Janine Evans

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EastEnders character

Janine Evans
Portrayed by	Charlie Brooks
Duration	1989–1996, 1999–2004
Date of birth	18 October 1983
Marital status	Widowed
Occupation	Unknown
Family	Barry, Frank, Pat, Ricky, Diane, Clare

Janine Evans (née Butcher) was 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 she was played by Charlie Brooks.

1 Background
2 Prostitution and drugs
3 Life with Barry Evans
4 Her downfall
5 Free at last
6 Family
7 External links

[edit] Background

Janine had something of a troubled childhood: her mother died of cancer when she was four, and she felt left out and neglected by her father, Frank. She was very hostile and jealous towards her stepmother Pat (presumably because she was 'replacing' her dead mother). As a result, she went to live with her older sister, Clare, for a few years.

When she returned to the square in 1999, her father had a new wife, Peggy, and she soon set about coming between the two, turning on the waterworks. She and Peggy made it quite clear that they didn't like each other.

[edit] Prostitution and drugs

Frank Butcher abandoned his daughter again after the breakdown of his marriage to Peggy. Terry Raymond had just lost his wife, as well as his daughter Tiffany, and he took pity on homeless Janine and gave her a place to stay. Terry could see a likeness between her and his deceased daughter, which Janine would often use to manipulate him into giving her demands. She treated him like dirt but turned on the waterworks and Terry would always forgive her. They began a business together as estate agents.

Terry eventually saw straight through Janine, and after deciding to leave Walford to meet up with his estranged wife Irene, in Portugal, to give their marriage another try, he kicked Janine out on to the streets.

Janine ended up with a cocaine addiction and then due to the abandonment of Frank, Terry, and now unlikely boyfriend Billy, after she ran him up in debt. She attempted suicide, but ended up turning to prostitution. She spent a night with Ian Beale and later blackmailed him, threatening to tell his wife, Laura. She became more business-like, putting cards entitled 'Blonde Bombshell' in phoneboxes. When Laura Beale discovered her husband's deceit, she threw boiling hot milk in Janine's face (ironically as she was trying to apologise), resulting in her developing agoraphobia. She refused to go to the shops to get food, and her brother, Ricky, returned to Albert Square to help her.

She then became a heavy drinker, and Billy picked up the pieces and help turn her on the straight and narrow. She eventually started to rely on her brother Ricky, who deeply cared for her.

Janine became very friendly with Barry Evans after his wife, Natalie, left him for Ricky, and his father, Roy, died of a heart attack. Barry thought she was a true friend, but she only wanted to appear caring so she would be promoted as manageress in Evans & Son (Barry's car lot). She eventually seduced Barry, which led to both her ultimate triumph and her downfall.

Janine also ruined her brother's happiness. After his affair with Natalie Evans was revealed, and that he planned to leave Walford with her, Janine told Natalie that Ricky had bedded Sam (his ex-wife); needless to say, Natalie was not impressed with this news and she fled into the night, leaving Ricky a broken man. Ricky stuck around and eventually forgave Janine.

[edit] Life with Barry Evans

She had now moved into fragile-minded Barry's bed, after fooling him that she genuinely cared for him. They worked together at his car lot. Barry was soon head-over-heels in love with Janine

Janine causes Barry to fall to his death, 2004

At the same time, she began an affair with Paul, and they both planned to fleece hapless Barry of his cash. Barry proposed to Janine after declaring his true love to her. She promptly accepted. This reached a climax on New Year's Eve 2003 when she married him in the Scottish Highlands, despite Paul (who was also the best man) declaring his love to her on the morning of the wedding, and him pleading with her to forget Barry and his money, and for them to be together. She took no notice of him.

The next day, Barry and Janine took a stroll around the hills and cliffs, and after Barry showed her a carving that he made on a tree which read J&B (the initials of Janine and Barry) surrounded by a love heart, Janine cracked, and confessed everything, including that Barry's fat, greasy body on top of her made her feel sick, and having sex with him was worse than with some of the worst punters she slept with as a prostitute. Barry snapped and went to molest Janine, still in disbelief that she didn't love him; she pushed him away from her and he fell down a cliff. Janine held her hand out to try to save Barry as he fell but she was unsuccessful. She did nothing to help him as she watched him die.

She quietly slipped back into the hotel room, and Paul and another man found Barry's body. Paul soon realised that Janine was behind all this, cut all ties with her, and went on to date Barry's first wife, Natalie.

Janine was saddened by Barry's death and hid it too well, but viewers saw the pressure it was having on her, her guilt mixed with fear of being caught.

[edit] Her downfall

Janine and Laura fight, moments before Laura fell to her death, 2004

Janine admitted the truth to her brother Ricky, who fled Walford in shock. She also cruelly told Natalie every detail, but confessing to her former stepmother, Pat, proved her downfall. Janine had an ongoing feud with Pat's good friend, Laura Beale, ever since Laura threw a pan of boiling milk at Janine's face for sleeping with her husband, Ian. Janine intimidated Laura, who now lived in a horrible, damp bedsit with her son, Bobby, whereas Janine had a business, a big house, and lots of money. They had many fights and slanging matches in public, and Janine was seen heading over to Laura's, banging on her door. After a fight, Janine left, and Laura tripped down the stairs, dying as a result of her injuries.

During this time, Pat had extracted the truth about Barry's death. However, Janine's hatred of Pat took over, in that she acted cold and said that she had planned to kill Barry. In other words, she sacrficed her last chance of proving innocence in order to upset Pat. This led to her downfall.

Pat left in a state but then found Laura's body, and Janine was arrested for murder. Pat had seen Janine leave the house, but kept quiet, despite Janine's pleas, to avenge Barry's murder.

[edit] Free at last

Janine was due to stand trial in December 2005 for Laura's murder. Her father Frank returned, having only just heard the news the day before. He seduced his ex-wife, Pat, and told her he loved her, in a bid to get her to change her mind. She saw through his lies and hit him, but after having a conversation with Laura's mother, who told Pat about how upsetting life was for her not knowing the full truth about her daughter's death, Pat then realised the pain she was causing with her deceit, so she decided not to testify, and the case collapsed. Pat warned Frank of Janine's lies and how she would trample all over him, but he took no notice, understanding that it was the truth. When Frank asked the barristers what time Janine would be released, they informed him that she had been gone for hours. This was the last time that anything was heard of Janine in the Square. Janine remained off-camera for this storyline; actor Charlie Brooks did not return for filming.