One of the most iconic EastEnders villains, Janine Butcher, might be returning to Walford. Portrayed by Charlie Brooks, the character first appeared in Albert Square in 1989 and has since spent decades cementing her reputation as a ruthless and scheming villain.
Janine's Notorious History
The character has been involved in a number of high-profile storylines over the years. Most famously, she pushed her husband Barry Evans (Shaun Williamson) down a cliff during a trip to Scotland in 2004, leading to his death. Janine also stabbed Michael Moon (Steve John Shepherd) to death after he plotted to murder her amidst a bitter custody battle over their daughter, Scarlett (Tabitha Byron). Additionally, she was involved in scamming men out of money and ran over and killed Danielle Jones (Lauren Crace).
Prison Sentence and Teased Return
Janine was last sent to prison in December 2022 after a dramatic crash left Mick Carter (Danny Dyer) missing at sea, and her crimes were exposed. She later accepted a plea deal and received a five-year sentence. With just over a year until Janine is due to be released, actress Charlie Brooks appeared on Good Morning Britain, where she addressed the possibility of a return.
During the interview, Susanna Reid said, "The trouble is, once an EastEnders villain, always an EastEnders villain." Charlie replied, "Well, I do know that." Richard Arnold then noted, "I do know that [Janine's] out [of prison] in about a year," before Susanna added, "Ok, so out in about a year. Sounds like Richard knows about the future script, but you're still waiting." Richard joked, "You could get out earlier, you never know!" Charlie teased, "We'll have to see!"
When asked if she could see Janine returning, Charlie said, "I mean, look, 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, EastEnders, you know." Ed Balls joked, "You've got to get through the parole hearing first," with Charlie noting, "Yes, yes, but she finds her way out of these situations."
Staying Power of the Character
Richard Arnold commented on the character's longevity, saying, "That's the staying power for that character, though, and you did that spectacularly. For a character with such form, if not [to] redeem them, but to still keep a presence and be part of the show for so many years, when Janine has done so much." Janine replied, "She should have had a proper comeuppance, shouldn't she? She'd be dead or you know," before Richard concluded, "But we love her!"
As soap fans eagerly anticipate Janine's return, Charlie will be returning to the stage for two new productions, including The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7.30pm on BBC One and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer from 6am.
