EastEnders legend June Brown admits her future on the soap as Dot is hanging in the balance
Actress not sure what's to come now that character has lost her job at the launderette
SALES of cigarettes in the Albert Square Minute Mart would go through the floor if EastEnders bosses write out soap stalwart JUNE BROWN.
But the actress, who has played Dot Cotton in Walford since 1985, admits her future on the soap is far from guaranteed.
June, who turns 90 tomorrow, said Dot losing her job in the launderette had made her fear what is to come.
She said: “I don’t know what is going to happen to her now. She’s lost her job, she’s lost her raison d’etre.
“You would find that very difficult. You have to have a house, you have to have a position, a place, a job.
“You should really have a job in EastEnders. That’s the point. It is very difficult to go against the writing. If they decide to change you or the writers change — not deliberately — that’s just what happens. But I’m a great fighter.
“I’ve tried to twist them round a little. There is a way of twisting. It’s the way you say it.” June has played Dot on the BBC1 show since the year it launched and has signed a year’s contract extension.
But despite some heartbreaking storylines, including helping best pal Ethel to die and one episode in 2008 where she was the only character on screen for half an hour, she has never won a Bafta.
She was nominated for Best Actress in 2009 for the solo performance but was beaten to the award by ANNA MAXWELL MARTIN for her role in Poppy Shakespeare.
June shares her feelings during a new BBC1 documentary at 8.30pm tomorrow, which celebrates her birthday.
In June Brown At 90: A Walford Legend, she admits: “I was a bit disappointed. I’d have liked to have got it.”
But she tells viewers she received a Nafta instead.
June said: “It’s a silver face made of tin foil. My daughters made it for me. They poked one eye out and then stuck it on a cigarette as a stand. It’s in a case with the Baftas at EastEnders to this very day.”
It’s a travesty a legend like June has never won the real thing.
Scotty-free
GEORDIE Shore’s SCOTTY T once bragged of sleeping with almost 1,000 women – but that figure is now set to rise as he has split up with his girlfriend.
He and Francesca Toole had been together for more than a year.
A source said: “It wasn’t a decision they took easily. They did really like each other.”
In October Scotty said: “She’s mint. She’s class. She doesn’t try to change me. I would love to marry her one day.”
I doubt it will be long before he’s pulling again.
Christina's fighting fit
FORMER Mad Men siren CHRISTINA HENDRICKS certainly knows how to make a bold statement.
The US actress squeezed into a striking multicoloured dress for the LA premiere of her latest film – and it was stylish enough to rival Don Draper’s suits.
In Fist Fight, Christina stars as Miss Monet, a drama teacher whose colleague gets challenged to an after-school fight.
Christina has also signed up to appear in a new Sky Atlantic revenge thriller called Tin Star, alongside The Hateful Eight’s TIM ROTH and Star Wars actress GENEVIEVE O’REILLY.
I’m still hopeful she’ll star in a Mad Men movie.
SOAPBOX
THE Barton lads are targeted in a fire horror during tonight’s episode of EMMERDALE following Finn’s recent crazy behaviour.
The boys are left stunned when they discover a mystery culprit has poured petrol over their taxi before setting it alight.
And it’s not long before the police find a hoodie top belonging to Kasim close by.
Meanwhile, on Aussie soap NEIGHBOURS, Sonya and Toadie continue to drift apart following his “dead” wife Dee’s return to Ramsay Street.
Sonya confronts her husband over offering Dee money without her consent – but Toadie lashes out.
Let’s hope it’s not the end for Erinsborough’s golden couple.
Slum of all fears for pair
DEV PATEL is likely to have his pick of leading roles after his Oscar nomination and Bafta win for Lion.
But his ex FREIDA PINTO has revealed how the pair were both worried about getting work following Slumdog Millionaire.
Freida, who will star in IDRIS ELBA’s Sky Atlantic drama Guerrilla, said that after playing soulmates Jamal and Latika in the award-winning 2008 film, they were anxious about the lack of roles for Asian actors.
In an exclusive interview, she said: “Both of us came in with a very big film and there was a bigger, looming question of the scarcity of good material for us so we both worked really hard.
“I’ve seen his journey and he’s worked super, super hard and I’m really happy that he’s been recognised by the Brits, Americans and Indians.”
The pair got together shortly after filming Slumdog, but split in 2014 after five years.
Freida has gone on to have roles in Hollywood blockbusters Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes and The Jungle Book.
In Guerrilla, she plays a nurse in an interracial marriage who gets swept up in the black revolutionary movement in 1970s London.
It will also star Bond actor RORY KINNEAR, Fresh Meat’s ZAWE ASHTON and Line of Duty’s DANIEL MAYS.
The casting alone has success written all over it.
Rob's shine-ing finale
GARY BARLOW is going all out for the Let It Shine final in ten days’ time amid its ratings war with The Voice.
He has lined up old pal ROBBIE WILLIAMS to perform onstage with his TAKE THAT bandmates, then be the series’ final guest judge.
Robbie will join, Gary, MARTIN KEMP and DANNII MINOGUE to pick the boyband to feature in West End musical The Band.
A source said: “The show had a good start and, despite dipping in recent weeks, a big name should help get it back on track.
“Producers are hoping all the Robbie and Take That fans will tune in.”
Robbie is expected to do just one song with HOWARD DONALD, MARK OWEN and Gary. Producers have vetoed a greatest hits medley.
Robbie said: “I’m looking forward to being back with Gary, Mark and Howard.”
Getting JASON ORANGE would have been a real coup, but Robbie is always great value.
bizbit
REALITY stars including CHLOE KHAN, CHLOE FERRY and OLIVIA BUCKLAND are to dish the dirt on their X-rated sex lives in front of a panel of therapists in an outrageous new Channel 5 series called Celebrity Sex Pod.