Dot Branning

EastEnders legend June Brown has denied rumours she is leaving the soap for good.

The 85-year-old veteran actress, who is currently on a six-month break from playing Dot Branning in the BBC show, previously hinted she may not return to her famous role.

According to The Sun, she said: "My contract ended and I want to do something else. As an actress, you don't want to always plod away at the same thing. I don't know how long I will be out. I have no idea if I will go back."

Next week sees the on-screen arrival of Rose, Dot Branning’s estranged sister, and according to actress Polly Perkins, the sisters ‘really couldn't be more opposite in character.’

‘Rose is an absolute floozy, she really is,’ she explained to Inside Soap. ‘And this, of course, means she and Dot are poles apart.’

EastEnders stalwart June Brown has predicted that her character Dot Branning will feel 'very lonely' without her husband Jim living with her. 

In emotional scenes coming up on the soap, viewers will see Dot finally accept that ailing Jim needs to be moved into a care home as she can no longer look after him herself.

Dot makes the tough decision after another difficult day of caring for Jim takes its toll, leading to her breaking down in tears.

Dot's had a hard few months, well more like couple of years, with looking after Jim, running the launderette and rushing round making herself useful for the Church. She's no spring chicken anymore, and next week we see the result of all this hurrying and scurrying.

In a rush to get over to the Launderette, Dot loses her footing and falls head-first down the stairs. Nobody's around to help, and Dot lies unconscious at the bottom of the stairs while Jim calls out from the living room.