Zack Hudson’s HIV diagnosis storyline on EastEnders has sparked a surge in viewers wanting to learn more about the virus. In Monday night’s (16 January) episode, the character, who is played by James Farrar, received the news that he is HIV-positive.
He decided to get tested after his old friend Brett showed up in Albert Square and informed him that he had the virus, meaning Zack could also be positive as a result of the two previously sharing steroid needles.
The storyline, which is sure to become increasingly prominent in the coming months, resulted in HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust seeing a 75% increase in people visiting its website after the episode aired as viewers sought to learn more about the virus.
The most popular pages were how HIV is transmitted, stages of HIV infection, symptoms of HIV and post-exposure prophylaxis, the charity told GAY TIMES.