EastEnders has finally confirmed the fate of Zack Hudson, after an explosive week of episodes.

Teddy began driving an unresponsive Zack home, after Harry kidnapped him to stop him taking Barney away. But when Zack regained consciousness, he grabbed the steering wheel, and the car plunged into the lake.

While Teddy escaped unharmed, the Mitchells concluded that Zack had drowned in the accident. When Vicki heard this awful news, she charged round to No.1 and told Barney once and for all that Zack was his real dad – and that he has just been killed.

Barney struggled to come to terms with this huge bombshell in today’s episode, as Teddy ruined Nicola’s attempts to claim this wasn’t true.

Barney had an emotional chat with Teddy, where he also found out the grisly truth about Shireen’s death.

Overwhelmed by the secrets in his family, Barney eventually decided that he needed some time to himself. He went round to check on devastated Vicki, who was being supported by Phil and Linda.

But as they began to process what had happened together, Zack walked through the door – alive and well, having swam to the other side of the lake after the crash.

With the truth out in the open, Zack and Barney spoke and began to bond, but when Zack insisted Nicola was evil, Barney got overwhelmed and ran away.

Meanwhile, Harry confronted Nicola in the bar about Shireen, and she finally admitted that she didn’t order his ex-girlfriend’s death – she killed her. Nicola explained that Shireen knew about Barney’s paternity and threatened to expose her big secret.

Harry got violent with his mum, and when Teddy arrived, Nicola told him about Shireen. Of course, Teddy already knew, but Nicola didn’t want Harry to turn against his dad as well.

In the Square, Barney was torn between Teddy and Zack, who began fighting. Barney admitted to his mum that he wanted everything to go back to how it was, so he went home with his family – and Zack was left feeling rejected by his son.

After a life-changing day, the Mitchells pledged to be a family again and even had a laugh when Barney suggested they play a board game. But can everything really go back to normal, and will Zack continue to fight for Barney?