A growing contingent of EastEnders fans have become convinced that Zack Hudson is little Jimmy Beale’s real father. Zack, one might remember, had a one-night stand with Lauren Branning last year, betraying her best friend and his partner, Whitney Dean.

At the time, Whitney had been pregnant with his second child, baby Dolly. Frustrated with her prioritising wild child Britney and lying about the fostering situation, Zack had sunk into the bottle, and sought solace in her friend, Lauren.

And, as they fell into each other’s arms, a great betrayal occurred. When she found out, Whitney was devastated. Unable to forgive Zack, she took baby Dolly (and Britney) and departed Walford, leaving Zack alone.

Zack is Jimmy’s father, EastEnders fans predict

Fast-forward to this year, and Lauren has just given birth to a child of her own… little Jimmy Branning. But while she and Peter Beale both believe that the child is his, several fans online think that Jimmy could be a result of Zack and Lauren’s hook-up.

“The father of baby Jimmy Maybe Zac!” exclaimed one fan on X.

“I still think the baby is Zacs and he’s got h.i.v. virus that’s what made him blind,” wrote another on Facebook – perhaps forgetting the fact that Zack is currently untransmissible, and that HIV does not make babies blind.

“In a PANIC when Peter Beale finds out that Zack is the dad of Lauren Branning’s child. The baby having possible health issues might lead to that. The baby needing blood or having a genetic condition in Zac’s family,” said another.

“I have a feeling Lauren’s baby is Zacks, or am I getting the timings wrong?” asked a fourth, on Reddit.

Is Zack Jimmy’s father?

No, Zack could not possibly be Jimmy’s father.

Lauren and Zack slept together in April 2024. It is now May 2025, meaning that the baby would have had to have been gestating for 13 months.

EastEnders Fan Theory: Is Zack Hudson Really Jimmy Beale’s Father?

A vocal segment of EastEnders viewers has speculated that Zack Hudson might actually be the biological father of Lauren Branning’s baby, Jimmy. This theory stems from a one-night stand between Zack and Lauren last year, a betrayal that shocked many, especially since Zack was involved with Whitney Dean at the time.

The Backstory

Last year, Zack and Lauren’s brief encounter happened during a turbulent period: Whitney was pregnant with their second child, Dolly, but tensions arose due to Zack’s frustration over Whitney prioritizing her wild child Britney and lying about fostering. Seeking comfort, Zack turned to Lauren, and their liaison sparked heartbreak.

The Theory

Fans online have suggested that despite Lauren and Peter Beale believing Peter is Jimmy’s father, Zack could be the real dad. Some even speculate that Jimmy’s health issues could be linked to Zack’s medical history, fueling dramatic fan theories on social media platforms like X (Twitter), Facebook, and Reddit.

The Timeline Reality Check

However, the pregnancy timeline debunks this theory:

• Zack and Lauren slept together in April 2024.

• It is currently May 2025 in the show timeline.

• A normal human pregnancy lasts about nine months.

• For Zack to be Jimmy’s father, the baby would have had to be in gestation for approximately 13 months, which is biologically impossible.

Medical Clarifications

Some fans linked Jimmy’s potential health issues to Zack’s HIV status, but medically, Zack’s current untransmissible condition and the fact that HIV does not cause blindness in babies make these assumptions unfounded.

Conclusion

While fan theories often add intrigue and excitement to soap opera narratives, the timeline and medical facts clearly show that Zack cannot be Jimmy’s father. The story remains that Peter Beale is Jimmy’s biological dad, keeping the established character relationships intact.