Janine's Early Days
Janine Butcher was introduced as the daughter of Frank Butcher, who abandoned her with Pat. The two shared a love-hate relationship until Pat's death. Frank returned two years later and they moved to Manchester, but he abandoned her again to return to Walford. When Janine followed him back, her anger and pain had crystallised, with a cruel streak a mile wide. Attempting to destroy her dad's marriage to Peggy Mitchell, she was abandoned for a third time when Frank left again.
Prostitution and Cocaine Addiction
Homeless and alone, Janine was taken in by Terry Raymond, but she manipulated him, attempted to scam him, and tried to seduce him. When Terry was beaten by a drug dealer feeding Janine's cocaine habit, he left. Janine began an awkward relationship with Billy Mitchell until he ran out of money. She turned to prostitution, with Ian Beale as a client; she blackmailed him, but his wife Laura found out and threw boiling milk into Janine's face, leaving her agoraphobic. Reduced to eating dog food, Janine was helped by Billy Mitchell.
Marrying and Killing Barry Evans
Janine targeted Barry Evans, seducing and marrying him under the impression he had a fatal heart murmur. When it turned out to be a false alarm, she took him to a cliff top in Scotland, eviscerated him verbally, and shoved him off. Finding him barely alive at the foot of the cliff, she ignored his pleas for help, coldly replying that 'memories are better'. She inherited his money and business, then tortured Laura Beale. After a physical fight, Laura fell down stairs and died. Pat refused to give Janine an alibi, but eventually did, and Janine fled the court, disappearing for years.
Judith Bernstein and Michael Moon
Janine reappeared masquerading as a Jewish orphan named Judith Bernstein, trying to marry an elderly wealthy man named David. Pat ruined the wedding, and David died of a heart attack. Janine returned home and accidentally ran over and killed Danielle Jones. She allied with Archie Mitchell, blackmailed Ian Beale again, and began a relationship with Ryan Malloy. She tried to kill Ryan after he fathered Stacey Slater's baby, and framed Stacey for a stabbing Janine inflicted on herself. When she became a millionaire after her grandma's death, she began a toxic relationship with Michael Moon, giving birth to their daughter Scarlett. When Alice Branning stabbed Michael in defence of Janine, Janine realised Michael was still alive and stabbed him again, letting Alice believe she was the killer. She admitted the truth to David Wicks, who blackmailed her; she attempted to kill him, but a recording got to the police. After a deal with Kat Slater, Janine had a pang of guilt when Alice harmed herself in prison, and at trial admitted she alone killed Michael in self-defence. Both were found not guilty, and Janine attempted to board the Eurostar, meeting a lottery winner.
Destroying the Carters
Janine's fourth stint began when Scarlett contacted half-brother Tommy Moon, saying she'd been put in care due to Janine's neglect. Janine resurrected her Judith Bernstein persona, pretending to be a doctor. Kat gained custody of Scarlett after a feud. Janine set her sights on Mick Carter, manipulating him and his wife Linda. She preyed on Linda's alcoholism, causing relapses. In a particularly evil act, she drove a drunken Linda away, crashed into a tree, dragged Linda into the driver's seat, poured alcohol around the car, and fled, framing her for drink-driving. Linda was left in a coma. Pregnant, Mick proposed to Janine. On Boxing Day, Scarlett exposed Janine's plot; Janine fled toward the coast, a struggle with Linda resulted in their car going over a cliff. Mick rescued Janine and the baby, but went back for Linda and disappeared, presumed dead. Janine returned to Walford, was arrested, and sentenced to five years for perverting the course of justice. She gave birth to a boy named Mick Jr while incarcerated.
Why Is Janine Coming Back?
With no family left, what could draw Janine back to Walford? She isn't one to let a feud die without revenge. Is Linda in danger? Or could it involve the mystery of Mick's demise? Perhaps she can answer questions about what happened to him.
