EastEnders' Natalie Cassidy pays touching tribute ahead of Dot's funeral episodes

EastEnders lost June Brown, the star behind its resident busybody Dot Branning earlier this year.

When EastEnders fans learned in April that actress June Brown had passed away at the age of 95, they were in deep sorrow. For months following her passing, it was reported in the BBC soap that her iconic character Dot Branning was residing in Ireland with her grandson Charlie. However, Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy) was in disbelief last week when she learned of the passing of her adored grandmother.

The phone rang last week as Sonia was intervening in a dispute between Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) and Dotty Cotton (Milly Zero).

She couldn’t believe it when Charlie called to inform her that grandmother Dot (June Brown) had passed away; she later broke the news at the Queen Vic.

A Bible and a pack of cigarettes were found on her bedside table when she passed away in her sleep, according to Sonia.

The customers of the pub were seen crying, but as viewers of soap operas are already aware, actress Brown, who played Dot for more than 30 years, passed away earlier this year.

EastEnders is now prepared to honor June Brown, a pillar of Walford, by celebrating Dot’s life.

Actress Natalie Cassidy, who plays Sonia Fowler on EastEnders, paid tribute to the seasoned performer and friend during a screening of Dot’s funeral episodes.

She told the press, including thesuns.info, what she believed June would have thought of the episodes, saying, “I think she’d be absolutely thrilled by it, absolutely balled over.

She was sometimes such a modest lady; I mean, she didn’t want any fuss; she just wanted the truth.

“Truth was all June was ever interested in, and I believe watching it was truthful.

“That’s straightforward, but I feel like that wraps it up.”

Cassidy continued by describing how, as a young woman, she spent her lunch breaks with people like Brown and actors Barbara Windsor and Pam St Clement.
She went on: “But June taught me so much during the many hours I spent talking to her in her dressing room about her life.
“The biggest acting secret is primarily to listen to other people.
And she used to say, “Never let it be flat. It’s like a tune and try and slow it down, pace it up, and I always keep it with me.

Cassidy continued by describing how, as a young woman, she spent her lunch breaks with people like Brown and actors Barbara Windsor and Pam St Clement.

She went on: “But June taught me so much during the many hours I spent talking to her in her dressing room about her life.

“The biggest acting secret is primarily to listen to other people.

And she used to say, “Never let it be flat. It’s like a tune and try and slow it down, pace it up, and I always keep it with me.

In the upcoming episodes, Sonia will try to process her grandmother Dot’s death and plan her funeral.

On the square, Dot’s former friends will also gather to say their final farewells.

For many devoted EastEnders viewers who have watched the show their entire lives, the episodes will bring back memories of characters like Colin Russell (Michael Cashman), Lofty Holloway (Tom Watt), Disa O’Brien (Jan Graveson), and Mary Smith (Linda Davidson).

A more recent show star will also make a comeback to honor the deceased.

For the funeral, Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) will board a plane from New Zealand.

She will be there to represent Jim Branning’s (John Bardon) side of the family as Dot’s stepgranddaughter.

Lauren’s fans can also anticipate an update on her life outside of Walford.