Charlie Brooks has reportedly agreed a deal to return to EastEnders as Janine Butcher.
The iconic character was last seen on the soap more than seven years ago, having been imprisoned for the murder of ex-husband Michael Moon.
According to The Sun, Brooks has signed a contract to return as a full-time cast member and will begin filming new scenes in the next few weeks, suggesting that Janine will be back on screen in the early summer.
"Bosses have a huge story planned for Charlie's return," a source told the newspaper. They are keeping tight-lipped about whether Janine will come back as a reformed character after all the chaos she has caused in the past.
"But she certainly has a lot of history in Albert Square so whether she will be welcomed back with open arms or not remains to be seen.
"One thing the viewers can be sure about is that it is bound to be explosive. Wherever Janine goes, drama is never far behind."
Janine - daughter of Frank Butcher and step-daughter of Pat Butcher - also memorably murdered her husband Barry Evans, pushing him off a cliff in a 2004 storyline, while she was also responsible for the accidental death of Ronnie's daughter Danielle Jones in 2009.
Brooks took over the role of Janine in 1999, leaving the soap in 2004 before returning for a second stint between 2008 and 2014.
Neil Wilkes
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