Janine Butcher is back! EastEnders Charlie Brooks makes grand return to the soap after 7 years... as iconic villainess poses as a doctor in dramatic scenes
Charlie Brooks, 40, has made her long-awaited return to EastEnders as Janine Butcher.
Janine, one of the long-running soap's best-known villains, has returned to Walford for the first time since 2014.
It quickly became clear the character has not changed her ways while away from Albert Square when she posed as a doctor during Monday's instalment of the soap, tricking the unsuspecting Zack Hudson (played by James Farrar).
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Introducing herself as Judith Bernstein, Janine told Zack: 'Here I am. Meter's running, give me your worst.'
Janine last appeared in the soap in March 2014, when she left for Paris to pick up daughter Scarlett, who is also making a comeback.
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Charlie's character was involved in a number of high-profile storylines, perhaps most famously the death of her on-screen husband, Barry Evans, who she pushed down a cliff in Scotland during a 2004 episode.
Janine returned to Albert Square four years later and her most recent spell on the soap ended in 2014.
Fans of the BBC soap were quick to praise the return of Janine, with one person tweeting: 'The world may be going to hell in a handbasket, but at least Janine is back on #EastEnders.'
'HOLY S**T. QUEEN JANINE GODDAMN BUTCHER IS BACK IN #EASTENDERS. I'VE BEEN WAITING FOREVER FOR THIS MOMENT,' shared another in disbelief.
A third viewer wrote: 'Omg Janine’s return has me quaking #EastEnders' while someone else tweeted: 'Yessss Janine back in #EastEnders gonna cause some carnage!'
One fan added: 'Whoever at @bbceastenders decided to revive Janine’s alter ego ‘Judith Bernstein’ needs a Pride of Britain award. Life changing. We are so blessed #eastenders #janine #judithbernstein.'
Last month, actress Charlie hinted that viewers could be in for a fiery autumn as her iconic character stormed back into Walford.
She told MailOnline it felt 'absolutely right' to return to the character as she's always wondered whether she ever 'redeemed herself.'
Charlie added that many fans will be delighted to learn Janine hasn't changed since fleeing Walford, and viewers could be in for some explosive reveals as she reunites with some old foes.
Asked about her decision to head back to EastEnders, Charlie, who first started playing Janine in 1999, told MailOnline: 'When I first got the call my agent called and I was like instinctively straight away, like something feels absolutely right about this.
'I mean I've said in interviews I always think about where she's been she's such a gloriously layered character I always entertain myself with thoughts of where she might be and what she might be doing, it's really exciting.
'I've had so many different thoughts I've imagined her as a hippie on the beach trying to redeem herself, or really really bad she couldn't redeem herself.
'It's really interesting with her because there's a definite self-loathing within her and I think that makes her attach in ways that a human being might know.'
She added: 'I love the idea of walking in her shoes for the day, I want to go out with Janine she's going to be fun, I just get such wonderful opportunities with storylines.'
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