EastEnders will honour show legend June Brown in a special episode giving her and “treasured” character Dot Cotton the send-off they “rightly deserve”.
Bosses reckon it will be the perfect way to say goodbye to June, who died aged 95 in April after playing chain-smoking busybody Dot for over 30 years.
The plotline will see news of the character’s death reach Albert Square from Ireland, where she moved in January 2020 to live with grandson Charlie.
And in an emotional episode to air this winter, family and friends will come together to say goodbye after learning Dot wanted her funeral held in Walford – the place she always called home.
A huge turnout is expected on the Square, including members of Dot’s family such as Jack Branning (Scott Maslen) and Dotty Cotton ( Milly Zero ) and characters like Sonia (Natalie Cassidy), Martin ( James Bye ) and Sharon (Letitia Dean).
And the special could see the return of some old faces after EastEnders boss Chris Clenshaw vowed to give Dot – and June – the fitting tribute they both deserve. He said: “Everyone at EastEnders was truly heartbroken when June passed away earlier this year – no one could even think about saying goodbye to Dot.
“June was always adamant that she never wanted Dot’s time to end while she was still with us but she also knew that EastEnders would rightly say its farewells to Dot when the time was right.
“Sadly, that time has come – and we’re determined to give the audience that treasured Dot for so many years the fitting tribute she so deeply deserves.”
He added: “Dot was an iconic character who will be cherished forever. While it will be a very sad day in Walford, we’ll be giving Dot the send-off that she and June would want and rightly deserve.”
Rarely seen without a cigarette in her hand, Dot was one of the show’s early favourites – first appearing in July 1985 as the mother of criminal Nick Cotton (John Altman).
Many of those June worked with are also no longer with us.
Often found in the laundrette, where she worked alongside Pauline Fowler (Wendy Richard), Dot was known for her devout Christian faith and forgiving nature… particularly towards her wayward son. She was first wed to crook Charlie Cotton (Christopher Hancock), then tied the knot again in 2002, with Jim Branning (John Bardon).
Her iconic storylines included helping pal Ethel Skinner (Gretchen Franklin) die, battling cancer and killing her own son.
Chris said June is still sorely missed on the set of the BBC soap, adding: “Since I’ve been here, the hardest day was having to break the news that June had passed away.
“Some of the crew and the cast had worked with June for many, many years – she’s more than a colleague, she’s a dear friend, so it was difficult. Everyone’s always sharing anecdotes, everyone has a slightly different one.
“I loved going to her dressing room. You’d go down and speak about a scene… you’d have a couple of lines to discuss that could take 30 seconds, and you’d be there for three hours, chewing the fat. It was brilliant, it was glorious.
“We miss her dearly. We’re working on a very special tribute to her.”
