Charlie Brooks has returned to EastEnders as Janine Butcher, four years after the character was arrested and jailed for perverting the course of justice. The actress, 45, appeared on screen on Thursday, with viewers seeing her eyeing the contents of a mystery brown envelope, hinting at what she may have planned.
A return that feels like home
Brooks, who first played the role in 1999 aged 17, 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 [Bright] again, has been amazing."
Asked what to 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."
Exploring Janine's character
Despite the drama that follows her character, Brooks said Janine is fun to play. 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."
The return leads to a bombshell discovery for her former rival Linda Carter, ahead of actress Kellie Bright's exit from the soap after 13 years. Linda has not seen Janine since her arrest in 2022.
Backstory and impact
Linda had been framed for a drink-drive crash, with the truth emerging only after the tragic death of Janine's husband, Linda's ex Mick Carter, played by Danny Dyer. Mick is believed to have drowned after being swept out to sea, following his rescue of pregnant Janine after a car accident. He had returned to the water to save Linda, unaware she had already reached the shore.
Brooks said: "One of the reasons I was coming back was to be part of Kellie’s storyline as we had such a great time working together last time. I’ve known a lot of the cast for many years, and that brings a nice sense of familiarity and peace when I go back. It also allows playfulness because it’s familiar and it feels safe. Being in that environment and having done it since I was 17 is why I feel like I can be quite brave with Janine because I’m surrounded by great people."
EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
