| EastEnders character | |
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| Dot Branning | |
| Portrayed by | June Brown |
| Created by | Julia Smith and Tony Holland |
| Duration | 1985–1993, 1997— |
| First appearance | 4 July 1985 |
| Date of birth | 1936 |
| Status | Married |
| Home | 25 Albert Square |
| Occupation | Launderette manageress |
| Family | Nick, Jim |
Dorothy "Dot" Branning (née Colwell; previously Cotton) is a fictional character in the popular BBC soap opera, EastEnders. She is played by June Brown, but was played by Tallula Pitt-Brown in flashbacks in a special episode entitled EastEnders: Dot's Story. Dot first appeared in EastEnders in July 1985 and has worked as a launderette assistant for most of that time along with her best friend Pauline Fowler. She took a four year absence from the show in 1993 when she moved away with her son Nick Cotton and his family and returned in 1997. She is known for her devout Christian faith, addiction to cigarettes, and motherly attitude to those in need. Since Pauline Fowler's death in December 2006, Dot remains as the main assistant of the launderette. Dot is married to Jim Branning, and she was previously wed to conman Charlie Cotton with whom she had her only son Nick.
Contents |
Storylines
Early life
Dot was born in Walford, but during the Second World War she was evacuated to Wales when she was three years old, while her uncaring mother remained in London. She stayed on a farm with a couple she called Auntie Gwen and Uncle Will. She became extremely close to them and they wanted to adopt her as they were unable to have children of their own. However, Dot's stay was marred with tragedy when Will was killed in an accident. Dot felt responsible for his death due to an altercation she had with Will regarding the death of his dog, Blue, who had been maimed in an animal trap whilst in Dot's care. Devastated, a young Dot prayed for Will's death as vengeance for his harsh treatment, and when Will was killed she believed it was her doing. Unable to cope with the knowledge that she was responsible for Gwen's devastation, she ran away from the farm and returned to London, living with her mother in a crowded house in Carver Road, Walford, where she was forced to care for her younger siblings, Gerry, Tim and Rose. Dot lived with the guilt of Will's death all her life, and she had been too afraid to return to the farm to visit Gwen until 2003, when Gwen's son Iwan persuaded her to visit his dying mother. Dot received a frosty reception from Gwen initially. Gwen had always felt that she was in some way responsible for Dot's departure, and found it hard to forgive Dot for abandoning her. Dot struggled to face up to the past, but she was finally able to relay that she had left because she blamed herself for Will's accident and feared Gwen's rejection. Gwen was relieved to finally learn the truth and she explained that she and Will had always loved Dot, and she had never blamed her for what happened. Sensing the end was close, they shared some precious final moments together before Gwen died peacefully in her sleep later that night.
Life in Walford
Dot had a difficult life, largely due to her first husband, Charlie, and their son, Nick. Her mother slept around with various men and abandoned her after she was evacuated to Wales during the war. Charlie came and went from Albert Square since his arrival in 1986, and always treated Dot badly and stole from her. He conned her by saying he had changed his evil ways and then ran off after taking her money. In 1991, he died in a lorry accident off-screen, away from Walford. Her son Nick was worse than his father in terms of evilness. He had been involved in drugs, robberies, and murder and always tried to cheat Dot out of her money just like his late father. He even tried to poison her once for her bingo money but backed out at the last minute.
She was a good friend of Nigel Bates who lived in her house as lodger for a few years. Dot always thought of him as the son she never had because he was the complete opposite of Nick. She was pursued by fellow pensioner, Jim Branning, in whom she had no interest. He proposed to her on the London Eye, and she accepted. They married on Valentine's Day 2002 and have remained happily married ever since. Dot had a very peculiar yet strong relationship with Dennis Rickman, the son of her previously-supposed-dead neighbour, Den Watts. She looked upon him differently to the bad boy he made himself out to be. She always took him under her wing in his times of need, and gave him advice. He acted like her surrogate son, and in return, he saved her life by making her choose to have chemotherapy rather than go through with her original plans to die after her diagnosis of cancer. Her world was rocked after Dennis was stabbed and killed on New Year's Eve 2005 by Danny Moon just days after his decision to leave for the United States with his pregnant wife, Sharon.
