EastEnders' Charlie Brooks may need a hip replacement soon
EastEnders star Charlie Brooks was left in such agony with her hip a couple of years ago that she feared she might need a hip replacement.
EastEnders' Charlie Brooks may need to have a hip replacement soon.
The 45-year-old actress, who played Janine Butcher in the BBC soap, on and off, from 1999 until 2026, was left in such agony with it a couple of years ago that she is now relying on weight-bearing exercises to keep her "dodgy" hip "in place".
She told the new issue of Closer magazine: "Two years ago, my hip was so painful I wanted to chop my own leg off.
"I might have to have a hip replacement at some point, but for now I'm keeping it at bay.
"The surgeon said it's all about loading it up with weights, so that's what I've done.
"I do hip exercises every day. I do miss running, though, it's good for your head!"
Charlie feels like a new person since getting fit.
The I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! 2012 champion explained: "I feel stronger, I feel more energised and healthier in my mind.
"As you progress, you can lift heavier, you can do more reps, and you feel yourself getting stronger. When you see your muscles growing and your body changing, that's a massive motivator."
She added: "I feel better than I did 10 years ago, I'm much more peaceful, more active, and more intentional.
"I'm not a natural gym bunny. I used to be terrified of the weights section, so I'd spend hours on the treadmill instead.
"But now I can't run because I've got a dodgy hip, so I weight train and walk 10,000 steps a day - getting my dog Flo really helped with that.
"Four times a week, I follow a programme with a remote trainer, Emma, who has transformed what I do.
"I lift heavy, and that means I've got to eat 2500 calories a day - it blows my mind!"
Charlie loves to exercise with her 22-year-old daughter Kiki, whom she has with her ex-partner, entrepreneur Tony Truman.
But the Dancing on Ice 2025 contestant wishes she did more of it when her only child was younger.
She said: "When Kiki was little, we'd do lots of walks and playing at the park. But I wish I was as active then as I am now and that I'd drummed that into her more."
Charlie making big changes in her life stems from when she approached her 40s in 2021.
The Lie with Me alum said: "You face challenges in life, and when I was approaching 40, I felt ready to do things differently.
"I also stopped drinking seven years ago and, while it's not been a perfect journey, it's definitely been a game-changer.
"I really started feeling like I was living life more. Life got more colourful for me."
