SOAP FAVOURITE
HANDS up who remembers Dot Cotton’s first line in EastEnders.
Probably very few who tuned in on July 4, 1985, thought that the chain-smoking, hypochondriac with an ear for gossip would go on to become a soap legend.
More than 30 years later, she’s still going strong, and to fans of the programme, is almost as familiar to them as members of their family.
Dot was not, however, an original cast member; although mentioned in early episodes due to being the mother of ‘Nasty’ Nick Cotton, she didn’t pop up in person until the 40th edition – but from the very beginning, her uniform of ‘Italian boy’ hairstyle and brown mac were in place, as was the cigarette fixed to her bottom lip.
It’s impossible to imagine anybody but June Brown playing her either. She was largely unknown when she was cast, but is now a household name. And, as she celebrates her 90th birthday, the BBC is paying her a deserved tribute via this documentary which looks back on her life and career.
“June Brown is a one-off, a genuine national treasure,” says executive producer Caroline Wright. “It’s been a privilege to be given the chance to capture her magic.”
Brown was born in Suffolk on February 16, 1927, one of five children, although two of her siblings died in childhood. She was schooled in Ipswich, was evacuated to Wales during the war, and later served with the Wrens before studying at the Old Vic Theatre School.
Like Dot, she has known personal tragedy; her first husband, actor John Garley, suffered from depression and committed suicide in 1957. A year later she wed Dixon of Dock Green regular Robert Arnold, with whom she had six children; sadly, their second daughter was born prematurely and passed away at just 16 days old. She and Arnold were together for 45 years until his death in 2003.
Brown has spent much of her career as a jobbing character actress, working on the stage while popping up on TV and films such as Psychomania, Sunday Bloody Sunday, The 14 and Lace. Her scenes were cut from the controversial Sam Peckinpah movie Straw Dogs, but she did appear in The Time Warrior, the first Doctor Who story to feature intrepid journalist Sarah Jane Smith, in 1973.
It was Leslie Grantham who recommended her to EastEnders’ producers, and initially Dot was a rather unsympathetic, sanctimonious character who, over the years, became increasingly warm and sympathetic.
Brown was nominated for a Bafta for her portrayal of her alter ego in 2009 thanks to an incredible performance in a solo episode in which Dot recounts the story of her life on cassette for her husband Jim to listen to in hospital.
Despite her age, the actress is determined to soldier on, and long may she continue to do so.
And those first words? In case you’re still wondering, they were: “Give us a tea, Lofty. And a glass of water so I can take a paracetomol.”
Of such things legends are made.