Charlie Brooks

Charlene Emma Brooks (born 3 May 1981) is an English actress. She portrayed the role of Janine Butcher in the BBC soap opera EastEnders (1999–2004, 2008–2014, 2021–2022, 2026), and has also performed in British television shows The Bill, Wired and Bleak House. She also portrayed Anna Fallmont in the Network 10 drama Lie With Me.

Brooks has also appeared on several reality television shows, winning the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special in 2011 and the twelfth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in 2012. She appeared as a contestant on the seventeenth series of Dancing on Ice in 2025.

Early life Charlene Emma Brooks was born on 3 May 1981, in Ware, Hertfordshire, England, and moved to Barmouth, Gwynedd when she was a child. Brooks attended Tower House School in Barmouth, and relocated to London to attend Ravenscourt Theatre School, Hammersmith.

Following her departure from EastEnders in 2004, Brooks's first role was in the BBC drama Bleak House as Jenny. Brooks has appeared in commercials and voiceovers in the United Kingdom, Europe and the US.

In 2006, Brooks played Beverley Allitt in a BBC One Docudrama entitled Beverley Allitt: Angel of Death, alongside Ian Kelsey. Producer Cathy Elliot said: "It's a very sensitive issue and of course it's terrible for the parents to have the whole thing brought up. Each time it's brought up it's painful, but a lot of parents realise it's important it's kept in the public domain and that people are aware that things have happened and that not a lot has been done since".

She has guest starred in Robin Hood and Love Soup. In theatre, Brooks, whilst on a break from EastEnders in 2003, appeared in the play Office Games alongside Adam Rickitt. The play was Brooks' West End debut, and described as "a witty and intelligent political commentary".

EastEnders

When executive producer Matthew Robinson re-introduced the character of Janine Butcher in 1999, after Alexia Demetriou had left the role, Brooks secured the role. Brooks remained in the role until May 2004.

In April 2008, Brooks returned to EastEnders for a guest stint. She was later confirmed to be coming back as a regular character. Executive producer Diederick Santer said, "I couldn't be more pleased that Charlie Brooks is re-joining EastEnders. With her appearances last month, she reminded us what a fine actress she is, and what an intriguing, watchable and engaging character she plays as Janine". She temporarily departed in September 2012, and returned in April 2013 before departing again in March 2014.

In April 2021, it was announced that Brooks had agreed to reprise the role once again for a "huge storyline" and would return later in the year. She made her on-screen return in September 2021. Brooks appeared in her 1,000th episode as Janine on 10 February 2022.

In July 2026, It was announced that Brooks will reprise the role for a guest stint in late 2026.

All in a Row

In January 2019, it was announced that Alex Oates's play All in a Row, starring Brooks as Tamora, the mother, was going to be produced by Paul Virides Productions at the Southwark Playhouse. The play is based on Oates' ten years of experience caring for severely autistic children and adults, and won the Top Five Play Reading at the Bolton Octagon. The play is about the parents of a profoundly autistic eleven-year-old boy and how they are feeling the night before he is taken to a residential school, when social services feel he needs more support than can be given in their family home.

Criticisms of the play started to emerge when a video trailer for the production was released showing the autistic character, Laurence, portrayed by a puppet. Journalist Frances Ryan criticised the play by calling it a "grotesque step backwards". The National Autistic Society, who initially decided to help the production by providing consultation, reacted to the Twitter furore by releasing a statement saying "while recognising some of the play's strengths, we decided we could not support the play overall due to its portrayal of autism, particularly the use of a puppet to depict the autistic character alone."

Brooks responded by saying: "I understand people's concerns, but I do urge people to come and see the play first before they judge." She also claimed that having a puppet character is essential and that Laurence, the puppet, is very playful. During rehearsals, Brooks visited the Queensmill School for autistic children in Shepherd's Bush, talking to the pupils, their teachers and carers. Brooks concluded by stating: "This is a story that is rarely told. I just hope people will come and see it instead of sitting at home getting angry."

Other ventures Reality television She won I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in 2012, beating campmate Ashley Roberts. Brooks also narrated Botched Up Bodies on Channel 5. In 2025, Brooks appeared as a contestant on the seventeenth series of Dancing on Ice.

Fitness DVD Her fitness DVD became the UK's best-selling fitness DVD release, and Brooks was transformed from "podgy Janine to a sexy new mum".

