Charlie Brooks says EastEnders ‘feels like home’ after return as Janine Butcher

Actress Charlie Brooks has said EastEnders “feels like home” after her return to the BBC soap as Janine Butcher.The 45-year-old returned to Albert Square on Thursday’s episode, where her character was seen having a meeting with an unknown man in an office, after four years away.She said: “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.”Janine returned in Thursday’s episode of the BBC soap (BBC)Brooks said she felt like “much less time has passed for me” since she was last in Walford.Asked what to expect from her character’s return, she added: “I don’t know if anyone wants to see a reformed Janine ever, 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…“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.”Brooks has also appeared in The Bill, Wired and Bleak House, she won the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special in 2011 and was crowned queen of the jungle in the 12th series of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2012.Janine’s previous time in the soap, which has seen Brooks appear as the character on and off since 1999, ended in 2022 when she was arrested for perverting the course of justice.