Janine Butcher

Janine Butcher
File:Janine2004evans.jpg Janine Evans, portrayed by Charlie Brooks (2008).
Duration	1989–1996, 1999–2004, 2008—
First appearance	22 June 1989
File:Second Janine.jpg Alexia Demetriou as Janine.
File:Baby janine.JPG Rebecca Michael as Janine in 1990.
In-universe information Father Frank Butcher Mother June Butcher Brothers Ricky Butcher Sisters Diane Butcher Clare Butcher Half-brothers Danny Butcher Husband Barry Evans (2003–2004) Grandfathers Chike Butcher Grandmothers Mo Butcher Aunts Joan Garwood Nephews Jacques Butcher Liam Butcher Nieces Natasha Butcher

Janine Evans (née Butcher) is a fictional character in the British soap opera EastEnders. She was originally played by Rebecca Michael from 1989 to 1993, then by Alexia Demetriou from 1993 to 1996, and from 1999 to 2004 and 2008 onwards she is played by Charlie Brooks. Brooks returned to the show for three episodes in April 2008, for the funeral of Janine's father Frank and it was announced on 2 May 2008 that she will return permentantly to the soap in Autumn 2008.

Character creation and development

The character of Janine was first mentioned in September 1987, when her father Frank Butcher (Mike Reid) made his first appearance on-screen. Frank and his two children Ricky (Sid Owen) and Diane (Sophie Lawrence) were introduced as regular characters in 1988; however, Janine did not become a regular character until a year later, in June 1989, her arrival completing the Butcher family.

The character was initially seen as a six year old, played by Rebecca Michael. In 1993, following a storyline that saw her stepmother Pat (Pam St. Clement) imprisoned for manslaughter, Janine was sent away to stay with her off-screen sister Clare, but returned later in the year played by a different actress, Alexia Demetriou. Demetriou played the role until 1996, when the character was once again written out of the serial. She returned in 1999 as a 16 year old, played this time by actress Charlie Brooks.

Storylines

Janine's mother June died of cancer when she was four, and she was sent to live with her sister Clare. Her father Frank moved to Walford and married Pat Wicks, and Clare moved to Manchester in 1989, leaving Janine with Pat and Frank. A troublesome child, Janine threw tantrums, ran away, was a bed-wetter, a sleepwalker, a thief, a compulsive liar and self-harmer, and she hated Pat. Frank was unable to discipline her, so Pat forced him to take Janine to family therapy, which eased her troublesome behaviour slightly. When Frank had a mental breakdown and disappeared in 1994, Janine remained with Pat, but found her father's absence upsetting. She was overjoyed when Frank eventually reappeared, and when she discovered that he was relocating to Manchester in 1996, she decided to move there to be near to him; however, Frank moved back to Walford in 1998, abandoning Janine with Clare again.

Janine returned in 1999, to find that her father had a new wife, Peggy; she soon set about coming between the two. She and Peggy made it quite clear that they didn't like each other. Janine resented her father for abandoning her and she continuoulsy tried to antagonise him with her rebellious behaviour. Frank was particularly angry when he found her in bed with Jamie Mitchell; however, Janine was only using Jamie to infuriate her father, and after she grew bored, she humiliated him by spreading rumours about his inadequate prowess in bed. Frank abandoned Janine again in 2000 after the breakdown of his marriage to Peggy. A homeless Janine was taken in by Terry Raymond, and they started a business together as estate agents. Terry came to view Janine as a surrogate daughter, but her continuous games of manipulation tested his patience. Janine used him for money, purposefully dressed like his deceased daughter Tiffany, runied his relationships with women, tried to seduce him, and began sleeping with Billy Mitchell (until he ran out of money), all of which infuriated Terry. Janine started using cocaine and became addicted in 2002, pestering Terry for money to feed her habit. When Terry refused, she resorted to sleeping with her drug dealer, Lee Vickers, in exchange for cocaine, and Vickers beat Terry when he tried to warn him off. Upon seeing Janine's lack of remorse, Terry threw her out and left Walford, ignoring her pleas to stay with her. Owing Vickers money for drugs, Janine became involved in prostitution under the pseudonym "Blonde Bomshell". One of her clients, Matt, fell in love and proposed to her, then attempted suicide when he discovered she was still selling sex. Ian Beale began to use her services, but she later blackmailed him, threatening to inform his wife Laura unless he gave her money. Depressed, Janine began drinking heavily, and nearly died from alcohol poisoning. She gave up prostitution, but when Laura discovered her tryst with Ian, she threw a pan of boiling milk in Janine's face, which caused Janine to become agoraphobic — she began eating dog food because she was too afraid to leave her flat to buy groceries. She eventually got over this with the help of Billy and her brother Ricky. Janine hoped to rekindle her relationship with Billy, but was devastated when he confessed his love for Little Mo Slater; her attempts to ruin their blossoming romance failed.

Janine got a job working at Barry Evans' carlot. In 2003, she and Paul Trueman cococted a plan to fleece Barry out of his money. She seduced Barry and moved in with him but, unbeknown to him, she was sleeping with Paul at the same time. Barry eventually proposed to Janine, and she accepted, believing that Barry was suffering with a life-threatening heart murmur. They married on New Year's Eve 2003 in Scotland, but Janine was enraged the next day when she discovered that Barry's illness was merely a false alarm. Barry forced Janine to take a stroll around the hills and cliffs, but after Barry showed her a carving that he made on a tree with their initials surrounded by a love heart, Janine cracked, and confessed everything. Barry, still in disbelief that she did not love him, tried to embrace Janine, but she pushed him away from her and he fell down a crevice. Barry's head hit a rock and Janine did nothing to help him as she watched him die.

Janine inherited all Barry's possessions, leaving his son, Jack, with nothing. She had Barry cremated in Scotland, denying his friends and family a chance to pay their respects. Barry's ex-wife Natalie was suspicious of Janine. She grew close to Paul Trueman, who was feeling guilty about his role in Barry's demise. Spurred on by Natalie, Paul eventually went to the police implicating Janine; she was arrested, but was released due to lack of evidence. She took pleasure in confessing to Natalie that she had got away with murder, but confessing to Pat proved her downfall. Pat was good friends with Laura Beale, who Janine was involved in an on-going feud with. They had many arguments in public, and Janine was seen fighting with Laura in April 2004, just before Laura accidentally fell down the stairs and died. Although Janine was with Pat at the time of Laura's death, Pat avenged Barry's murder by refusing to give Janine an alibi. Janine was charged with Laura's murder and remanded in custody until her trial in December 2005, where Frank persuaded Pat to tell the truth in court and give Janine an alibi. Janine was set free, but abandoned Frank outside the courtroom.

Janine reappeared in April 2008, for Frank's funeral. She was angry to find that Frank had not left her any money in his will (instead she was left her grandmother's diary from 1990), but scattered his ashes nonetheless. As she left, Pat told her that "good Janine" was welcome to come and visit any time, stroking Janine's face. Janine started crying, got in her car and drove away.

Return

Janine is returning to Albert Square permanently in the Autumn.

External links

• Janine Butcher at BBC Online