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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She's back! Charlie Brooks, 40, has made her long-awaited return to EastEnders as Janine Butcher

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.

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.

Posing: 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
Back with a vengeance: Janine, one of the long-running soap's best-known villains, has returned to Walford for the first time since 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.'

Reaction: Fans of the BBC soap were quick to praise the return of Janine

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.

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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.'

Trouble's afoot: Last month, actress Charlie hinted that viewers could be in for a fiery autumn as her iconic character stormed back into Walford

Janine's Biggest Storylines 

Janine pushes husband Barry off a cliff

Murder: Janine's most iconic storyline happened on New Year's Day in 2004

Janine's most iconic storyline happened on New Year's Day in 2004, when she pushed husband Barry Evans off a cliff, after marrying him for his money.

The villain had accepted Barry's proposal because she thought he had a life-threatening heart murmur, which then turned out to be a false alarm.

Venting her frustration on a walk, Janine told Barry she never loved him. Barry refused to believe his wife and tried to embrace her. 

Repulsed, Janine pushed him away down a cliff, which caused him to fatally hit his head on a rock. She watched him die as he begged her for help. 

Laura Beale's death

Laura Beale's death: Sworn enemy Laura fell down the stairs and died after a fight

Janine continued to cause chaos when she reported her sworn enemy Laura for benefit fraud and announced it in the Queen Vic.

The pair were seen fighting just before Laura died after falling down the stairs.

In the post mortem Laura had been in a fight due to bruising, and Janine's skin was found underneath her nails.

Although Janine was with Pat when Laura died, Pat sought her revenge on Barry's death by refusing to give Janine an alibi, and branded her 'pure evil'.  

Wedding to Jewish businessman David

Villain: Janine tied the knot with Ryan Malloy, whom she also tried to kill

After returning to Albert Square in 2008, Janine went on to marry a rich elderly Jewish businessman called David, who died of a heart attack at the ceremony.

She then tied the knot with Ryan Malloy (Neil McDermott), whom she also tried to kill. 

Although she was unsuccessful in her murder plot against Ryan, she framed arch-rival Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) for the attempted crime. 

 Archie engagement

Shock: Archie and Janine announce their engagement, before he is murdered

Archie and Janine announced their engagement in 2009.  On Christmas Day, Archie (Larry Lamb), who has realised Janine was intending to con him -  threw her onto the street, leaving her distraught. 

That same day, Archie was murdered by an unknown assailant.

Janine became a suspect for his murder, though she denied it, was cleared and fellow resident Bradley Branning (Charlie Clements) was held falsely responsible for the murder. 

 Fourth marriage to Michael Moon and his murder

Wedding: Janine married a fourth time to Michael Moon

Janine married a fourth time to Michael Moon (Steve John Shepherd) and had daughter Scarlett with him, before she eventually set out to kill him too.

The evil killer was successful in ending Michael's life, but was found not guilty in court - leading to her being shunned by locals.

Janine then left for Paris to join Scarlett and Diane, and it is hinted that she plans to con a couple who have won the lottery. 

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