Janine Evans

Janine Evans

Janine Butcher (previously Evans and Malloy) is a fictional character from the British soap opera EastEnders, introduced in 1989 and currently portrayed by Charlie Brooks.

Rebecca Michael originally portrayed the character from 1989 until 1993, when the role was given to Alexia Demetriou for three years. Brooks took on the role in 1999 and departed in 2004. After a three episode guest stint in April 2008 which saw the character reappear for her father Frank's (Mike Reid) funeral, Brooks agreed to reprise her role full-time, returning permanently in December 2008. Janine's storylines typically involve her in an antagonistic role; the character has been described as a "super-bitch" and a "classic villainess". In February 2012, Brooks announced that she would take a six month break from the show later in the year, and departed on 14 September 2012.

Janine's storylines included prostitution, drug addiction, financial worries, becoming an agoraphobe and being falsely charged with the murder of Laura Beale (Hannah Waterman). The character is the widow of Barry Evans (Shaun Williamson) and David (Harry Towb) and is divorced from Ryan Malloy (Neil McDermott). She recently married Michael Moon (Steve John Shepherd) in 2012, but chose to retain her maiden name. She gave birth to Michael's child Scarlett prematurely in 2012.