User:Mancetsoap/sandbox/Zack Hudson

Zack Hudson is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by James Farrar. He made is first appearance on 16 March 2021 at his father Gavin Sullivan's (Paul Nicholas) wake, revealing himself as Sharon's long-lost half-brother.

Storylines
Zack attends Gavin Sullivan's (Paul Nicholas) cremation and at the wake, he raises a scathing toast to Gavin and is chased by his cousins. Zack hides out in Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) and Sharon Watts' (Letitia Dean) car until the coast is clear and when Sharon asks about his identity, he tells her that Gavin was his father. Zack later arrives in Walford after receiving a call from Sharon's friend, Jean Slater (Gillian Wright). He reveals he has nowhere to live and has been sleeping his car. He is then rude to Jay Brown (Jamie Borthwick) and Kheerat Panesar (Jaz Deol). Zack tells Sharon about his abusive childhood with Gavin, detailing how he hit him and Sharon tells him he did the same thing to her son Dennis Rickman Jnr (Bleu Landau). Zack then takes Sharon's keys and sneaks into her flat looking for something but is caught by Sharon. Zack tells her that he is looking for a safety deposit box, left to Sharon in Gavin's will, which Gavin left him the key for. Sharon accuses Zack of being like Gavin and he says he is nothing like their father. They then agree to share whatever is in the box. Zack opens it and is enraged to find a birthday card he made for Gavin as a child and little else of value. He throws the box on the floor, frightening Sharon. Zack tells Sharon about a time when he baked Gavin some cakes at school but he was unappreciative and stubbed out his cigarette in one, leaving him humiliated. As he goes to leave, Sharon tells him that Dennis died the previous year and asks Zack to stay, to which he initially refuses, although returns later with food and wine for them both. Zack finds himself on the wrong side of Martin Fowler (James Bye), who punches him when he believes that he has been sleeping with his wife Ruby Allen (Louisa Lytton).

Creation and development
The character and casting was announced on 31 January 2021, and it was confirmed that he would begin filming in February. Zack was billed as a "charismatic" character who will "ruffle feathers when he arrives in Walford". It was added that he is a "lone wolf" and an "unpredictable troublemaker who lives life in the fast lane", and that due to a difficult childhood, he became "determined to never rely on anyone" or become attached to someone. On joining the soap, Farrar commented: "I'm thrilled to be joining EastEnders. As a born and bred Londoner myself, I can't wait to bring my experience of a place I love and know to such a well-respected long-running show, with such iconic characters. Zack certainly has a very complicated past and there is a real depth to him that I can't wait to explore." Executive producer Jon Sen opined his joy at Farrar's casting, stating that himself and the production team are excited to see him portray Zack, describing him as "a wonderful addition" to the cast.