Charlie Brooks speaks out on potential EastEnders return: 'I think I'm out of prison now!'

Charlie Brooks has no idea when she will return to 'EastEnders'.

The 42-year-old actress left her role as Janine Butcher in the BBC One soap opera in 2022 when her character was sent to prison following numerous crimes but has since turned to a career in theatre and thinks that the "beautiful thing" about her career is the uncertainty.

Speaking on ITV's 'Good Morning Britain', she said: "I think I'm out [of prison], but I'm not sure.

"The greatest thing is, we just don't know, do we?

"I left in 2022, she went to jail so...I've had a year on stage with 'The Ocean at the End of the Lane' which is completely different and so much fun. I think that is one of the most beautiful things about our jobs...I'm never in my comfort zone!"

The former 'I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!' winner is now gearing up to star as the Child Catcher in a summer touring production of the classic musical 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' and will become the first woman to ever take on the the role that was played by the late Sir Robert Helpmann in the 1968 film.

The stage musical adaptation of the film originally opened in the West End in 2002 before going on numerous tours and featured the likes of'Rocky Horror' creator Richard O'Brien, late TV legend Paul O'Grady, and Steps singer Ian 'H' Watkins in the role of the Child Catcher at various points over the years.

But ahead of her debut as the story's infamous villain, Charlie - who will join former 'Emmerdale' star Liam Fox on the tour - acknowledged that she always seems to be cast as the antagonist and even has her niece wondering why she always takes on such roles.

She said: "I seem to get a few of those parts! It's playful, and balletic because of course that actor was a ballet dancer which I am not. It's finding that physicality and that stillness and that evil. I just wanna scare the kids!

"My little niece always says 'Aunty Charlie, why do you always have to play the bad person?'"