Janine Butcher

EastEnders star Charlie Brooks has said that she doesn't regard her character Janine Butcher as a killer.

The actress, who will soon bow out of the role she has played on and off since 1999, revealed that she wants Janine to remain redeemable.

Viewers will know that Janine murdered her estranged husband Michael Moon, but has framed Alice Branning for the crime. However, a big Christmas storyline will see Janine blackmailed by David Wicks over the secret

Brooks told Inside Soap: "We had discussions about Janine stabbing Michael because it had to come from a place of self-defence.

"There was a scrabble for the knife, and it was either him or her. For me as an actress, Janine has to remain redeemable. She is not a killer to me.

"As for Barry, Janine didn't do away with him, did she? He slipped - he really did!"

Janine murdered Michael Moon but framed Alice Branning

Brooks also admitted that she is excited about watching EastEnders as a viewer now that she has left the show.

She said: "I know how brilliant Dom's (Treadwell-Collins) work will be and how much he loves the show, which is the key thing.

"Dom's got so many fresh ideas - you've got the Carters coming in, and they are going to be fantastic. It is going to be great - I can't wait to enjoy it from my sofa."


Read more: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2...#ixzz2nHdHAr2o

EastEnders star Charlie Brooks has spoken about her upcoming exit from the soap, admitting that she feels "fortunate" to have the door left open for a future return.

The actress's character Janine Butcher will bow out on screen over the Christmas period as her dark storyline comes to a head. However, show bosses have teased that it won't be the last time viewers see Janine as her exit storyline has a "coda" further on down the line.

Speaking on ITV's This Morning about EastEnders' Christmas episodes, Brooks explained: "We're tying up a few loose ends in a couple of months' time, but yes it's Janine's exit and it's a goodie!"

She continued: "She's not going to be killed off. I'm in a really lucky position with them actually - a good relationship with all the lovely people at EastEnders and I love them a lot.

"I'm always really interested to see where Janine is, where she's been, what she's doing, what she's up to. I love the character so I'm so fortunate."

Brooks confirmed that her main ambition is to secure some theatre projects in the New Year.

She said: "It's really exciting. I always thought that as I head towards my mid-30s, that's going to be my time to really go and find my place in the acting world outside of EastEnders. I am really keen to do theatre. I'm really, really keen to do that, and so that's what we're working on at the moment."

Janine's exit storyline begins on screen this week as she tells David Wicks the truth about how she killed her estranged husband Michael Moon. To her horror, David secretly records the confession and tries to blackmail her.

Brooks commented: "I think we can just say it's the unravelling of Janine and she does ease her conscience by putting her trust in David and telling him. But what I can't say is the outcome of that, really, but she's very hurt and very betrayed - and a hurt and betrayed Janine is probably not somebody you want to cross.

"He does, miraculously, record my confession! But what's interesting is Janine's demise, really, and how hurt she is by it. There are very few people in her life that she trusts."


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Will her trial been shown on screen or is she gone now?

I think she has gone now

According to Wikipedia, her last scenes aren't shown until 2014. Not the most reliable source but we might see more of the aftermath. Hopefully we'll learn whether the judge will accept a new plea from Alice, as with Joey gone, it feels as if it has been left up in the air.

EastEnders bosses have denied rumours of major changes to Janine Butcher's final storyline.

Janine was arrested for Michael Moon's murder in the BBC soap's Christmas special, but she is expected to be back on screen early next year when she faces trial for the crime.

The upcoming scenes will bring Janine's dark story to its final conclusion, but a tabloid report today (December 29) has suggested that the plot will have to be changed after Jasmyn Banks - who plays wrongly-accused Alice Branning - became unavailable for filming.

Banks is thought to now be concentrating on pursuing other projects, but show chiefs have insisted that her absence will have no impact on the story.

An EastEnders spokesperson told Digital Spy: "There have been no changes to the ending of Janine's story. Alice's role was a very minor part in the conclusion of this storyline so everything will go ahead as planned.

"We are not going to confirm the details of the storyline as we don't want to spoil it for the viewers, however there are a few big twists to come."

Banks's final EastEnders scenes aired on Christmas Eve, when Alice pleaded guilty to Michael's murder.



Read more: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2...#ixzz2osuOMekT

EastEnders bosses have denied rumours of major changes to Janine Butcher's final storyline.

Janine was arrested for Michael Moon's murder in the BBC soap's Christmas special, but she is expected to be back on screen early next year when she faces trial for the crime.

The upcoming scenes will bring Janine's dark story to its final conclusion, but a tabloid report today (December 29) has suggested that the plot will have to be changed after Jasmyn Banks - who plays wrongly-accused Alice Branning - became unavailable for filming.

Banks is thought to now be concentrating on pursuing other projects, but show chiefs have insisted that her absence will have no impact on the story.

An EastEnders spokesperson told Digital Spy: "There have been no changes to the ending of Janine's story. Alice's role was a very minor part in the conclusion of this storyline so everything will go ahead as planned.

"We are not going to confirm the details of the storyline as we don't want to spoil it for the viewers, however there are a few big twists to come."

Banks's final EastEnders scenes aired on Christmas Eve, when Alice pleaded guilty to Michael's murder.


Read more: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2...#ixzz2otgrxaNH

Ok so with no more Alice on screen she can't get off surely? How would that be explained? She gets off and just vanishes....no seeing poppy? No collecting her stuff?

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Originally Posted by sarah c

Ok so with no more Alice on screen she can't get off surely? How would that be explained? She gets off and just vanishes....no seeing poppy? No collecting her stuff?

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Joey returns Kat's call from Friday and says he's gone and Alice has been released? We could also hear through Carol, as she seems to be dealing with a lot of the fall out from this (visiting Alice, seeing her solicitor, supposed to be at her hearing and sorting Scarlett out.) Maybe Alice decides she can't bear to go back there and has Carol send some stuff on? Poppy may have departed by the time Alice gets off, if she does.

how did alice get released she pleaded guilty and she did stab michael first and was going to kill janine with michael, im confused as I thought joey left as he failed to get alice out of jail