EastEnders announce HIV storyline as Zack diagnosed 31 years after Mark Fowler

2023-01-05

EastEnders' Zack Hudson will soon discover he has HIV – 31 years after former Walford resident Mark Fowler was diagnosed with the virus.

The BBC soap is working with the Terrence Higgins Trust on the new hard-hitting storyline which will see the beloved Albert Square chef, played by James Farrar, informed he is HIV positive.

Zack receives the diagnosis when an old acquaintance, Brett, makes his way to Walford and urges him to get tested after revealing he also has the virus.

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The storyline will follow the implications for Zack as he learns what it's like to live with HIV, while soap bosses are working closely with the charity to accurately reflect and raise awareness of the virus.

This comes 31 years after EastEnders made history when Mark Fowler became the first mainstream British TV character to be diagnosed with the virus.

The fan-favourite character, played by Todd Carty, discovered he was HIV positive in 1991 in a soap first.

One year after he left Walford in 2003, Martin Fowler received a call informing him that his brother had died from an AIDS-related form of Non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

Ian Green, Chief Executive at Terrence Higgins Trust said: “It’s been incredible to work with EastEnders on Zack’s story to show people across the UK that an HIV diagnosis doesn’t have to stop you from living life to the fullest."

The storyline will show the developments in how HIV is treated and how things have changed since the 90s.

Ian continued: “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."

The charity executive went on to say: "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' Executive 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."

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