THE YEAR DOT
After her first appearance 35 years ago, we look back at the highs and lows of Albert Square mainstay Dot Cotton’s East End life
DOT COTTON has washed her last bag of dirty laundry in EastEnders and her cloud of cigarette smoke has disappeared from the streets of Walford.
June Brown has played the long-suffering wife, mother and grandmother for 35 years, but has now sent her famous TV character off to enjoy retirement in Ireland.
“I’ve sent her off to Ireland and that’s where she’ll stay,” says 97-year-old June.
“I’ve left EastEnders. I did make up a limerick ... it’s a bit dirty.”
Dot first appeared on the BBC soap not long after it began back in 1985 and the chain-smoking, overall-wearing gossip lover quickly became a favourite with viewers – especially when she tried to keep her bad penny son
“Nasty” Nick on the straight and narrow.
Dot was a larger than life character who was known for her devout Christian faith and her hypochondria.
Many of the clothes the character wore were charity shop finds and Dot wore the same “best” dress every Christmas.
Dot’s Story in 2003 looked back on the Walford resident’s early life during the Second World War and she also became the first soap opera character to star in a single-handed episode in 2008 which saw Dot recording a message for her husband Jim as he lay in hospital after a stroke.
Some of her biggest storylines have explored controversial issues like euthanasia, cancer and homophobia and have won her many top trophies including a life-time achievement award at the 2005 British Soap Awards.
Her friendship with Ethel allowed her to indulge in her love of a good gossip and she often turned to her for help when Nick caused her grief.
Dot’s final farewell to Albert Square was a message on a voicemail to Sonia saying she was heading to Ireland to see her grandson Charlie and had no plans to ever return. But the BBC says the “door remains open”.