Mitchell took responsibility for the trouble his son, Mark Fowler, had caused. This happened because Max Branning and Cindy Beale had conspired to get Mark sent to prison, hoping to keep him away from the car lot and from Lauren.

Will this spell the end of Grant’s time in Walford?

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Authors

Lewis KnightNews and Trends Editor

Lewis heads up news and trending content at TopMob, ensuring we deliver what our audience wants. He’s a huge TV and film buff, especially a fan of Nicole Kidman, but also loves sci-fi, independent films, and the newest shows on HBO. With a background in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Film Studies, Lewis previously worked in advertising before spending three years at The Mirror, where he focused on community engagement, SEO, and reporting on showbiz, film, and television.

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2026-05-25 09:04