Departure
In July 1993, Nick turned up with his estranged wife Zoe who he never told Dot about, and introduced Dot to their son Ashley Cotton. Dot became close to Ashley and eventually was asked by Zoe to move away from Walford with her, Nick and Ashley to Gravesend. Dot was reluctant to move away at first but agreed. She left the Square in July 1993 and wasn't seen again for nearly four years.
Return
Dot returned to Walford on 14 April 1997, revealing that Nick had gone back to his old ways and had been arrested for drugs possession and Zoe and Ashley had moved away. Dot had been left alone in her house since Nick was arrested and decided to move back to Walford, realising that leaving there in the first place was a mistake. As long as Nick was in prison she was happy. She was shocked by his surprise return in April 1998. He tried to cheat her out of money once again by telling another lie: that he had AIDS. He claimed he needed money to go to France where Ashley and Zoe had moved to. Dot believed him but a week later, she discovered Nick had been lying about his illness and was on the run from police. She informed the police of his whereabouts a week after his return and he was arrested. She later moved in with fellow senior citizen Lilly Mattock, where she was arrested for the illegal use of cannabis, which she had mistakenly confused for herbal tea after new age wannabe Irene Raymond convinced her of its "healing properties". After Lilly was mugged, she moved out of the square, and Dot went to live with her old friend Pauline Fowler.
Friendship with Ethel
Dot has since been involved in many storylines, including the death her old best friend Ethel Skinner. She had been friends with Ethel for decades, who stunned her when she revealed, in 2000, that she had returned to Walford to die of cancer. As a very weak Ethel lay in bed after celebrating her birthday (when it wasn't really her birthday, she later told Dot), she begged Dot to help her end the pain in her life. Torn between her Christian beliefs on euthanasia and her best friend's final wishes, she opted for the latter option, and helped Ethel to die, although later she thought that she should be punished and wanted to serve time in prison for murder. Dot battled with her conscience after Ethel's death, and for a long time she struggled to believe that she could be forgiven in the eyes of God.
Ashley's death
Just when Dot thought she had seen the last of Nick, he reappeared in November 2000 with his son Ashley. His feud with Mark Fowler tragically caused the death of his son, Ashley, in June 2001 after he cut the brakes on Mark's motorcycle. Ashley, not knowing this, stole the bike and died after crashing into a market stall, and having his body thrown against the launderette door. At Ashley's funeral, Nick said Mark should have been in the grave instead of Ashley, and Dot overheard this. Dot finally disowned Nick for good after realising that he unintentionally caused the death of his son, and threw him out from Walford soon after the funeral. Ashley was the only decent family she had in her life and Nick had to destroy the only happiness she had.
Second marriage
Although Dot was initially against the idea, after much persuasion from her senior neighbour Jim, the pair embarked on a slow burning romance. Dot was very set in her ways, and getting used to another man in her life was hard for her. However, Jim provided the companionship and care that had been lacking from her life for so many years, and whilst Dot may not be the most demonstrative of people, she does care for Jim very much. Jim eventually proposed to Dot in 2001, but this proved too much for Dot, who swiftly disappeared from Walford and sought refuge with her old friend Nigel Bates for a while. However, Jim didn't give up, and whilst the pair took a trip on the London Eye on Christmas Eve 2001, he proposed again, and this time she accepted. Dot spent much of her time before the wedding despairing over whether she would be able to consummate her vows after the wedding. This appeared to be a worry for Jim too, who had had to resort to Viagra to enhance his performance. The pair eventually decided that sex wasn't needed and that their love would remain platonic. Dot has become a surrogate grandmother to Jim's grandchildren, particularly Sonia and Bradley, who even call her Gran. Dot and Jim have remained happy, although Dot's loyalty to Jim was tested in 2005 when her driving instructor, Michael Rawlins, made unwanted advances towards her, causing her to crash the car that she was attempting to drive. Dot often complains about Jim and despairs of his gambling and drinking, but she makes his life complete in old age and she relishes being needed once again.
