Inside EastEnders star Charlie Brooks 40th birthday party

She played the EastEnders villain for several years but Charlie Brooks looked a far cry from her character Janine Butcher as she celebrated her 40th birthday at the weekend.

The soap star beamed from ear to ear as she enjoyed a festival-themed party with her loved ones, sharing pictures of the event on Thursday. 

The impressive birthday bash, complete with a lavish boho tent and a whole host of tasty treats, was thrown by her ex Tony Truman – co-founder of Ocean Beach Ibiza – who she shares 16-year-old daughter Kiki with. 

Inside Charlie Brooks 40th birthday party: EastEnders’ icon enjoyed a festival-themed outdoor bash thrown by her ex Tony Truman on Instagram on Thursday amid claims she’s making a return to the soap as Janine Butcher 

All smiles: The former Eastenders star took pictures with her loved ones, including her 16-year-old daughter Kiki (pictured), in her garden where her festival-themed birthday had been set up

All smiles: The former Eastenders star took pictures with her loved ones, including her 16-year-old daughter Kiki (pictured), in her garden where her festival-themed birthday had been set up 

Charlie opted for a casual look, wearing a pair of black wide leg jean, a white collared shirt and multi-coloured trainers. 

She finished off her look with a gold pendant necklace and a chunky belt and her blonde locks were styled in her signature wavy choppy bob.  

Wrapped up in their coats to face the chillier weather at the weekend, Charlie, her family and friends were all smiles as they gathered together to celebrate her birthday. 

Charlie bundled up in a large coat to keep warm but still appeared in high spirits as she danced and sang along to songs, including her and ex Tony’s ‘song’ – Never Too Much, Luther Vandross. 

Best friends: Charlie's beautiful birthday bash was laid on by her ex Tony Truman (pictured together on her birthday) who she shares 16-year-old daughter Kiki with

Best friends: Charlie’s beautiful birthday bash was laid on by her ex Tony Truman (pictured together on her birthday) who she shares 16-year-old daughter Kiki with

Birthday gifts: For her birthday, Tony gave Charlie a gold necklace which he had made specially for her using their engagement ring

Birthday gifts: For her birthday, Tony gave Charlie a gold necklace which he had made specially for her using their engagement ring

Dancing: In a clip shared on social media, Charlie was seen having a wonderful alcohol-free birthday

She was captured dancing and singing along to her's and Tony's song - Never Too Much, Luther Vandross

Dancing: In a clip shared on social media, Charlie was seen having a wonderful alcohol-free birthday

In a video tribute, Tony shared a clip of Charlie wearing a flower headband, dancing as she waited for a drink from the non-alcoholic cocktail bar he had arranged for her. 

During the clip, Tony said: ‘Our song. Mine and Charlie’s song. At her non-alcoholic cocktail bar, celebrating a year of sobriety. Happy birthday bubs, love you.’

Tony laid on an impressive birthday party to celebrate his ex’s 40th, setting up a large tent with cushions and drinks inside, an enormous multi-coloured balloon arch and wooden letters covered in flowers spelling the word ‘LOVE’.  

In another clip Tony shared, he was seen giving Charlie his birthday gift for which he had made their engagement ring into a gold necklace.

Sharing pictures of her birthday weekend on Thursday, Charlie wrote: ‘Best friends. Family. Sunrise walks. Morris dancers. Naps. Kitchen dance offs. Food. So much delicious food. And love. Love was in my garden. That is not a euphemism.

‘Thank you @tonytrumanibiza for making it so special you went above and beyond. And to my nearest and dearest for being an endless support in my life. You know who you are and I love you. 40 is feeling pretty f*****g good so far…’

Love: Tony also set up wooden letters covered in flowers spelling the word 'LOVE' to create the perfect out door birthday party for his ex

Love: Tony also set up wooden letters covered in flowers spelling the word ‘LOVE’ to create the perfect out door birthday party for his ex

Outdoor celebrations: Tony laid on an impressive birthday party to celebrate his ex's 40th, setting up a large tent with cushions and drinks inside, an enormous multi-coloured balloon arch

Outdoor celebrations: Tony laid on an impressive birthday party to celebrate his ex’s 40th, setting up a large tent with cushions and drinks inside, an enormous multi-coloured balloon arch

Happy: Charlie looked extremely pleased with the day, smiling widely in every picture - a far cry from her villainous character Janine

Happy: Charlie looked extremely pleased with the day, smiling widely in every picture – a far cry from her villainous character Janine

Tony also shared an emotional tribute to Charlie for her birthday: ‘Wow where have the last 20 years gone darling?

‘@charlie_brooks_xx from a 20-year-old TV starlet to a 40-year-old entrepreneurial mother. So proud of you for all you amazing achievements over that period & how you have become the most amazing incredible independent woman. 

‘You are a powerful individual who knows exactly what you want & how to go & get it and I salute you for that tenacity darling.

‘But most of all how you adapted at a young age to motherhood and the way you have worked so hard to bring our daughter up & installing her with your strong values.

‘Also not forgetting the unique & special relationship we have worked at and cultivated between us over the years that makes it one of my most proudest achievements in life and that is mainly down to you baby and your understanding of life & lessons you have taught me and still teach me.

