Dot Branning, formerly Cotton, has been an EastEnder for 30 years. Dot is such a Walford institution that many fans assume she was there from the first episode, but as it’s her 30th anniversary today, we can see that actress June Brown joined slightly later. It doesn’t matter, EastEnders without Dot is like the Queen Vic with no pints: unthinkable.
To celebrate, let’s take a look at some classic Dot moments, featuring the two most important men in her life. One was very good to her, and the other very, very bad. We’ll start with the tragic story of Dot and her son Nick, and then cheer ourselves up with a love story for the ages; Dot and Jim.