“It’s huge!” EastEnders will air ‘crazy’ Janine Butcher exit in ‘huge’ Christmas episode after Charlie Brooks reveals she is leaving the soap
Charlie Brookes announced back in September that she was leaving the soap.
And now it’s been revealed EastEnders will air the ‘crazy’ Janine Butcher exit in a ‘big’ Christmas episode, with her final act labeled ‘massive’.
The 41-year-old actress only returned to the BBC soap 19 months ago and her character Janine is currently in the middle of a love triangle with her new husband Mick Carter (played by Danny Dyer) and his ex Linda (played by Kellie Bright).
Firmly! It has been revealed EastEnders will air the ‘crazy’ Janine Butcher exit in a ‘big’ Christmas episode, with her final act labeled ‘massive’.
An EastEnders writer told The Sun: “This Christmas is crazy, it’s focused on Janine. It’s massive. This Christmas is huge.’
Charlie’s character recently took center stage on the soap opera when she became pregnant with Mick’s child.
But concealing the news of the latter, who she believed did not want more children, the schemer decided to terminate the pregnancy.
Mick’s estranged wife, Linda, has also recently declared her love for her ex, the Queen Vic landlord, and isn’t ready to go down without a fight.
As the pregnancy drama looms, so does actor Danny’s departure from the show, with the star set to leave the show later this year after nearly a decade on the cobbles.
Theatre! Janine is currently in the middle of a love triangle with her new husband Mick Carter (played by Danny Dyer) and his ex Linda (played by Kellie Bright).
Oh man! Mick’s estranged wife, Linda, has also recently declared her love for her ex, the Queen Vic landlord, and isn’t ready to go down without a fight
EastEnders fans have speculated Janine’s exit could coincide with Mick’s.
Speaking about saying goodbye to Janine again, Charlie told The Sun: “I was only ever supposed to come back to EastEnders for a year. But if [exec producer] Chris Clenshaw pitched his idea for the story to me, I couldn’t say no to staying a little longer.
“I had a great time, as always when I come back.
“But as always with Janine, she probably shouldn’t delay her greeting any longer – for the good of all.”
Pregnant! Charlie’s character recently took center stage on the soap opera when she became pregnant with Mick’s child
Janine certainly left her mark during her 24-year stint on Albert Square — when she killed husband Barry Evans (Shaun Williamson) when she pushed him off a cliff in 2004.
Charlie has been playing the villain on and off since 1999, with the announcement of her departure coming just 18 months after her return to the soap opera.
Joking that “Janine wasn’t supposed to outlive her reception,” the star explained that she’s already stayed on the show longer than originally planned.
Speaking to The Sun On Sunday, the actress described her return to the soap as “an amazing time” as she explained the reason for her departure.
She admitted she was only ever meant to stay for a certain amount of time, but extended the stay, revealing: “I was only ever supposed to come back to EastEnders for a year, but when [exec producer] Chris Clenshaw pitched his idea for the story to me, I couldn’t say no to staying a little longer.
“I had a great time, as always when I come back. But as always with Janine, she probably shouldn’t outlast her greeting – for the good of all.”
Web contacted EastEnders for comment at the time.
Previous: Janine certainly made her mark during her 24 years of performing on Albert Sqaure – when she killed husband Barry Evans (Shaun Williamson) when she pushed him off a cliff in 2004 (pictured)