Linda Carter’s (Kellie Bright) life is seriously on the line and tomorrow’s EastEnders episode leaves Mick (Danny Dyer) frantic that his wife will die.
But for Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks), Linda not making it would be at the very least, a double edged sword.
Mick is horrified to learn the extent of Linda’s injuries and realises just how serious this is.
Janine’s nerves hang by a thread and as Mick questions how Linda could drink and drive, Janine does her best to cover the truth that she was the one who was driving.
As Mick reels from the update on Linda, Janine wonders if she can keep her secret safe.
And, well this is Janine so let’s not rule it out.
‘Well, she has got away with quite a lot in the past,’ reasoned Charlie as she chatted about recent events. ‘I think she is absolutely believing that she can get away with it.’
But that is not going to be easy – as Janine’s mind is racing faster than the car ploughed into that tree.
‘I think it’s panic, I think when she moves Linda, she’s doing whatever she can to not look guilty in this situation,’ Charlie mused.
‘This is when Janine is at her worst because she doesn’t think things through – or does she?’ the actress said, with a laugh.
‘Her natural instinct to save herself, she is ultimately the most self-centred person you can ever wish to meet.
‘I do think there are elements of guilt for Janine, I don’t think she’s just cold hearted, I do think she has moments of reflection and guilt but the feeling of panic and desperation overrides that and she just wants to save herself.’
Guilt or not, if Linda’s death would provide an escape from justice for Janine, the scheming character wouldn’t be against it.
‘I think if Linda died, it would make Janine’s life easier. But I don’t think Janine wants her dead or wants to kill her, I think that is an entirely different thing.
‘She is a lost girl that does underneath it all ultimately feel like she is doing it for the right reasons but just always makes the biggest mistakes.’
And this mistake is one that is already haunting her – daughter Scarlett isn’t stupid and she is already onto her stressed mum.
Charlie explained: ‘It’s such a complicated relationship between Janine and her daughter, she doesn’t know how to be a mum and how to connect with her and that’s been quite evident.
‘She has tried, but I don’t think being a mum is in her nature. But I don’t think she thinks that her daughter will do her over.
‘I think it’s a slight concern in the back of her mind because she doesn’t know her child really.
‘She’s probably experiencing a lot of guilt that she doesn’t know how to deal with, so she just pushes it down because she can’t access those emotions.
‘I think it’s a faint fear in the background.’
And that fear is about far more than heading to jail. This whole thing has been about trying to keep Mick.
She is truly falling for him and it was this clash with Linda which led to the tragedy.
‘Janine wants Mick all to herself, she wants a family unit, she doesn’t want any distractions, Charlie said.
‘When she is in that and feels safe, we see Janine being okay, but it’s the moment she is threatened and might not get what she wants – she’s a little girl that’s never grown up.
‘If she doesn’t get her own way, then she will do anything within her power to get what she wants.
‘Because of her father’s neglect, she seeks comfort and craves intimacy which as we know is complicated with Mick.
‘There is a whole mash-up of confused emotions, and I think it all stems from her fear of abandonment. I don’t think she is a rebel without cause…’
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