Janine Butcher back in EastEnders

Brooks said she 'loved' returning to the show in April for Frank's funeral

Actress Charlie Brooks has agreed to return to BBC One soap EastEnders for "a longer stint" after her character, Janine Butcher, was revived recently.

She will film scenes this summer which will be broadcast on TV in the autumn.

Brooks was part of the show for five years until 2004. She returned in April for the funeral of Janine's father Frank, played by the late Mike Reid.

She said she was "thrilled" to be back and admitted her recent appearance gave her "a taste" of being Janine again.

"I loved coming back earlier in this year for Frank's funeral," she added.

"I'm excited to see what Janine will be getting up to now she is returning to Albert Square."

Brooks left the soap when her character was charged with murder

The programme's executive producer, Diederick Santer, said her recent appearances "reminded us what a fine actress she is, and what an intriguing, watchable and engaging character she plays as Janine".

He promised a longer spell on the programme would enable viewers to see "what makes Janine tick" and also find out where she got the "flashy big black car" with which she was seen at the funeral.

Brooks originally left EastEnders after a storyline which saw Janine charged with, and later cleared of, murdering Laura Beale.

The actress, who turns 27 on Saturday, also played Jenny in period drama Bleak House, and has been seen in shows including Heartbeat, The Bill and Jonathan Creek.

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