Preview: June Brown on Dot's struggle
It's been an uphill struggle and an emotional journey for both Dot and ´³¾±³¾Ìýµþ°ù²¹²Ô²Ô¾±²Ô²µÌýsinceÌýthe former boxerÌýsuffered a stroke in 2007.
Poor 'ol Dot has been running around the Square trying to juggleÌýher day job inÌýthe Laundrette, along with looking after Jim and, lastly, herself.ÌýI'm tired just thinkingÌýabout it.
From Monday, 23 May Dot's struggle becomes more obvious and seriousÌýemotions come to light...ÌýÌý
Watch the previewÌývid of Dot getting flustered at Carol JacksonÌýand read on for June Brown's take on how her character really feels...
On accepting help from Carol
"She doesn't really like Carol as she feels she is a sharp character and Carol hasn't really bothered with Jim since she returnedÌýto the Square. Dot's been left to do it on her own."
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On Jim's return
"Dot's finding it very hard, especially as she's having difficulties with her shoulder and the fact that Jim can't walk means that she has to do everything for him.
"She feels helpless, Jim is her husband and she wants to be there for him, but it's a full-time job caring for someone in his condition and she still has her work at the Launderette and her life to juggle, so she's finding it very difficult."
On watching an oldÌývideo of Jim
"She is very upset because it contrasts so much what was then and what is now."
On Edward
"She feels guilty because there is an attraction there, but because of her religious views she feels it is wrong."
On telling this story for EastEnders
"It is extremely important as there are so many people out there in similar situations.Ìý
"It was very moving, as Dot's obviously very close to Jim on screen and I'm very good friends with John off screen."
Comment number 1.
At 19th May 2011, Maus652 wrote:This will be heartbreaking, and I trust EE to treat it with the same tenderness they did with Ethel.
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Comment number 2.
At 19th May 2011, WalfordFanatic wrote:I'm dreading another much loved character leaving the show. Jim was always one of my favourite characters, from when he first joined up until right now. But I completely understand John's health and well-being comes first. Jim was a great comedic character from the very start, in the early 00's with some fantastic scenes with Sonia and Robbie, and of course some fantastic scenes with Carol. I particularily remember a scene with Jim with him meeting Dan Sullivan and Jim being very protective of Carol. Then of course Max arrived in 2006 and Jack arrived in 2007. I think my favourite ever Jim scene was Dot and Jim's proposal on London Eye from December 2001, and Julia's Theme was played. I'm glad the boxing club is named after Jim so his legacy will live on in the square. Dot and Jim have to be one of the most loved soap couples, ever.
Jim may be gone from the square, but he will not be forgotten. Jim Branning is a legend.
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Comment number 3.
At 20th May 2011, sanah wrote:looks like a good week cant wait x
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Comment number 4.
At 24th May 2011, Kim wrote:I'm a long term carer and I find the story line with Dot, Jim and her admirer to be far from the truth: Most 'admirers' would run away from a carer because they don't want to be embroiled in a carer's life that is very stressful and pressurised. They deal with situations that the vast majority of people would balk at. To make the storyline more authentic and less romanticised (which is far removed from many carers' lives), the writers should have simply portrayed Dot's struggle as a carer - and her breakdown -excluding any romantic element.
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