EASTENDERS actress Charlie Brooks has revealed the outrageous propositions she received from fans after her iconic character Janine Butcher’s prostitution storyline.
The actress is making her long-awaited return as Janine after a seven year break from the soap.
Janine was embroiled in a number of explosive storylines over the years including murder, drug addiction and four marriages as well as prostitution back in 2002 after losing her job and home.
Viewers will remember that the notorious villain had clients on the Square including Ian Beale, who she then blackmailed and threatened to tell his wife Laura unless he bought her silence.
Speaking about the outrageous reactions to her storylines she’s had from fans, actress Charlie told The Sun and other media: “You killed Barry! That’s the one I get the most.
“It used to be ‘here luv, here’s a tenner’ in the prostitution days,” she laughed.
“She’s been through a lot this poor girl!” she added.
EastEnders bosses have released a first look at Charlie Brooks as she makes an explosive comeback in the role of scheming Janine Butcher.
The clip, which the BBC One soap unveiled on their social media channel, shows Janine speeding into Walford and almost mowing down Honey Mitchell.
Wearing a green coat and a white high-collared shirt with a black bow on the front, Janine looks set to cause chaos as she looks straight ahead with a sinister stare.
Speaking about the reason for Janine’s return to the Square, Charlie teased that the maternal instinct may finally have kicked in for her character: “As we know, we’ve got Scarlett, who may find herself back in the Square so Janine is heading back that way.”
Teasing that Janine will be involved in a deadly fire, she added: “We know that it’s going to be explosive, we might see some flames in a big fire.
“I think some of the relationships, some of the old characters that we see her working with, for me I know when it’s exciting because I can feel it as an actress, I can feel it when two characters are sparking off each other, I’m like ‘This feels so good and so exciting’ so you’ve got a lot of that to look forward to.
“It’s fun and that’s what I’m excited about exploring with her as well as all of the layered stuff that’s going on with her.”
EastEnders boss Kate Oates said: “I think one of the most interesting things to watch when Janine returns is how she will be as a mother.
“When she returns, Janine makes it clear that she will do anything for Scarlett – including taking on Kat Slater…but even when she’s trying to be a great mother, Janine will always end up putting herself first.”
EastEnders’ Executive Producer Jon Sen added: “[Janine] has obviously got Scarlett, her daughter, who’s in care and that’s given her pause for thought, and perhaps the maternal instinct has finally clicked with Janine, who knows?”
Speaking about whether Janine will be a reformed character, he added: “We’d be robbing the audience if we didn’t bring back the Janine we know and love. Last time we saw her she was heading off to chase another man for his money, and now she has returned with a bit of a plan as we will discover.”
He continued: “She comes back to the Square with a few friends and a lot of enemies. There are friendships to be rekindled and scores to be settled. So it makes sense for everyone to keep a pair of slip-on shoes.”
