Dot Cotton

The actress, who plays Sonia Fowler on the BBC soap, described the upcoming poignant instalment as 'gentle'

She arrived on Albert Square shortly after the soap began in 1985. “It will be a real treat for people as it’s celebrating Dot and her life. “The audience has got time to think about Dot, and it is a proper send-off for her. She was nominated for the Best Actress prize at the TV Baftas for her standalone episode of the soap in 2009. It’s a slow-moving, gentle episode that’s got time to breathe. The soap icon also shared her gratitude to show producer, Chris Clenshaw, for letting her take the lead in the episode as her character delivers Cotton’s eulogy and admitted that it was great to see Sonia “at the heart of the show and have some emotional stuff to do”.

EastEnders has given Dot Cotton a memorable and pitch perfect send-off, with viewers flocking to social media to heap praise on the funeral episode for June ...

[Many old faces returned to pay respects to Dot](https://metro.co.uk/2022/12/08/eastenders-boss-confirms-more-returns-were-planned-for-dots-funeral-17905281/), including Colin Russell (Lord Michael Cashman), Mary ‘The Punk’ Smith (Linda Davidson), Lofty (Tom Watt), Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) and Disa O’Brien (Jan Graveson). [Jacqueline Jossa reveals hope for the future of Lauren and the Brannings in EastEnders](https://metro.co.uk/2022/12/11/jacqueline-jossa-on-hope-for-the-future-of-the-brannings-in-eastenders-17911174/?ico=more_text_links) [EastEnders star Natalie Cassidy reveals Dot Cotton’s ‘immaculate’ funeral episode is one of the best she has ever done](https://metro.co.uk/2022/12/12/eastenders-natalie-cassidy-dot-funeral-episode-is-one-of-my-best-ever-17848844/?ico=more_text_links) [when she meets with Dot’s great-nephew Reiss](https://metro.co.uk/2022/12/10/eastenders-jonny-freeman-reveals-all-on-reiss-who-will-romance-sonia-17910939/) (Jonny Freeman) and they hit it off. [Martin Fowler](https://metro.co.uk/tag/martin-fowler/?ico=auto_link_tv-soaps_P3_LNK1) ( [James Bye](https://metro.co.uk/tag/james-bye/?ico=auto_link_tv-soaps_P3_LNK2)) in the launderette that she didn’t know what to say. [Dot Cotton](https://metro.co.uk/tag/dot-cotton/?ico=auto_link_tv-soaps_P1_LNK1) a memorable and pitch perfect send-off, with viewers flocking to social media to heap praise on the funeral episode for [June Brown](https://metro.co.uk/tag/june-brown/?ico=auto_link_tv-soaps_P1_LNK2)’s legendary character.

EASTENDERS fans were left bitterly disappointed as one character failed to make an appearance during the special tribute episode to Dot Cotton.

#eastenders." I want Max back 👀 #EastEnders." Whilst a third fumed: "Super underwhelming funeral episode.

The soap is gearing up to say farewell to one of it's most treasured characters this week. Dot Cotton's character June Brown passed away earlier this year ...

[Whitney,](https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/eastenders-whitney-not-really-pregnant-28677303) who is played by Shona McGarty, was seen saying goodbye to Dot with the rest of the family on the emotional episode. I am confused as to why she is there," one person joked. "Whitney's relation to Dot? #EastEnders," another added. "How is Whitney that close to Dot? [EastEnders](https://www.irishmirror.ie/all-about/eastenders) fans were baffled by Whitney Dean's relation to [Dot Cotton](https://www.irishmirror.ie/all-about/june-brown) after they spotted her at the Walford legend's funeral.

EastEnders spoilers follow. EastEnders has explained why some of Dot Branning's loved ones missed her funeral. Monday's (December 12) extended episode was a ...

The show also streams on BBC iPlayer. [Read more EastEnders spoilers on our dedicated homepage](http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/) [13 huge EastEnders spoilers for next week](https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a42151398/eastenders-spoilers-lauren-linda-kat/) Sonia felt it would be impractical for Robbie to travel from India. She was really fond of Dot." [missed her funeral](https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a42190678/eastenders-dot-funeral-missing-characters/).

EASTENDERS stars gathered in Albert Square tonight as they bid farewell to one of the show's most iconic characters.In emotional scenes, Walford legen.

“I shall be able to help them when the baby comes. She was a "constant presence" who "always cared" for the people closest to her. He should be back for good." The 40-minute special episode is also available to watch on the [BBC iPlayer](https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer). Bring him back soon EE." She was a “constant presence” who “always cared” for the people closest to her. While another said: "Ian Beale! One fan took to Twitter to say: "Ian Beale, Mr Eastenders himself. Dot was a 'class act' like the Queen A fitting tribute to the Walford legend. While Dot struggled to tell people she loved them, Sonia says it was always the most important thing for her. And fans all said the same thing as some of the biggest names in Walford history made a return to pay their respects to the soap legend, with the biggest surprise of all being Adam Woodyatt as Ian Beale!

The residents of Walford remembered Dot Branning as “kind, caring and dignified” in a special tribute episode of the BBC One soap EastEnders.

She added: “She was all them things. “For as long as I can remember she was just there, a constant presence. “She was always there. She was kind, caring, dignified, loyal, warm, funny. Sonia added that she had played a tape Dot had made for her husband Jim Branning after he had had a stroke, which had made her sad because in it Dot had said she felt “no-one would remember her fondly when she was gone”. She says: “A good friend said to me I should speak from my heart and he was right, it needs to be from my heart because that’s where Dot lived, and that’s where she still lived.”

Soap star June Brown had six children with her second husband, actor Robert Arnold, however tragedy struck the family and they sadly lost their daughter ...

Chris went on to say: "They got in touch with us after we shot the episode saying that they had an absolutely wonderful day, because the cast were reminiscing and sharing stories about June. He added: "Obviously EastEnders meant a lot to June and it was a big part of their lives too. I love my children but it was a lot of work.” Her children have gone on to enjoy their own successes in their respective careers. "I'm sure June won't mind us saying that when she was with us, she was adamant that she didn't want Dot to be killed off. After the untimely death of her first husband John Garley, June married the actor Robert Arnold and the couple shared six children, Sophie, Bill, Naomi, Louise and Chloe. The legendary character played by June, who graced our screens for over three decades, was honoured in an emotional tribute on Monday in a specially-extended episode of the BBC soap. Executive producer Chris Clenshaw commented: "This is a very special episode for us. But, inside, my heart was breaking. So they approached us – they asked if they could be part of the episode and we thought it was a lovely idea." She did of course know that when she did sadly leave us, that it was the right thing to do and we had to give her and the audience the send off they deserve. [June Brown](https://www.ok.co.uk/latest/june-brown)'s [actual children appeared in the Dot Branning funeral episode](https://www.ok.co.uk/celebrity-news/june-browns-children-funeral-scenes-28693767) of [EastEnders](https://www.ok.co.uk/latest/eastenders) on Monday, according to the show's bosses.

The actor, who died aged 95 in April, portrayed the chain-smoking Walford matriarch for 35 years and was one of the most iconic figures on the soap.

She was perhaps the soap’s best-known star, and larger-than-life Dot was known for her devout Christian faith and hypochondria, as well as her endless cigarette addiction. The actor, who died aged 95 in April, portrayed the chain-smoking Walford matriarch for 35 years and was one of the most iconic figures on the soap. Brown played the chain-smoking matriarch for 35 years