EASTENDERS fans have predicted an explosive Janine Butcher love triangle after things took a flirty turn with Zack Hudson.
Janine – played by Charlie Brooks in the BBC One soap – made her long-awaited comeback in a scene with Sharon’s half brother Zack.
He’d taken his nephew Albie to see a specialist while Sharon fretted at home over Phil being jail.
But in strutted Janine, who introduced herself as Dr Judith Bernstein and immediately began flirting with him.
She looked the part, dressed in patent stilettos, gold rimmed spectacles and a white jacket.
Clapping eyes on hunky Zack – who had no idea he’d just met one of Walford’s most infamous residents – she said: “Cute.”
Clearly charmed, he said: “I thought you’d be older, Dr Carl.”
And Janine purred back: “Actually it’s Dr Bernstein. Judith Bernstein. I am so sorry I’m late. There is always something keeping me away…
“But, here I am now. Metre’s running. Give me your worst!”
In tonight’s episode the flirty exchanges continued, with Zack and Janine stepping up the cheeky banter.
Zack remarked: “He’s not my kid.”
Janine replied: “So you keep telling me.”
The gym instructor replied: “You can’t blame a guy for trying can you Dr Cole…sorry Dr Bernstein.”
“Well try harder,” Janine teased.
The pair shared a several coy looks, with Zack admitting he was a “lucky” guy as he enjoyed Janine’s company.
BBC One viewers are convinced that Janine’s return will spell trouble for Nancy Carter and Zack’s relationship.
One wrote: “I love Nancy. She’s amazing. But she never worked with Zack for me. I like the idea of Zack becoming the next Michael Moon with Janine. I got that impression when he first arrived but he soon became Peter Beale 2.0-esqe #EastEnders“
Another shared: “Janine’s entrance last night was iconic one of the best Duff Duff’s in a long time. Hopefully; we’ll find out a little bit more tonight about her alliance with Zack. Was it just a one night stand? Or is it a secret affair?”
A third added: “If Zack sleeps with Janine after claiming to care and have feelings for Nancy then he doesn’t deserve her. Idc if they broke up, he should be out there apologising and fighting for her, not on the rebound #EastEnders“
In 2014, viewers saw Janine leave Walford for Paris to be with daughter Scarlett, having been shunned by Albert Square residents for getting away with killing husband Michael.
Kat Slater gave Janine a fake alibi, meaning, just like the other two deaths she caused, Janine got away scot-free.
Seven years later, she’s back in Walford and ready to cause more mischief, and Charlie says viewers would be disappointed if her character was anything other than evil.
She told HOAR: “People have an expectation of what they want and so do I, so you want to live up to that.
“It would be criminal not to bring her back and go where we all want her to go, which is the whole ego and evil side, and we’re definitely getting that.”
