EastEnders fans baffled as Janine Butcher leaves Walford after Mick Carter disappears at sea

EASTENDERS fans are baffled by Janine Butcher’s sudden exit from the Square.

The schemer - who is played by actress Charlie Brooks in the BBC soap - left the Square tonight after she was arrested following husband Mick Carter’s disappearance at sea.

Janine returned to the Vic determined to move on and take over - but Linda and Shirley refused to allow her.

Shirley tried to kill her with Linda only stepping in to stop her when Ollie saw what was going on.

Making sure her son was safe, Linda went back downstairs and threw herself at Janine.

She warned Janine to get out and never return.

“I want you gone,” she screamed in her face, giving her one last chance.

“You go, you go now and leave the Square. I don’t want to see you anywhere, I don’t want to see your face ever again. 

“Pack a bag, get Scarlett and leave. I will call the police and I will tell them everything to make sure you go to prison for a long time.”

Janine was then thrown out onto the street and she rushed over to Sonia’s to get her daughter and flee.

But when she got there, she decided to try one last scheme.

Telling a horrified Sonia and Ricky what had happened, Janine insisted she wasn’t to blame for any of it and that Scarlett would lie for her to keep her out of prison.

She even tried manipulating her daughter into taking the blame for her - but Ricky was sickened by his sister and called the police.

Janine tried to make a run for it, but the police were outside.

“Are you Mrs Janine Carter?” the officer said as Janine tried one last scam.

She said: “Yes, I’m sorry there’s been a misunderstanding. Scarlett, tell them.”

Scarlett refused and the police officer told Janine: “Janine Carter you are under arrest for perverting the course of justice. 

“You do not have to say anything but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something you later rely on in court.”

She was driven out of Walford for the last time with the appearance marking actress Charlie Brooks’ exit from the soap.

But viewers are baffled at it all.

One wrote:  "Never thought I’d see the day Janine got locked up #EastEnders."

A second said: "#EastEnders the police turned up in minutes to arrest Janine for a crime to which they have no evidence she committed."

Another added: "Didn’t expect a prison exit for Janine, I really thought she would just flee #EastEnders."