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1996 The Demon Headmaster The Brains 3 episodes Out of Tune Carol Main role; 7 episodes 1997 The Bill Miriam Olston Episode: "A Place of Your Own" 1998 Turning Points Emma Unknown episodes 1999–2004, 2008–2014, 2021–2022, 2026 EastEnders Janine Butcher Series regular; 1,101 episodes 1999 The Bill Claire Fellows Episode: "Cold Calling" Pudding Lane Janine Butcher Television film Jonathan Creek Trudi Episode: "The Omega Man" 2000 London's Burning Lisa Series 12: Episode 1 2005 The Golden Hour Cara Wilson Series 1: Episode 2 Bleak House Jenny Miniseries; 5 episodes Angel of Death: The Beverly Allitt Story Beverley Allitt Television film 2006 Take 3 Girls Patsy Film Casualty Sally Montgomery Episode: "Sons and Lovers" 2007 Heartbeat Julie Langley-Smythe Episode: "Another Little Piece of My Heart" Robin Hood Ceris Episode: "Walkabout" 2008 Love Soup Denise Episode: "Human Error" Wired Anna Miniseries; all 3 episodes 2010 EastEnders: Last Tango in Walford Janine Butcher DVD release 2011 EastEnders: E20 3 episodes Strictly Come Dancing (Christmas Special) Herself (participant) Winner 2012–2013 Celebrity Juice 4 episodes 2012 I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here Winner; series 12 2013–2014 Botched Up Bodies Narrator Unknown episodes 2014 Suspects Tanya Episode: "Nobody Else: Part 1" 2015 The Dumping Ground Stephanie Branston Episode: "Law & Disorder Part One: Party Games" 2016 The Chase: Celebrity Special Herself (participant) Didn't appear in the final chase 2018 Moving On Tina Episode: "Neighbour" 2020 FOG Rachel Short film 2021 Lie With Me Anna Fallmont Miniseries; all 4 episodes 2021–2022 Richard Osman's House of Games Herself Participant; 10 episodes, including House of Champions 2025 Dancing on Ice Contestant; series 17 Finished in 6th placeThe Hack Kim Vian ITVX/Stan 7-part series

Theatre and radio Year Title Role 2003 Office Games Rose Brown 2004 The Play What I Wrote Rose 2005–2006 Dixon of Dock Green Mary Dixon 2006 Dangerous Corner Betty 2007 Our Country's Good Dabby Bryant 2013 Dusty Won't Play Dusty Springfield 2014 Beautiful Thing Sandra Gangel 2015 A Streetcar Named Desire Blanche 2017 How the Other Half Loves Teresa 2018 Monogamy Sally 2019 All in a Row Tamora 2022–2023 The Ocean at the End of the Lane Ursula / Skarthach 2024 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Childcatcher 2026 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Judy

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Result Ref2000 National Television Awards Most Popular Newcomer The British Soap Awards Best Newcomer 2001 Inside Soap Awards Best Bitch 2002 2003 2004 National Television Awards Most Popular Actress TV Quick and Choice Awards Best Soap Actress Best Soap Storyline The British Soap Awards Soap Bitch of the Year Villain of the Year Inside Soap Awards Best Bitch Best Actress Best Soap Storyline 2005 The British Soap Awards Best Exit 2009 All About Soap Awards Best Bitch Inside Soap Awards End of Year EastEnders Awards 2010 All About Soap Awards Femme Fatale Best Soap Love Triangle Digital Spy Soap Awards Best Soap Bitch 2011 The British Soap Awards Villain of the Year TV Times Awards TV's Most Popular Bitch All About Soap Awards Best Celeb Style 2012 TV Choice Awards Best Soap Actress Inside Soap Awards Soap Bitch of the Year DS Awards DS Female Soap Actor What's on TV Soap's Greatest Legend 2013 TV Choice Awards Best Soap Actress Inside Soap Awards Soap Bitch of the Year DS Awards Best Female Soap Actor 2014 The British Soap Awards Villain of the Year Best Storyline – Hello Stacey, Goodbye Janine 2021 I Talk Telly Awards Best Soap Performance 2022 Inside Soap Awards Best Villain I Talk Telly Awards Best Soap Partnership (with Danny Dyer) 2022 Digital Spy Awards OMG Soap Moment of the Year