‘Love you to the moon & back millions and millions you mean the world to me and @kikitruman your our best friend and rock in life . Happy Birthday Bubs enjoy ❤️’ 

Celebration: A beautiful birthday cake was made to celebrate Charlie's birthday, with a heartfelt message about her 40th chapter in her life

Celebration: A beautiful birthday cake was made to celebrate Charlie’s birthday, with a heartfelt message about her 40th chapter in her life

Jumping for joy: After her action packed weekend Charlie shared a series of pictures from her birthday celebrations, including one of her jumping around beside some water

Jumping for joy: After her action packed weekend Charlie shared a series of pictures from her birthday celebrations, including one of her jumping around beside some water

Adventures: As part of her birthday weekend Charlie appeared to have gone on walks with her loved ones, smiling as she posed for a picture as they walked across a river

Adventures: As part of her birthday weekend Charlie appeared to have gone on walks with her loved ones, smiling as she posed for a picture as they walked across a river

The birthday celebrations come as late last month Charlie revealed on Kate Thornton’s White Wine Question Time podcast that Tony lives in the flat above hers. 

The actress said Tony was even a fan of her most recent ex Ben, and they spent Christmas together. She explained: ‘We woke up on Christmas Day together. Tony would come down, we’d all get into bed and open presents with Kiki.’ 

Charlie sweetly elaborated: ‘We are going to grow old together, just in a very different way. He is absolutely my family and nothing will ever change that.’

Charlie also revealed she has given up alcohol because she was ‘fed-up of feeling s**t’.

She said: ‘I’ve partied a lot and really enjoyed it. A glass of wine is never a glass of wine, it’s a bottle or three. I thought, “It’s time to change. I don’t want to do this any more.”

‘I was so fed up of feeling s***, repetitive behaviour patterns, feeling like I was doing the same thing all the time and actually I felt like my life was standing still a bit.

Feast: Sharing pictures of her birthday weekend on Thursday, Charlie wrote: 'Best friends. Family. Sunrise walks. Morris dancers. Naps. Kitchen dance offs. Food. So much delicious food. And love. Love was in my garden. That is not a euphemism.'

Feast: Sharing pictures of her birthday weekend on Thursday, Charlie wrote: ‘Best friends. Family. Sunrise walks. Morris dancers. Naps. Kitchen dance offs. Food. So much delicious food. And love. Love was in my garden. That is not a euphemism.’

Motherly love: For his birthday tribute to Charlie, Toby shared several family pictures, including one of Charlie with their daughter Kiki as a baby

Motherly love: For his birthday tribute to Charlie, Toby shared several family pictures, including one of Charlie with their daughter Kiki as a baby

Special relationship: The birthday celebrations come as late last month Charlie revealed on Kate Thornton's White Wine Question Time podcast that Tony (pictured together) lives in the flat above hers

Special relationship: The birthday celebrations come as late last month Charlie revealed on Kate Thornton’s White Wine Question Time podcast that Tony (pictured together) lives in the flat above hers

‘The acting world is hard and I’ve done some lovely stuff but you spend most of your time unemployed and not getting jobs’.

According to Charlie, she felt it was necessary to stop drinking to reach her full potential.

She continued: ‘I feel like there may have been some things I missed out on. Sometimes I feel the booze robs you of your potential.

‘I suppose it was necessary for me to stop drinking in order to invent myself. I feel I’m becoming much more cemented in who I am, and creative and trusting.

‘I’m not saying it’s for ever, because I f***ing love a drink and a party, but right now it’s 100 per cent one of the best things I’ve ever done.’ 

Last month it was reported that Charlie would resurrect her role as the murderous Janine on the soap EastEnders, seven years after she departed Albert Square.

It was claimed on Wednesday that Charlie’s character Janine would make an explosive return to Albert Square, leaving soap lovers swarming social media to state she would ‘save the soap’ and likened the news to ‘winning a war’.

Family: In a heartfelt message, Tony (pictured with Charlie and their daughter Kiki) said: 'But most of all how you adapted at a young age to motherhood and the way you have worked so hard to bring our daughter up & installing her with your strong values.'

Family: In a heartfelt message, Tony (pictured with Charlie and their daughter Kiki) said: ‘But most of all how you adapted at a young age to motherhood and the way you have worked so hard to bring our daughter up & installing her with your strong values.’

Friends: Charlie split from her partner of five years, architect Ben Hollington in 2017. She shares Kiki, with Ibiza Ocean Beach co-owner, Tony (pictured together)

Friends: Charlie split from her partner of five years, architect Ben Hollington in 2017. She shares Kiki, with Ibiza Ocean Beach co-owner, Tony (pictured together)

The murderous character is said to be part of a ‘huge’ storyline planned by BBC bosses, according to The Sun.

Actress Charlie explained why she is excited to reclaim the role of Janine on the podcast.

She added: ‘She’s good fun, I love Janine. I always wonder what she’s been up to. I think it’s really important to sympathise with your characters and for me, she became so layered.

‘I honestly believe she’s completely misunderstood in so many ways, although she does get more and more difficult to defend. But that is where all the juicy stuff is.’

Charlie is reportedly set to reinstate her role as a full-cast member on the soap, with filming set to begin in the next few weeks.

She added on the White Wine Question Time podcast: ‘There’s a reason I’m single for four years — men run away.’

‘If I don’t like something I change it. Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing, whether that means I run away from commitment and I don’t work through something, I don’t know.

‘I’m 40 and still single so I don’t know whether that’s a good thing or not.’

Charlie split from her partner of five years, architect Ben Hollington in 2017. She shares Kiki, with Ibiza Ocean Beach co-owner, Tony. 

Candid: Charlie has revealed her ex Tony - with whom she shares daughter Kiki, 16 - lives in the flat above hers (pictured on Kate Thornton's podcast)

Candid: Charlie has revealed her ex Tony – with whom she shares daughter Kiki, 16 – lives in the flat above hers (pictured on Kate Thornton’s podcast)