Cancer
In 2004 Dot began to go through some ill health and started to make regular visits to the doctor. Her new friend Dennis Rickman took her regularly and was the only one she confided in about her visits. Dot was shocked to be diagnosed with cancer of the kidney and decided to hide it from everyone, including Dennis, who she had earlier told that the doctor suspected she may have cancer. She refused treatment from the doctor and planned to die without telling anyone. However, while arguing with Den Watts in the launderette she burst out that she had cancer. Den was stunned and started lecturing her about not confiding in Jim over it and she eventually heeded his words and admitted the truth to her husband. Dot initially stuck to her decision not to have surgery but after realising how much they needed each other Dot decided to go through with chemotherapy. Jim only told Pauline about Dot's illness due to her not wanting people to know but Sonia overheard a phone conversation between Pauline and Jim at the Fowlers' and she had to admit the truth. Sonia and Pauline went to the hospital on the night of Dot's surgery while Jim went to The Vic and announced to everyone about Dot's condition. Dot's surgery was a success and she made a full recovery from her illness. In May 2006 Jim received a call from Nick, who was in a prison hospital suffering from throat cancer. Jim tried to keep this a secret from Dot but she eventually found out and was upset that Jim did not tell her. She then decided to visit Nick to care for him while he was ill and returned to the Square when Nick recovered.
Pauline's death
In 2006, Dot's oldest remaining friend, Pauline Fowler, started to suffer with depression, brought on by her son's reconciliation with his ex-wife Sonia. Dot sided with Sonia, which infuriated Pauline and their friendship suffered. Pauline became increasingly bitter and deceitful and Dot could not get through to her. They were not given the chance to reconcile as on Christmas Day 2006, Pauline collapsed and died of a brain hemorrhage in the middle of Albert Square. Her death devastated Dot. At Pauline's funeral, Sonia's daughter, Rebecca, told Dot that she'd witnessed her mother hitting Pauline on the day of her death. Thinking that Pauline had been murdered, Dot contacted the police. The funeral was halted and Pauline's body was taken away for an autopsy, which confirmed that her death was caused by a blow to the head from a heavy object. Panicking, Sonia tried to persuade Dot not to implicate her, but Dot could not neglect her Christian duties and she told the police everything she knew. Sonia was eventually arrested for Pauline's murder, however in January 2007 Dot discovered that the real killer was actually Pauline's husband, Joe Macer. He broke down one evening at the Fowlers' house and confessed to Dot that he had struck Pauline across the head with a frying pan, causing the brain haemorrhage that claimed her life. Appalled, Dot tried to phone the police and when Joe stopped her she began shouting "murderer" at the top of her voice. Joe attempted to apprehend her, but she was rescued by Jim's sudden appearance and the resulting scuffle caused Joe to lose his footing and fall out of the Fowlers' first floor window, to his death. Joe's confession to Dot, enabled her to tell the police of Sonia innocence. Eventually Sonia, Martin and Rebecca left Walford together. Having got used to Rebecca's presence, Dot began to feel depressed but soon after she became close to Abi Branning, Jim's granddaughter. Dot struggled to come to terms with her best-friend's death, and she initially had trouble adjusting to Pauline's replacements at the launderette. Dot kept Pauline's ashes for several months, until Jim refused to share Dot with Pauline any more and ordered her to dispose of them. Dot eventually relented and in June 2007 she buried the ashes at the grave of Pauline's first husband, Arthur, bidding her friend an emotional farewell.
Tomas
In April 2007, Dot discovered that Margot, an old friend of hers, had died; she paid Margot's son Douglas a visit to offer her condolences. Douglas, a former vicar, had lost faith in religion, which appalled Dot. She accused him of Satan worshipping, to which he responded by saying that his mother's religion ruined his life; he was glad that his mother was dead and assured Dot that Nick would feel the same way when she died. Upset, Dot fled to the nearby church to pray for guidance and found, to her shock, an abandoned baby in a bag with a note giving his name as Tomas. Dot's Christian duty called on her to bring the baby home with her, despite her husband, Jim's, protests. The Brannings attempted to track down Tomas's mother and, to Dot's surprise, she eventually turned up at the Brannings' house, a Ukrainian named Anya. It transpired that Anya was an illegal immigrant working as a prostitute, and she had given up her baby so he could have a better life. Jim refused to trust Anya, and following a row with Dot, he secretly reported Anya to the authorities. Dot discovered his actions in time to sneak Anya and Tomas away, taking them to a church for sanctuary; however, the immigration officers followed them there. Dot's efforts to keep them at bay were in vain and Anya decided to surrender herself; however, she did not want her baby to be deported with her, so she left Tomas with the Brannings. The immigration police had no knowledge of Tomas's existence. Being pensioners, Jim and Dot struggled to cope with the arduous task of caring for a new born baby. Jim wanted to hand Tomas into the authorities, but Dot refused, feeling it was her second chance to succeed as a mother. Jim also feared repercussions from the police, so he concocted a story that the baby was the child of Dot's son, Nick, who was serving time in prison. Dot became exhausted with caring for the baby. Neighbours began to notice her erratic behaviour, and she lived in continuous fear that her lies would be discovered and Tomas would be taken from her. Refusing to admit that she was struggling, Dot arranged for Tomas to be christened, but when the vicar started asking awkward questions about Tomas's birth certificate, Dot panicked and she ended up confessing to him. The vicar urged Dot to give Tomas up. She eventually relented, but was unable to relinquish Tomas when the time came; she fled with the child, seeking counsel from her old friend and retired Walford GP, Dr Harold Legg. Dot relayed her problems and reminisced about an abortion her first husband, Charlie, made her have in her twenties. She had regretted it ever since and thought caring for Tomas was a way she could make up for it. Dr Legg eventually persuaded Dot that she had to give Tomas up, and she returned to Walford and bid an emotional farewell to the baby before he was taken away by the social worker.
