What happened to Janine in EastEnders?

The short answer

Janine is in prison. She was arrested at Christmas 2022, pleaded guilty to her crimes, and was sentenced to five years — a verdict revealed on screen in May 2023. Her last appearance was on 26 December 2022, and Charlie Brooks hasn't played her since.

How it all fell apart

Brooks returned to the role in September 2021 for what the show promised would be a huge storyline, and it delivered. Janine caused a car crash while drunk, framed Linda Carter for it, and manoeuvred her way into marrying Mick Carter. At Christmas 2022, the lie finally surfaced. The fallout ended at the coast, with a car in the sea — Mick pulled Janine out, swam back for Linda, and never resurfaced.

He remains missing, presumed dead. Janine was arrested and left Walford in handcuffs.

Her guilty plea, confirmed on screen in March 2023, spared Linda a trial. When Alfie Moon later discovered the sentence was only five years, his reaction spoke for the whole Square: "You're joking."

The greatest hits she left behind

• Barry Evans (2004) — died on a Scottish hillside on New Year's Day, moments after Janine revealed their marriage had been a con.
• Michael Moon (2013) — stabbed during a struggle in her living room; Janine walked away free.
• Linda Carter (2022) — framed for the drink-drive crash Janine caused. The one lie that finally sank her.

Will she ever come back?

Brooks has kept the door ajar, saying in 2023 that she'd "never say never" and would be open to a return — but only a short one:

"I think somebody might actually kill me if Janine was always in their living rooms," she told The Sun in 2023.

Do the arithmetic on a five-year sentence handed down in 2023, and good behaviour could have Janine out rather soon. Walford should probably keep the light on.