EastEnders legend Charlie Brooks is set to make an epic comeback to Albert Square as Janine Butcher. After almost four years away, the character is reportedly returning to shake things up again, with her dramatic storyline to air in autumn.
Charlie, 45, made her debut in the long-running BBC soap in 1999. She first left in 2004 before returning from 2008 to 2014, then had a stint from 2021 to 2022, meaning her return will mark her fourth era in Walford. In her time, she's been front and centre of some of the Square's most memorable moments, whether it be tantrums, fights, or shoving Barry Evans off a cliff.
Guest appearance and teasers
As reported by The Sun, Janine will appear as a guest in a couple of episodes. A source teased: 'Janine's appearance is going to blow the roof off Albert Square.' 'The bosses have several huge stories planned for this autumn, which will all start building towards Christmas,' the insider added. 'Although Charlie is only reprising her role as Janine for a couple of episodes this time around, her involvement is bound to cause plenty of drama.'
Further details are being kept 'top secret', as bosses are keen to avoid spoiling things for fans. 'But no doubt they are going to love seeing Janine back to cause chaos.'
Charlie's hints and prison sentence
Charlie, who marked her 1,000th episode in 2022, recently hinted at returning as Janine, as her character's release from prison draws near. Speaking on Good Morning Britain earlier this month, the performer noted to Richard Arnold that Janine should be out from behind bars in 'about a year'. 'OK! Out in about a year… sounds like Richard knows about the future script,' Susanna Reid then said, to which the entertainment reporter replied: 'Well, you could get out earlier. You never know.'
Flashing a grin, Charlie chimed in: 'You will have to see.' Asked whether she can see herself going back, the I'm A Celebrity star responded: 'I get asked this question all the time. I love Janine; I love playing her; she's a wonderful character. I always get blessed with such great storylines. So who knows.' She then described EastEnders as 'a home from home', suggesting that she'll never quite be done with the feisty character.
Janine was thrown into prison for her numerous crimes, including her contribution to Mick Carter's disappearance. In an off-camera court hearing, she was sentenced to five years in April 2023. But Charlie reckons Janine 'finds her way out of these situations'. 'She should have had her proper comeuppance, shouldn't she?', she admitted. 'She should be dead or…'
What else is Charlie Brooks up to?
Post-EastEnders, she appeared in the final series of ITV's Dancing On Ice in 2025, finishing sixth. She then appeared alongside David Tennant in the seven-part drama The Hack, in which she played Kim Vian. Charlie also often keeps her social media followers updated, having just announced her casting in a brand-new tour of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. She'll appear alongside Alex Keenan and Imi Price as Chris Boone, who are the first women to play the role, and fellow soap star Joe McFadden from September, with the tour running until the end of May 2027. Charlie will play Judy, Chris's mother.
So, if whispers of her EastEnders return are also true, she's in for a busy end of 2026.