Family
- Father: Bob Colwell (deceased)
- Mother: Martha Colwell (deceased)
- Half brothers: Gerry Colwell, Tim Colwell
- Half sister: Rose Colwell
- Husband: Jim Branning
- Son: Nick Cotton
- Grandson: Ashley Cotton (deceased)
In popular culture
The character of Dot Branning has been spoofed in the cartoon sketch show 2DTV. She was also impersonated by Alistair McGowan in Big Impression. As a style icon she has been said to have inspired catwalk collections, hairstyles and more. The monthly Dot Cotton Club, a gay club night in Cambridge, is named in her honour. She is among only a few characters from EastEnders to become a British cultural emblem. Dot Cotton's long-suffering luckless life has also led to her being labelled as a gay icon.[1] Dot is probably the most notable smoker on British television as she rarely appears on-screen without a cigarette. The character is so synonymous with smoking that the term "Dot Cotton syndome" is used within the health industry to: "describe the elderly population who continue to smoke heavily without registering the health problems they are or will soon suffer from, seeing it as their only pleasure left in life".[2] She was also voted the 46th best TV character in a television poll entitled The 100 Greatest Television Characters.[3]
References
- ^ "The new pink pin-ups", Evening Standard. URL last accessed 2006-10-23.
- ^ "Medical education via the mass media", Student BMJ. URL last accessed 2006-10-23.
- ^ "The 100 Greatest Television Characters", thecustard.tv. URL last accessed 2006-11-02
External links
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| Characters |
Ian Beale · Dot Branning · Pat Evans · Steven Beale · Phil Mitchell · Peggy Mitchell · Lucy Beale · Peter Beale · Ben Mitchell · Billy Mitchell · Charlie Slater · Garry Hobbs · Mo Harris · Patrick Trueman · Louise Mitchell · Minty Peterson · Gus Smith · Mickey Miller · Bobby Beale · Yolande Trueman · Jane Beale · Darren Miller · Keith Miller · Stacey Branning · Jean Slater · Dawn Swann · Honey Mitchell · Deano Wicks · Bradley Branning · Chelsea Fox · Denise Wicks · Libby Fox · Max Branning · Tanya Branning · Abi Branning · Lauren Branning · Sean Slater · Janet Mitchell · Shirley Carter · Jay Brown · Hazel Hobbs · Manju Patel · Summer Swann · Heather Trott · Zainab Masood · Shabnam Masood · Jase Dyer · Roxy Mitchell · Ronnie Mitchell · Tamwar Masood · Vinnie Monks · Masood Ahmed · Jack Branning · William Mitchell · Oscar Branning Past characters |
| Crew members | |
| Locations | |
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| Spin-offs | |
| Other | |
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Charlie Cotton | Nick Cotton | Ashley Cotton Spouses: Dot Branning | Zoe Cotton |
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Jim Branning | Carol Jackson | Bianca Jackson | Liam Butcher | Robbie Jackson | Sonia Fowler | Rebecca Miller | Billy Jackson | April Branning | Sue Branning | Derek Branning | Max Branning | Bradley Branning | Lauren Branning | Abi Branning | Oscar Branning | Jack Branning Spouses: Reenie Branning | Dot Branning | Alan Jackson | Ricky Butcher | Martin Fowler | Rachel Branning | Tanya Branning | Stacey Branning | Selina Branning |
