She was the nation’s sweetheart in an iconic soap for nearly 40 years.
And Dot Branning has finally been laid to rest in EastEnders as the cast of Albert Square gathered for the character’s funeral following actress June Brown earlier this year.
As well as three of June’s real-life children, a veteran character makes a shock return to East London for the special episode celebrating the woman who featured in 2,884 episodes.
Poignant: Dot Branning has finally been laid to rest in EastEnders as the cast of Albert Square gathered for the character’s funeral following actress June Brown earlier this year
Viewers heard the news that Dot had died in her sleep while in Ireland earlier in December.
Nurse Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy) told the Square residents of the upsetting news and since, plans have been underway to produce the best send-off for Dot.
Monday’s episode of the BBC series, which has been running since 1985 – the same year June joined – was completely dedicated to Dot’s send-off.
The heartbreaking yet heartwarming episode saw the late Mrs Branning buried next to her dearest friend Ethel Skinner (Gretchen Franklin), who died in 2000 following her terminal cancer diagnosis.
Better together: From left to right, Jack Branning (Scott Maslen), Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty), Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) and Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy) appear in Monday night’s episode of EastEnders
Saying goodbye: As well as three of June’s real-life children , a veteran character makes a shock return to East London for the special episode celebrating Dot Cotton
Sonia struggled to muster the words for her eulogy dedicated to Dot, and during Monday night’s episode she tried to gain inspiration from various Dot-related parts of Albert Square.
She headed over to the launderette at one point, where Martin Fowler (James Bye) encouraged her to ‘speak from the heart’.
Sonia also opted to listen back to a tape that Dot recorded for her late husband Jim not long after he suffered from a stroke in 2007. He later died in 2015 following a fatal heart attack.
But it wouldn’t be a special episode for the beloved Dot Cotton if veteran characters weren’t brought back into the picture.
No way! Returning to Walford was EastEnders heavyweight Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) – who paid his respects to the late great Dot from afar
A quiet goodbye: He soon left the scene after receiving a phone call which seemed rather mysterious
Returning to Walford was EastEnders heavyweight Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) – who paid his respects to the late great Dot from afar.
He soon left the scene after receiving a phone call which seemed rather mysterious.
Also joining to say their goodbyes was Colin Russell (Michael Cashman) and Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa), who watched on as the horses lead her coffin past No. 27, past The Queen Vic and past Albert Square.
Heartbreaking: The heartbreaking yet heartwarming episode saw the late Mrs Branning buried next to her dearest friend Ethel Skinner (Gretchen Franklin), who died in 2000 following her terminal cancer diagnosis
Send-off: Monday’s episode of the BBC series, which has been running since 1985 – the same year June joined – was completely dedicated to Dot’s send-off
Upsetting: Actress June Brown died aged 95 back in April earlier this year, and floods of tributes from the EastEnders cast came in to gush about the actress
Appearing at the church was Disa Brien (Jan Graveson) who Dot took care of back in 1991, Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) and Mary ‘The Punk’ Smith (Linda Davidson) who spoke to with Sharon Watts.
Actress June Brown died aged 95 back in April earlier this year, and floods of tributes from the EastEnders cast came in to gush about the actress.
Incredibly she began her career on Coronation Street and it was at the age of 58 that she landed the role that would turn her into a household name.
June was made an MBE for services to drama and charity at Buckingham Palace in 2008 and was then included in the 2022 New Year’s honours list to be made an OBE.
In loving memory: It wouldn’t be a special episode for the beloved Dot Cotton if veteran characters weren’t brought back into the picture (characters pictured at the church)
Together: Appearing at the church was Disa Brien (Jan Graveson) who Dot took care of back in 1991, Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) and Mary ‘The Punk’ Smith (Linda Davidson) who spoke to with Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean, pictured right)
The actress, a mother-of-six born in rural Suffolk in 1927, died at her home in Surrey on Sunday with her family by her side, two years after her final appearance on the soap and 35 years after her debut.
Ms Brown’s family revealed they were with her when she died peacefully last night, while the BBC urged fans to raise a glass of sweet sherry in her memory. The star still loved a tipple and a cigarette well into her 90s.
For decades she was one of the most famous faces on British TV, playing the devout Christian famed on Albert Square for her chain smoking, gossiping and mothering of those in need while working in the launderette.
Overwhelming: Sonia struggled to muster the words for her eulogy dedicated to Dot, and during Monday night’s episode she tried to gain inspiration from various Dot-related parts of Albert Square
Farewell: Also joining to say their goodbyes was Colin Russell (Michael Cashman) and Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa), who watched on as the horses lead her coffin past No. 27, past The Queen Vic and past Albert Square
Other fellow stars including Gillian Taylforth, who plays Kathy Beale in the show and Letitia Dean, best known as Sharon Watts, hailed their friend and colleague as ‘an amazing woman and a truly wonderful actress’.
Leading the loving words, Adam Woodyatt said: ‘I’m lost for words, something June never was. So many memories, so much fun. Just purely and simply an incredible woman who had the most incredible life and career, I was fortunate to have shared a small part of it.
‘They never made you a Dame (we did try), but to me you will always be Dame Brown.’
Loving goodbye: Also joining to say their goodbyes was Colin Russell (Michael Cashman) and Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa, second from right), who watched on as the horses lead her coffin past No. 27, past The Queen Vic and past Albert Square
