Entertainment EastEnders exit for Janine Butcher as Charlie Brooks bows out

© Provided by Metro Janine will depart over the New Year period (Picture: Metro.co.uk/BBC/Getty)

Janine Butcher is set to make an explosive exit from EastEnders at the end of the year, with Charlie Brooks bowing out of the role after 18 months.

Charlie, who plays the iconic soap super-schemer, returned to the BBC One soap last year, as Janine arrived back in the Square with a bang.

Determined to win back her daughter’s trust, Janine wasted little time in getting under viewers’ skin with her twisted manipulation and scheming ways as she embarked on a mission to lure Mick Carter away from his beloved wife Linda.

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Her mission was a success, with Mick believing her lies about Linda as he started a relationship with her.

Janine soon upped the ante in a bid to get Linda out of the equation altogether, attempting to pay her off before ultimately framing her for a car accident which nearly claimed the Queen Vic landlady’s life.

Linda, however, has refused to go down without a fight, and her resilience has simply reminded Mick of how much he loves her – much to Janine’s horror.

Charlie Brooks confirms EastEnders exit just 18 months after soap return

Actress Charlie Brooks has confirmed she is leaving Walford, just 18 months after returning to the popular soap as manipulative Janine Butcher who has caused chaos on The Square Charlie, 41, reprised her role as the soap's love to hate character in September last year after a seven year hiatus and has announced that her time as Janine has come to an end - for now!

© Provided by Metro Janine has been up to her scheming ways since she returned last year (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

This twisted tale took an interesting turn earlier this week when Janine discovered that she’s pregnant with Mick’s child – something which she publicly announced in a bid to crush love rival Linda.

How exactly this storyline will pan out remains to be seen, but it is now thought that Janine will bow of EastEnders over the New Year period.

© Provided by Metro Janine has torn Mick and Linda apart with her scheming (Picture: BBC / Jack Barnes / Kieron McCarron)

© Provided by Metro Janine has made it her mission to destroy Linda in the hopes of keeping her out of Mick’s life (Picture: BBC / Jack Barnes / Kieron McCarron)

‘I was only ever due back to EastEnders for a year,’ Charlie told The Sun, discussing her exit, ‘but when [exec producer] Chris Clenshaw presented me with his idea for the story, I couldn’t say no to staying a little longer.

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Jada decided it was time she left the Square, but just where does this leave Linda?The teen, as viewers know, was manipulated by Janine into helping her to destroy Linda Carter (Kellie Bright).

‘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 is not yet known how exactly Janine will leave Walford but with Ricky set to stage a comeback beforehand, viewers can expect her exit to be an explosive one, with a source telling the publication that ‘massive stories’ are planned.

Consider us excited for the scenes to come, albeit very sad over the fact that we’re losing the absolutely iconic Janine.

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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