EastEnders icon teases return to BBC soap just months after dramatic exit

EastEnders icon Charlie Brooks has teased a return to the BBC soap – just months after dramatic exit. 

Janine, played by Charlie, was arrested at Christmas last year after going on the run when the news broke that she’d framed Linda (Kellie Bright) over a drink-drive car crash, which she’d actually caused herself.

It followed highspeed car chase which saw Linda and her ex-husband Mick (Danny Dyer) try to bring her to justice, resulting in the devastating death of Mick who drowned trying to save Linda when her and Janine’s car careered off a cliff into the English channel.

Speaking about the villainous character making a return to Albert Square, Charlie said: ‘She is always fun to play and I’m always interested in what she’s doing and what’s she’s up to so there’s always a possibility.  

‘But I couldn’t play her constantly and I don’t think anyone would want me to. I think somebody might actually kill me if Janine was always in their living rooms four times a week.’

Speaking about the villainous character making a return to Albert Square, Charlie said: ‘She is always fun to play and I’m always interested in what she’s doing and what’s she’s up to so there’s always a possibility’

In the Boxing Day episode, Linda and Shirley were emotional as they waited on any news of their loved one Mick and his whereabouts after getting ‘lost at sea’.

And after her attempt at getting away from Albert Square failed and ended in Mick’s ‘killing off’, Janine returned to Walford to get her daughter Scarlett and move back into The Queen Vic.

Janine was frantically trying to make people believe her story that Mick’s disappearance was Linda’s fault.

She was also trying to convince Scarlett to tell people she was lying about her mother being the one behind the wheel of Linda’s drink-drive crash, Janine was approached by police.

An officer confirmed her name, a desperate Janine insisted that there had been a ‘misunderstanding’.

But the police officer went on to arrest her for perverting the course of justice, and she was taken away in a police car shortly after.

It comes after the actress admitted that while she’s loved her time on the soap, she’s looking forward to going onto a more ‘grown up’ job.

Swapping the screen for the stage, the actress is moving onto a National Theatre tour in the new year.

Appearing on Loose Women, Charlie admitted that she ‘loves’ her character and the show, but is filled with excitement for the new chapter.

Villain: Janine was arrested at Christmas last year after going on the run when the news broke that she’d framed Linda up over a drink-drive car crash, which she’d actually caused herself

Off you go: The legendary villainess played a part in her husband Mick Carter being ‘lost at sea’ after her speedy getaway drive – but she returned to the square where she was arrested

‘How did you feel leaving this time, are you looking forward to passages new because I know you’ve got new projects coming up?’ questioned panellist Denise Welch.

The actress then explained: ‘I love going back and I love leaving and I’m doing something really exciting at the moment, I’m working with the National Theatre and we’re taking a production of the Ocean At The End Of The Lane on tour.’

‘I obviously love Janine and I love EastEnders, but I am excited for pastures new and a grown-up job,’ she continued while getting giddy over the new theatre role.’

In the dramatic Christmas Day special, Danny Dyer’s character was seemingly killed off in true soap style as he attempted to save ex-wife Linda’s life after she and Janine drove off a cliff and into the English Channel.

His heroic act came after Mick learned the truth about wife Janine’s framing of Linda and confessed his love for the latter, before dramatically exiting the show in a nail-biting finale which saw him lost at sea.

And recently sharing some behind-the-scenes info on filming, Danny admitted that the dramatic scenes were actually filmed ‘in a tank of vegetable juice’.

Drama: The character was killed off in true soap style as he attempted to save ex-wife Linda’s (Kellie Bright) life after she and Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) drove off a cliff and into the English Channel

Mick’s exit came as he, Janine and Linda all came head-to-head in an explosive finale at the White Cliffs Of Dover – after learning that Janine was responsible for the car crash that Linda took the blame for in previous episodes.

In a dramatic car chase, Janine attempted to escape her husband and his ex-wife as they tried to make her pay for her crimes, driving quickly away towards Dover.

But not letting her get away, Linda jumped into the passenger seat and wrestled with Janine for the steering wheel – leading to them losing control of the car and rearing off the side of a cliff, into the English Channel.

Following behind was Mick, who got out of his car and made a jump into the water to rescue them after realising what had happened.