EastEnders reveals where Vicki's heart truly lies ahead of blackmail shock

 "He's the man she should marry."

EastEnders' Vicki Fowler has been stuck in a secret love triangle, after developing feelings for Zack Hudson while in a relationship with Ross Marshall. Though she agreed to marry Ross, recent tensions regarding his son Joel will see her once again seeking comfort from Zack. But who does her heart truly belong to?

Earlier this week, a devastated Ross learned that Joel had been sentenced to six months in a young offenders institute, following his brutal attack on Vicki. Feeling like he had failed his son, the builder resolved to provide him with a stable home once he was released - much to Vicki's horror.

Vicki loves Ross and desperately wants their relationship to work. But Ross will always be Joel's dad, and although they've able to brush the issue aside whilst Joel is away, the reality of the future begins to resurface," said Alice Haig, who plays Vicki.

"The thought of sharing a home with Joel again leaves her feeling deeply anxious. It throws everything into doubt: she wants nothing more than to marry Ross, but she can't see a future that includes Joel."

The couple clashed over the best course of action for the teen, before finally coming to an agreement. However, next week's episodes will complicate the situation further when an overwhelmed Vicki kisses Zack during her hen do.

It's a tough moment for Vicki because she does care about Zack, but she also feels deeply let down by Ross. That mix pushes her into something she immediately regrets," explained Haig.

"She does have feelings for Zack, but they're tangled up in her hurt. The attraction is there, but the connection is really driven by feeling overlooked and unsupported by the person she's meant to be building a future with."

The next day, Vicki is full of remorse about her indiscretion as Ross vows to prioritise her over Joel going forward. Though she is determined to put the whole thing behind her, she later receives a picture of her and Zack kissing from an unknown blackmailer.

Addressing her character's true feelings, Haig confirmed that "Ross is the person [Vicki] wants", despite her "chemistry" with Zack. "He's the man she should marry. And it's right at that precise moment, when she finally knows where her heart is, that the text arrives."

She added: "I think Ross and Vicki are genuinely made for each other, there's so much mutual love there. Vicki does find Zack irresistible, but ultimately, I think Ross is the person she truly belongs with."