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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Susan Knox

EastEnders star Charlie Brooks 'loves' that she's leaving BBC soap for a grown-up job

EastEnders star Charlie Brooks delighted fans when she appeared on Loose Women this afternoon.

The Janine Butcher actress, 41, is sadly leaving the soap again after causing much havoc on Albert Square this year, and although fans will be sad to see her depart the BBC One soap, Charlie said that she's more than happy to move on.

It will mark Charlie's fourth time leaving the soap as Janine since her first day on set back in 1999.

How Janine will exit the show remains to be seen, but earlier this year, viewers saw her strike up a romance with Mick Carter, played by Danny Dyer.

Scheming Janine announced she was pregnant with Mick’s baby in front of his shell-shocked ex-wife Linda Carter.

Charlie insisted that she's happy to depart the BBC One soap (ITV)

Both Mick and Janine are both due to leave the soap this year, so viewers will have to wait to see what big storylines EastEnders bosses have in store this Christmas as actress Charlie insisted that she wasn't giving any clues away during her appearance on Loose Women.

Lifting the lid on her most recent exit after Loose Women star Linda Robson quizzed the actress on whether she feels sad saying goodbye to EastEnders again, Charlie insisted that she's happy to depart the BBC One soap.

"I love going back to EastEnders and I love leaving, but I'm doing something really exciting at the moment. I'm working with the National Theatre. We're taking a production of The Ocean At The End Of The Lane on tour and I'm loving it," Charlie shared.

Charlie is waving goodbye to EastEnders just 18-months after her dramatic return (ITV)

"I obviously love Janine and I love EastEnders, but I am excited for pastures new and a grown-up job."

Charlie is waving goodbye to EastEnders just 18-months after her dramatic return.

Back in September, Charlie announced that she would not be staying in character for much longer as she revealed her departure.

At the time, she said: "I was only ever due back to EastEnders for a year, but when [executive producer] Chris Clenshaw presented me with his idea for the story, I couldn't say no to staying a little longer.

Charlie has played evil Janine Butcher for 23 years (BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

"I've had an amazing time, as I always do when I go back. But as always with Janine, she probably should not outstay her welcome – for everyone's sake."

Charlie first played Janine in 1999 before leaving in 2004 when her character was charged with the murder of Laura Beale.

She then returned in 2008 for her father's funeral before taking off for Paris in 2014. Her most recent return came in 2021 when she arrived back on the Square trying to win back her daughter Scarlett, who'd been taken into care.

Her final scenes are expected to air over the New Year period.

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