Tensions explode in EastEnders next week when Zack Hudson’s mission to protect his son spirals into a full-blown Mitchell family catastrophe, ending in a dramatic hostage situation and a terrifying car plunge.

It all begins with Zack Hudson, who is still grappling with the bombshell that Barney — the boy he fathered during a fleeting romance with Nicola Mitchell sixteen years ago — has been lied to his entire life. Nicola, now married to Teddy Mitchell, has let her husband believe Barney is his biological child. This web of deceit is on the verge of unraveling, and Zack knows that when it does, the fallout will be seismic.

Growing increasingly worried about Barney’s safety, Zack hatches a desperate plan. He confides in Vicki Fowler about his intentions to flee Walford with the boy. Zack believes that getting Barney away from Nicola — a woman he now views as volatile and dangerous — is the only way to protect him. Vicki urges caution, warning that this could make things worse, but Zack seems determined to act.

Needing funds for the escape, Zack turns to Ravi Gulati. Ravi, however, has his own story to tell. He warns Zack that Nicola is not someone to trifle with and reveals a chilling detail: Nicola once asked him to help move a dead body. The revelation is damning, but Zack is unmoved — he knows Nicola is capable of violence and believes time is running out.

Seeking justice rather than flight, Zack follows Linda Carter’s advice and decides to go to the police. He lays out everything he knows about Nicola’s criminal past, including her connection to the mysterious body Ravi mentioned. The evidence is sufficient, and police waste no time in arresting Nicola — a moment of triumph for Zack, and, surprisingly, for Harry Mitchell too.

Harry, Nicola’s son, has long been disillusioned with his mother. Their relationship shattered when he found out she murdered his ex-girlfriend Shireen. Watching Nicola being taken into custody feels like a moment of vindication for him.

Thinking this shared hatred of Nicola might bring them closer, Zack confides in Harry. He explains that he just wants to take Barney away from all this chaos — to give him a better life. But Zack fatally misjudges Harry’s loyalties.

Rather than supporting Zack’s plan, Harry storms off and informs his parents about the kidnapping scheme. A heated confrontation follows, and Nicola — now under arrest and denying every accusation — only fuels the family’s rage. As tensions rise, Harry suddenly declares that Zack is planning to kidnap Barney. The situation spirals out of control.

In a moment of blind fury and loyalty to his family, Harry grabs a car from the garage and forcibly shoves Zack into the boot. It’s a shocking escalation — one that leaves Teddy scrambling to contain the crisis. Desperate to stop his son from doing something truly dangerous, Teddy jumps into another car, dragging Billy and Honey Mitchell along with him. Nigel Bates is also caught up in the unfolding disaster as they chase after Harry and the captive Zack.

Night falls over Walford as the two vehicles race through the streets. The chase becomes more frantic by the second. Then, the unthinkable happens — one of the cars loses control and careens off the road, plunging straight into the dark waters of a nearby lake.

Panic sets in. Lives hang in the balance. Will Zack survive after being stuffed in the boot? Can Teddy, Billy, Honey, and Nigel escape the wreckage? And what will happen to Harry, who allowed his rage and betrayal to consume him?

As the dust settles — or rather, the water stills — viewers are left wondering how deep the damage goes. This isn’t just a family fight. This is betrayal, desperation, and revenge colliding in a way that could change everything for the Mitchells.

With Nicola behind bars (for now), Zack’s fate unknown, and the Mitchells fractured like never before, EastEnders dives headfirst into a heart-pounding week of drama. Secrets have been exposed, alliances broken, and a boy’s future hangs in the balance.

But in Walford, one thing is always true: no secret stays buried forever… especially when the consequences crash head-on into reality.