Just as she experienced tragedy and heartbreak in her own life, June Brown, who has died at the age of 95, was put through the wringer after being cast as Dot Cotton, the gossiping, chain-smoking laundrette assistant who was the local minder-of-morals, in EastEnders four months after the BBC soap opera began, in 1985.
Her 35 years on the show were nothing short of dramatic. Dot was certainly not lucky with her family. When first seen in Albert Square, she had long been deserted by her lazy, pathetic lorry driver husband, Charlie (played by Christopher Hancock), but the devout Christian took pity on him whenever he was down on his luck and returned.
