June Brown: 'Dot will feel very lonely'

EastEnders legend June Brown has predicted that her character Dot Branning will struggle to cope without her beloved husband Jim living under her roof.

Next week's episodes of the BBC soap see Dot finally accept that her ailing partner needs to be moved to a care home as she can no longer cope with looking after him herself.

Dot makes her decision after another difficult day of caring for Jim (John Bardon) proves to be the final straw, leading to her breaking down in tears and ignoring his buzzer.

Speaking to Inside Soap, Brown commented: "That's the point where she realises Jim needs to be taken into a care home. She and Carol watch a video of him in happier days and the contrast between what he was then and what's now is so great."

Asked how Dot will cope without Jim, the actress replied: "I think she'll be very lonely and feel she doesn't have much purpose in life. It was really important to tell this story because there are so many people in a similar situation to Dot.

"It was moving to act out, too - not just because of Dot and Jim's relationship, but because I'm really good friends with John Bardon in real life."

Next Tuesday's episode of EastEnders focuses entirely on Dot in the build-up to her decision, which sees her encounter various friends and relatives on the Square as she avoids going home to Jim.

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