EastEnders icon Charlie Brooks has sparked fresh speculation about a potential return to Albert Square after admitting she would love to reprise her role as Janine Butcher. The actress, 45, appeared on Good Morning Britain on July 6, 2026, where she discussed her infamous alter ego's future.
Charlie Brooks Opens Up About Janine's Comeback
During the interview, entertainment reporter Richard Arnold jokingly suggested that Janine would be released from prison in about a year. Host Susanna Reid responded, 'OK! Out in about a year… sounds like Richard knows about the future script.' Arnold then quipped, 'Well you could get out earlier, you never know.' Smiling, Brooks teased, 'You will have to see.'
When asked directly if Janine could return to Walford, Brooks said: '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. It's always a home from home at EastEnders.'
Janine's Prison Sentence and Past Crimes
Brooks acknowledged Janine's current imprisonment but noted, 'She finds her way out of these situations.' She later joked that Janine 'should have had her proper comeuppance shouldn't she? She should be dead or …' Janine, who has been a central villain since 1999, famously killed Barry Evans in 2004 and later feuded with Kat Slater and Stacey Slater.
During her final stint, Janine drove a wedge between Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) and Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) before her dramatic exit, which involved driving a car off a cliff. The crash led everyone to believe Mick had died, and Janine was arrested.
Life After EastEnders
Since leaving the soap in December 2022, Brooks has focused on theatre and embraced a quieter lifestyle. She shared on social media: 'Life is good. As someone who is generally validated by work… Turns out being at home, chilling with my dog, taking long walks, reforming, reading ...and actually getting to hang out with my friends doing everything and nothing makes me really f****** happy.'
Brooks also won the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special in 2011 and was crowned Queen of the Jungle on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in 2012.
