How Janine Butcher’s EastEnders return reveals major show flaw, as bosses fear it’s double-edged sword & could backfire

SHE’S Walford’s number one superbitch, who destroyed Albert Square’s most popular family having previously killed two of her husbands.

And now, after a four-year absence from the BBC1 soap, under fire show runner Ben Wadey is bringing back Janine Butcher to cause further carnage.

It’s a bid to save EastEnders’ flagging fortunes, and the move follows the miserable comeback of another iconic female role, Zoe Slater, played by Michelle Ryan.

And now, TV Insiders have told me exactly why bosses believe luring back actress Charlie Brooks, 45, as the former Walford wild-child is a risk-averse move.

However, her latest return has raised serious concerns within the soap’s creative team.

My insider snitched: “Janine Butcher is so revered by bosses due to the total lack of female villains EastEnders have managed to produce.

“They got it right with Janine, so much so they can’t let her go because nobody else can cause trouble quite like her.

“On one hand she’s a credit to the head writers, but her comeback has raised concerns internally about their inability to create any new female villains.

“It’s a real blot in the soap’s copybook.”

The Sun on Sunday told of Janine’s explosive comeback last weekend, weeks after revealing Michelle Ryan’s bombshell departure as Zoe Slater.

Janine is set to form part of the soap’s Christmas storyline having been released from prison after serving a five-year sentence for perverting the course of justice for framing Linda Carter for a drink-driving crash.

Both characters memorably plummeted off a cliff into the sea sparking a frantic search mission.

She gave birth to a baby boy she named Mick Jr while incarcerated, named after the tot’s father Mick Carter, played by Danny Dyer, whom Janine stole away from Linda, played by Kellie Bright, in one of the soap’s most controversial story lines.

Indeed, even Dyer himself voiced his frustration at script writers for Janine tearing apart Mick’s marriage to Linda, a view echoed by many viewers.

It’s likely Janie will torment vulnerable Linda once again when she steps back into the Square, as Mick remains missing presumed dead after wading into the sea to save Janine and attempting to find Linda, who unbeknown to him had already made her way back to shore.

Showrunner Wadey will be hoping reprising Janine will take some of the heat off his Zoe Slater blunder, having ended her 20-year break from the Square last June after much fanfare.

It was a move which lasted barely a year.

His predecessor Chris Clenshaw showed by bringing back Nigel Bates, played by Paul Bradley, that a soap comeback can be done successfully, providing the storyline takes the characters on, otherwise it may just be regarded as just a quick-fire ratings boost gimmick.

The EastEnders mole added: “Zoe Slater’s disastrous comeback won’t put off bosses bringing back old characters, but it has acted as a wake up call.

“There’s widespread acknowledgement that Zoe’s return bombed and Wadey will be desperate to ensure it does not become his defining moment as showrunner.

“He needs to get the next one right, and in bringing back Charlie Brooks that’s a safe call.

“But there’s no doubt his legacy will be helped in a huge way if he manages to create a new villain, particularly a female one.”