Charlie Brooks has said that returning to EastEnders as Janine Butcher "feels like home" after her comeback to the BBC soap.
The 45-year-old actress returned to Albert Square in Thursday's episode, where her character was shown meeting an unknown man in an office, marking her first appearance in four years.
Brooks on Returning to Janine
Brooks said: "I always love coming back to Janine. She's an exciting character to play, and it's always fun to discover what she's been doing and what she's been up to as an actress.
"Seeing everyone back at the studio, and working with Kellie again, has been amazing. It always feels like home when I go back."
She added that she felt like "much less time has passed for me" since she was last in Walford.
What to Expect From Janine's Return
Asked what viewers can expect from her character's return, Brooks said: "I don't know if anyone wants to see a reformed Janine ever, so we can rest assured that we are leaning into the true nature of who Janine is.
"As always, it's about survival for her..."
She added: "I always like trying to understand a little bit more about her each time I play her, and I think the why is so important. She's a lot of things, but she's also a super fun character to play.
"She's very camp, and I have a lot of fun with her. Janine is also deep, and she's got a lot going on, so it's always interesting to explore that."
Brooks' Career and Janine's History
Brooks has also appeared in The Bill, Wired and Bleak House. She won the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special in 2011 and was crowned queen of the jungle in the 12th series of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in 2012.
Janine's previous stint in the soap, which has seen Brooks play the character on and off since 1999, ended in 2022 when she was arrested for perverting the course of justice.
