EastEnders’ Charlie Brooks in such agony she ‘wanted to chop own leg off’

EastEnders icon Charlie Brooks is considering surgery after hip pain left her in so much agony she had thoughts of ‘sawing her own leg off.’

The actress, best known for her role as returning villain Janine Butcher, is currently attempting to keep the condition at bay with weight training, and has opened up about feeling stronger and mentally more at peace since professionals introduced her to the concept of the specialised exercises.

She told the new issue of Closer magazine: ‘Two years ago, my hip was so painful I wanted to chop my own leg off.

‘I might have to have a hip replacement at some point, but for now I’m keeping it at bay.’

The 45-year-old I’m A Celebrity winner, enthused that she feels much healthier than ten years ago, and does her training four days a week, despite always fearing the weights section at the gym.

‘The surgeon said it’s all about loading it up with weights, so that’s what I’ve done.

‘I feel stronger, I feel more energised and healthier in my mind.

‘As you progress, you can lift heavier, you can do more reps, and you feel yourself getting stronger. When you see your muscles growing and your body changing, that’s a massive motivator.

‘I miss running, which I used to do all the time, but now I can’t because I’ve got the dodgy hip, so I weight train and walk 10,000 steps a day – getting my dog Flo really helped with that.’

As Charlie gets on top of her health and wellbeing, zen will be the last thing she will bring to Walford as a smirking Janine lands back on the Square next month.

She was seen filming at a funeral and causing aggro with Linda Carter (Kellie Bright).

Last seen arrested after Mick (Danny Dyer) went missing, Janine has been confirmed to stage a return, bringing more damage in her wake, and potentially triggering the exit of Linda.

Previously discussing the prospect of resurfacing as Janine at the end of her prison sentence, Charlie mused in a chat with Metro: ‘I don’t know if the soaps [will still be] around in five years time – who knows what will happen? I think people are watching TV very differently these days. But I always say ‘never say never’ with Janine. Eastenders has been a blessing for me, it was my training ground, and I love going back there.

‘With Janine, there have literally been so many awful things, all of which I can [find an explanation for] usually, which is why I’m struggling, because I’m like “well, she didn’t really push him” or “she only did that because of that”. Danny Dyer and I would have fights about Janine because I was always defending her!’