Charlie Brooks reveals why evil Janine is back in EastEnders amid Linda’s explosive exit

Oh how I have missed that deliciously and self-satisfied evil smirk – no-one does them quite like Janine Butcher!

Charlie Brooks has reprised her role as the vicious Walford schemer and assures us that the villain hasn’t mellowed in the four years since we last saw her.

Which, I am sure you will agree, is a huge relief.

At the moment, it’s a little bit mysterious why Janine is back at this point, but there are a few puzzle pieces and loose ends we can consider.

Mick Carter – played of course by star of every current programme, Danny Dyer – is suddenly having his name dropped a lot. And we have seen Lee (Danny Hatchard) de-register his dad’s death.

Mick had been declared as dead after being missing at sea for so long, following a car crash involving Janine that plunged him into the icy depths.

The reason for never seeing Mick’s corpse is a clear one – while Linda (Kellie Bright) remained in the show, the option of bringing Mick back just had to stay on the table.

And it’s something we could potentially hope for with Linda set to leave and Mick being discussed at length again.

Janine spent time behind bars for her role in the disastrous end, but what part is she now playing?

Charlie is very clear that she is back to work with Kellie – as well as Jake Wood, Linda’s apparent husband-to-be.

But what is the document being handed to her that is making her so maliciously happy? And is it connected to Mick’s death certificate?

‘I don’t know if anyone wants to see a reformed Janine ever,’ Charlie said with a laugh that clearly shows she absolutely feels the same. ‘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.

‘It was so amazing to see the whole crew and cast. 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.’

Charlie insists she loves revisiting Janine every time, and this stint is no different.

She reasoned: ‘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.’

She added: ‘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 again, has been amazing. It always feels like home when I go back.’

It may be a treat for Charlie and for us viewers, but less so for Linda who faces having her life ripped apart by her once again.

Both characters have a limited time in Walford – so the question is, who will defeat who? Will we get any outcome finally sealed over Mick’s fate? Is there even a small chance of a happy ever after for Linda given Janine and Max are in her circle?

The rest of the year and beyond is going to be very interesting indeed…