{"id":29218,"date":"2023-01-26T21:30:50","date_gmt":"2023-01-26T20:30:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1775446"},"modified":"2023-01-27T00:14:29","modified_gmt":"2023-01-26T23:14:29","slug":"eastenders-confirms-diagnosis-for-whitney-deans-baby","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/eastenders-confirms-diagnosis-for-whitney-deans-baby\/","title":{"rendered":"EastEnders confirms diagnosis for Whitney Dean\u2019s baby"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Lauren Morris\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 26 January 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Whitney Dean and Zack Hudson have had a rocky start to their pregnancy so far after Zack\u2019s HIV diagnosis<\/a> led to health concerns about the baby<\/a> \u2013 however, the situation is set to become more complicated due to an upcoming storyline on the soap.<\/p>\n

EastEnders has confirmed that Whitney (Shona McGarty) and one-night-stand Zack (James Farrar) will learn later this month that their baby has been diagnosed with Edwards\u2019 Syndrome.<\/p>\n

The condition, which affects around three in every 10,000 births in the UK, gives a baby three copies of the same chromosome and can lead to health problems.<\/p>\n

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Zack (James Farrar) and Whitney (Shona McGarty) in EastEnders.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

The soap will be working closely with Antenatal Results and Choices<\/a> and SOFT UK<\/a> to raise awareness of Edwards\u2019 Syndrome whilst \u201csensitively portraying the tough decisions that prospective parents are faced with following a diagnosis\u201d.<\/p>\n

Later this month, viewers will watch as an ultrasound scan identifies a birth defect in Whitney and Zack\u2019s baby, leading to further testing and an eventual diagnosis.<\/p>\n

Speaking about the storyline, executive producer Chris Clenshaw said that it was \u201cimperative\u201d for the team to work with charities to accurately portray the storyline.<\/p>\n

\u201cShona and James\u2019s performances have thoughtfully portrayed the realities of the diagnosis and the decision making process with compassion and understanding,\u201d he added. \u201cWe hope that this story resonates with the audience, and that we represent it as sensitively, and as accurately as possible.\u201d<\/p>