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June Brown's iconic EastEnders scenes as Dot Cotton - Jim proposal to Nick's heroin death

"Alright, ma."

It's a phrase that was synonymous with EastEnders fans across the country and signalled one thing - Dot Cotton's good-for-nothing son Nick was back in Albert Square.

Her fractious relationship with her villainous son was ever-present since she first stepped foot in Walford back in 1985.

But it all came to a bitter end in 2015 when - in true soap fashion - drug addict Nick died at the hands of his own mother after she gave him heroin and left him to die.

It was one of the darker moments in Dot's life on the Square, which was largely filled with wry quips, eye rolling and puffs of a cigarette.

Barbara Windsor and June Brown in 2017 (Getty Images)

Dot was a true legend right up to her departure in 2020 and beyond, so fans have been left utterly heartbroken following the news of actress June Brown's death on Sunday evening.

And, as we raise a glass of sherry in cheers, we take a look back at Dot's most iconic moments over the years...

Jim Branning's proposal to Dot

It was considered one of the most romantic moments in EastEnders history - Jim and Dot stood around in a London Eye pod as they awkwardly admitted their feelings for one another.

"You're a wonderful woman you are, Dorothy Cotton."

"No I ain't. I hope you ain't got me up here under false pretences."

The sharp, witty quips between the pair was one of the many reasons they were so loved by fans as a couple.

Jim proposed to Dot back in 2000 on the London Eye (PA)
Fans loved the couple's relationship (PA)

As they discussed Jim's love confession to her, she interrupted him by saying: "It's just words. I never met a man who meant 'em anyway."

"I do though," he said. "I love ya."

"I don't think you're half bad neither," she replied.

Jim then got down on one knee and asked her to marry him, to which she replied: "Yeah. Yeah I will."

Don't mind us crying into our tissues.

Dot helps Ethel to die

Dot's long-running friendship with Ethel Skinner came to a heartbreaking end after discovering that she was terminally ill back in 2000.

Long known as a devout Christian, the idea of assisted suicide was something that was certainly contradictory to her religious beliefs.

Despite that, Dot agreed to help her friend die after seeing her in so much pain.

Their final scenes together were so incredibly sad as Dot cradled Ethel in bed on her birthday.

Peggy and Dot say goodbye

Over the years, Peggy and Dot were involved in countless spats.

But it was late actress Barbara Windsor's final appearance in the BBC soap back in 2016 that resulted in an incredibly touching moment between the pair.

Peggy and Dot's final scene together left fans heartbroken (TV Grab)

Sitting at a table with a cup of tea and biscuits, the pair had one final conversation which ended as Dot stood up to leave.

"Thank you for coming," Peggy said, and Dot offered a troubled look that appeared to suggest that she knew they wouldn't speak again...

Dot gets scared of a computer

Dot's incredible wry comedic timing helped cement her place as a legend on the soap.

But one of the most hilariously underrated moments saw her attempt to use grandson Bradley's computer.

After Bradley tried to persuade her to try out instant messaging, which she declined, he left the house.

Yet while he was gone, Dot decided to secretly sit down and try it out herself.

Pleased with herself for managing the feat, she threw the book onto the keyboard and declared that she "really must get on".

But she was left started when what she said was repeated back to her.

"Is that you?" she asked the budgie in the case, to which the voice repeated again.

As she called for Bradley, she turned around and pressed the keyboard and was left horrified when she zoomed in on her face.

"Oh my lore!"

*EastEnders airs Mondays - Thursdays at 7.30pm on BBC One

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