Dorothy "Dot" Branning (also Cotton) is a fictional character from the
BBC soap opera, EastEnders, played by June Brown from 1985 to 1993 and
1997 to 2020. Dot first appeared in EastEnders in July 1985 as the
mother of notorious criminal Nick Cotton (John Altman). The character
worked as a launderette assistant for most of that time, along with
original character Pauline Fowler (Wendy Richard). Dot moved away with
her son and his family in 1993. In reality, Brown left the show in
1993, unhappy with the axing of her co-star Peter Dean, who played
Pete Beale from the show's first episode to early 1993. Brown returned
to the role in April 1997, and on 28 April 2017, Dot overtook Pat
Butcher (Pam St Clement) as the second-longest-serving character in
EastEnders, surpassed only by original character Ian Beale (Adam
Woodyatt). In a special episode entitled EastEnders: Dot's Story
(2003) a young Dot was played by Tallulah Pitt-Brown in flashbacks. In
April 2012, Brown took a six-month break from the show to write her
memoirs. Dot temporarily departed on 18 May 2012. She returned on 14
January 2013. In February 2015, Dot began appearing less frequently
due to Brown gradually losing her eyesight; this aspect of her life
was later written into her character the following year. Brown left
the role in January 2020.A tragicomic character, Dot was known for her
devout Christian faith, gossiping, chain smoking, hypochondria, and
motherly attitude to those in need. A recurring storyline in the
serial has been Dot's continuous forgiveness of her son's villainous
crimes. Initially married at the start of the series to conman Charlie
Cotton (Christopher Hancock), Dot married again in 2002 to pensioner
Jim Branning (John Bardon) and the union proved to be popular with
fans. Brown and Bardon won awards for their screen partnership. On 31
January 2008, Dot became the first character ever to appear in a
monologue episode, "Pretty Baby....", of a British soap. The acclaimed
episode saw Dot reminiscing about her years of loss and grief into a
tape recorder as a message to her ailing husband Jim. Dot has been
used to explore topical and controversial issues such as euthanasia,
cancer, immigration and homophobia.
BBC soap opera, EastEnders, played by June Brown from 1985 to 1993 and
1997 to 2020. Dot first appeared in EastEnders in July 1985 as the
mother of notorious criminal Nick Cotton (John Altman). The character
worked as a launderette assistant for most of that time, along with
original character Pauline Fowler (Wendy Richard). Dot moved away with
her son and his family in 1993. In reality, Brown left the show in
1993, unhappy with the axing of her co-star Peter Dean, who played
Pete Beale from the show's first episode to early 1993. Brown returned
to the role in April 1997, and on 28 April 2017, Dot overtook Pat
Butcher (Pam St Clement) as the second-longest-serving character in
EastEnders, surpassed only by original character Ian Beale (Adam
Woodyatt). In a special episode entitled EastEnders: Dot's Story
(2003) a young Dot was played by Tallulah Pitt-Brown in flashbacks. In
April 2012, Brown took a six-month break from the show to write her
memoirs. Dot temporarily departed on 18 May 2012. She returned on 14
January 2013. In February 2015, Dot began appearing less frequently
due to Brown gradually losing her eyesight; this aspect of her life
was later written into her character the following year. Brown left
the role in January 2020.A tragicomic character, Dot was known for her
devout Christian faith, gossiping, chain smoking, hypochondria, and
motherly attitude to those in need. A recurring storyline in the
serial has been Dot's continuous forgiveness of her son's villainous
crimes. Initially married at the start of the series to conman Charlie
Cotton (Christopher Hancock), Dot married again in 2002 to pensioner
Jim Branning (John Bardon) and the union proved to be popular with
fans. Brown and Bardon won awards for their screen partnership. On 31
January 2008, Dot became the first character ever to appear in a
monologue episode, "Pretty Baby....", of a British soap. The acclaimed
episode saw Dot reminiscing about her years of loss and grief into a
tape recorder as a message to her ailing husband Jim. Dot has been
used to explore topical and controversial issues such as euthanasia,
cancer, immigration and homophobia.
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