Charlie Brooks is set to exit EastEnders just 18 months after she returned as Janine Butcher.
The evil and manipulative Janine Butcher will be leaving Albert Square in a huge storyline later this year. Charlie returned to the BBC One soap just 18 months ago and struck up a romance with Mick Carter (Danny Dyer).
In the recent weeks, a manipulative Janine has continued to try and unsuccessfully drive a wedge between Mick and his estranged wife Linda Carter. However, she will wave goodbye to the Square in a big storyline later this year.
Charlie returned to the soap a year and a half ago as evil and scheming Janine and soon got to work on Mick.
"I was only ever due back to EastEnders for a year, but when [exec producer] Chris Clenshaw presented me with his idea for the story, I couldn’t say no to staying a little longer," she told The Sun on Sunday, "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."
It comes as Danny Dyer's exit looms - but it is not known whether or not they will go together.
The Mirror were the ones to break the news of Danny's decision to leave the soap, with a source saying at the time: "Danny has offers coming in left right and centre, and a lot of the things he has wanted to do he can’t because EastEnders have such strict rules about what he can and can’t do. It’s driven him mad at times and he’s now ready for a change.
"But it hasn’t been easy to walk away, BBC bosses have been desperate to keep him. But he’s been insistent and when Sky approached they gave him an offer he couldn’t refuse. It’s a new chapter for Dan and he’s over the moon."
It is not yet known if the pair's exit storylines will be linked but as Janine has just found out she is pregnant with Mick's baby.
"I like seeing Janine fall in love," Charlie said of the recent storylines which has seen her try woo Mick.
"But at the same time, I would never want her to change. She's unashamed and unapologetic, which I admire. I'd like to see her be wild and fall in love, then see what sort of trouble that lands her in! She's living her best life and figuring out who she is as a mother."
