JUNE BROWN takes break

June Brown is leaving the
soap for six months.
June, 85, known to millions as chain-smoker
Dot Cotton, wants a break from the hectic
filming schedule.

Friends say she plans to take a holiday and
write her memoirs.
June shocked the soap’s bosses by asking
for a year-long sabbatical before producers
agreed to her having a break of six months,
hoping she will return feeling refreshed.

A source said: “Some friends on the set
feared she may be considering a permanent
exit but EastEnders bosses are determined
to keep her and they have offered her six
months off which she has taken.
“She has admitted the filming can be
exhausting and she feels some time off is
long overdue.”
Her final scenes before the break were
filmed last week and will be screened in
around a fortnight.

Dot leaves to visit a friend and writers will
leave the door open for her return though
the launderette where she works will close.
Her departure will be another setback for
the soap which has been hit by cast taking
time off in recent years including Jessie
Wallace, who plays Kat Moon.
An EastEnders spokeswoman said yesterday:
“June is on a break but will be back in a few
months.”
And the star’s agent said: “June has taken
some time away from EastEnders to focus
on her autobiography but she will be
returning to the programme.”

Dot, whose surname changed to Branning in
2002, is one of the BBC show’s most popular
and longest running characters.
June joined the cast in 1985, months after
the show’s debut. She left the soap