EastEnders’ Janine Butcher star Charlie Brooks has opened up about her potential return to Walford as the BBC soap prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary later this year

Charlie Brooks has addressed whether she’ll return to EastEnders for the soap’s upcoming 40th birthday after playing iconic soap villain Janine Butcher. The 43-year-old joined the soap in 1999 as killer Janine before leaving in 2004 and returning twice to play the classic character.

Charlie, who last appeared on the BBC soap in 2022, is taking on Dancing on Ice for the upcoming series, being partnered with Olympic skater Eric Radford. Speaking ahead of her debut on Sunday, Charlie opened up about her future plans – and whether they involved returning to Albert Square.

Charlie Brooks last appeared in EastEnders as Janine Butcher in 2022 (Image: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

“I’m going straight back into Chitty Chitty Bang Bang for a while, and then I probably need a little bit of time off,” she said. “And then we’re in talks about another theatre project at the moment, so I don’t know yet. I’m biding my time. So who knows.”

Charlie recently starred as the Childcatcher in the UK tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, taking to the stage alongside Coyote Ugly’s Adam Garcia last year. However, she’s swapping the theatre for the ice rink as she prepares to skate on Sunday.

“I’m very nervous but keen to get going,” she said. Teasing her first routine in the competition’s second week, Charlie said: ” We’ve got a lift in there, which when I first saw it, I was like, ‘There is no way that’s gonna happen,’ but we’re now doing it, which is surprising and brilliant.

“It’s a fast, really fun song, and we’re straight out of the gate with high energy. There’s every chance I could fall over, although I don’t do any of the toe pick things generally in the routine so hopefully it’ll be alright.”

Charlie Brooks is competing on Dancing on Ice this year (Image: ITV)

Hosted by Stephen Mulhern and Holly Willoughby, this year’s series will see the likes of Coronation Street’s Sam Aston, TOWIE’s Dan Edgar, footballer Anton Ferdinand, Hollyoaks’ Chelsee Healey, comedian Josh Jones, TV personality Ferne McCann, The Traitors star Mollie Pearce, Olympic rower Steve Redgrave, TV presenter Michaela Strachan and Love Island’s Chris Taylor. Earlier this week, Michaela revealed that she was on crutches just weeks before training began for Dancing on Ice.

“I’ve got some good bruises. I actually had an injury before I got on the ice,” she said. “I sprained my ankle quite badly two months before we started. I was on crutches. I went over on my ankle and sprained it. I thought, ‘It’s alright,’ as I hobbled back down the mountain,” she said. “Meanwhile, my partner is going, ‘You’re doing Dancing on Ice! This is really not good. You’re injured before you even hit the ice.’”

Dancing On Ice will air on Sunday 12 January on ITV1 and ITVX at 6.30pm.