SPOILERS for upcoming EastEnders scenes reveal Lauren Branning’s struggle after her liaison with Zack Hudson is exposed.
Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) had a fling with Zack (James Farrar) just weeks before he was due to marry her best friend, Whitney (Shona McGarty).
The two women share a long history from being close friends as teenagers and growing up in Albert Square.
They are also, in a sense, part of the same extended family as Whitney’s adoptive mum Bianca (Patsy Palmer) is the niece of Lauren’s dad Max (Jake Wood).
The secret of Lauren and Zack’s betrayal of Whitney bubbled away leading up to the wedding this week.
More people, such as Bianca and Whitney’s foster daughter Britney (Lola Campbell) had learned the truth.
Whitney herself remained in the dark, with the painful revelation coming at the worst possible moment.
The fling came to light during Whitney and Zack’s vows, with Britney, whom Zack had asked to stay quiet, piping up to reveal the truth.
She told her foster mum: “He might hurt you. He cheated on you. It’s true. Zack slept with Lauren.”
With the scandalous act now exposed, scenes yet to air reveal what Lauren will be facing next.
This includes bearing the brunt of spiteful comments from Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins), grandmother to her son Louis.
However, Lauren’s ex-boyfriend and Louis’ father, Peter (Thomas Law) offers his support to her.
Lauren appreciates the gesture and agrees to spend the evening with Peter.
This is the latest storyline in Lauren’s near 20 year history, on and off, in EastEnders.
Although the character first appeared in 2006, current actress Jacqueline Jossa took over in 2010 replacing Madeline Duggan in the role.
In that time, Lauren’s parents divorced, she’s had a lengthy battle with alcoholism and tragically lost half-brother Bradley (Charlie Clements), sister Abi (Lorna Fitzgerald) and boyfriend Steven Beale (Aaron Sidwell).
EastEnders facts and figures
THE beloved British soap has been captivating audiences for decades.
EastEnders follows the lives of the residents of Walford as they navigate love, loss, family drama, and community struggles.
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Jacqueline originally left EastEnders in 2018, with Lauren moving to New Zealand.
She returned as a regular in October 2023, after making guest appearances in the intervening years.
EastEnders airs on BBC One and is available on BBC iPlayer.