June Brown and Lady Gaga had a super cute friendship despite a 60-year age gap.
EastEnders has been on British televisions since 1985, so it's no surprise that it has birthed a number of strange, wonderful and unexpected relationships. But one of the greatest relationships to ever happen involving one of its characters took place off set, reported My London.
On the episode of The Graham Norton Show which aired on November 8, 2013, the famous sofa featured the unlikely quartet of pop star Lady Gaga, 36, EastEnders legend June, who has died aged 95, alongside acting greats Jude Law, 49 and Greg Davies, 54. But, it was June and Lady Gaga who really hit it off.
READ MORE: June Brown dead: EastEnders confirm Dot Cotton star has died aged 95
The women instantly formed a connection through their witty humour and snappy comebacks. Lady Gaga even took the time out to share a glass of wine with June Brown who played chain-smoking busybody Dot Cotton in EastEnders. Despite an age difference of 59 years, both stars bonded backstage at the Graham Norton Show and then went on to share their mutual affection on screen.
In 2019, June revealed how kind Lady Gaga was to her behind-the-scenes, telling the Daily Star: "She was so funny, intelligent and down to earth, but when she went in front of the press, you could see her put the Gaga persona on."
Gaga was such a big fan that she even invited her to a nightclub in London. She said: "She saw me sitting on my own and came back, dropped the whole Gaga thing and invited me to a nightclub. Sadly I couldn't make it, but I thought what a charming and talented girl."
June had impressed Gaga with her style on the show, with the singer saying at the time: "I am a really big fan of yours. You are so fabulously dressed. I am honoured to be sitting next to you." In true Gaga fashion she responded: "I wish I could take you home," before Dot hit back with, "well you can if you want."
The pairing of the two legends was probably not one that many viewers knew that they needed to see, but it has been one that fans have been waiting to see happen again in the years since. Speaking to former co-star Rani Singh on the Distinct Nostalgia podcast, June said: "I don’t want a retainer for EastEnders, I've left. I've left for good. I've sent her off to Ireland where she’ll stay. I've left EastEnders.
"I did make up a limerick. It’s a bit dirty. I went back to do a good story. Alas and alack, when I got back it had gone up in smoke. I got a small part, a very small part. And that ended up as a big wet fart. Alas and alack, I will never go back."
The character was last seen in Walford in January following her discovery that family friend Martin Fowler (James Bye) was responsible for stealing some of her savings - when in actuality it was her beloved granddaughter Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy). Dot left a voice message for Sonia saying that she had departed to visit her grandson Charlie Cotton (Declan Bennett) in Ireland and wishing her love, leaving Sonia emotional.
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