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Actor Adam Woodyatt has shared his heartbreak that British soap legend June Brown, who played Dot Cotton on Eastenders for 35 years, was never made a dame before her death at the age of 95.

Woodyatt, who has played Ian Beale on the soap since 1985, was the first to pay tribute to the actress after her death was announced by her family this morning.

Leading the tributes, Adam Woodyatt said: 'I'm lost for words, something June never was. So many memories, so much fun. Just purely and simply an incredible woman who had the most incredible life and wowgoldone.com career, I was fortunate to have shared a small part of it.

'They never made you a Dame (we did try), but to me you will always be Dame Brown.'

June was made an MBE for services to drama and charity at Buckingham Palace in 2008 and was then included in the 2022 New Year's honours list to be made an OBE.

The actress, a mother-of-six born in rural Suffolk in 1927, died at her home in Surrey on Sunday with her family by her side, two years after her final appearance on the soap and 35 years after her debut. 

Other fellow stars including Gillian Taylforth, who plays Kathy Beale in the show and Letitia Dean, best known as Sharon Watts, hailed their friend and colleague as 'an amazing woman and a truly wonderful actress'.

BBC director general Tim Davie said: 'June Brown was a brilliantly talented actor who was loved by millions' and 'delivered some of the most memorable moments in soap history'.

Actor and writer Stephen Fry said June Brown will be remembered 'as a tireless and fearless LGBT ally'. He tweeted: 'June Brown, amongst all her other wonderful human qualities and achievements, will be remembered as a tireless and fearless LGBT ally - especially during the darkest days of HIV/AIDS and Section 28... it was a privilege to know her.'

Ms Brown's family revealed they were with her when she died peacefully last night, while the BBC urged fans to raise a glass of sweet sherry in her memory. The star still loved a tipple and a cigarette well into her 90s. 

For decades she was one of the most famous faces on British TV, playing the devout Christian famed on Albert Square for her chain smoking, gossiping and mothering of those in need while working in the launderette.  

Incredibly she began her career on Coronation Street and it was at the age of 58 that she landed the role that would turn her into a household name. Actor Leslie Grantham, who famously played Dirty Den in the soap, put June forward for the part after seeing her in the comedy drama Minder. She became so popular on the soap that she remained there for the next 30 years, except for a four-year break between 1993 and 1997.

Her relationship with her tearaway son Nasty Nick Cotton, played by John Altman, would captivate millions who watched in horror and sympathy as she forgave and forgave him for his crimes. But in 2015 Dot finally gave up on him after he cut the brakes on Roxy's car and he died after consuming a bad batch of heroin bought for him by his very own mother.

Dot's loving relationship with Jim Branning, played by John Bardon, saw the on-screen couple win a host of awards and left heartbroken fans in tears as she said goodbye to him following a stroke. 

EastEnders star June Brown, pictured in 2020 aged 93, who was best known for her role as Dot Cotton, has died at the age of 95

June enjoyed 35 years on the show, joining in 1985 and filming her final scenes in 2020 (far right)

Her most memorable moments included helping her best friend Ethel end her life in 2000, which proved highly controversial

June Brown shares a cuddle with Lady Gaga, who she became close to after bonding backstage at the Graham Norton Show

June Brown and John Bardon in their roles as Dot and Jim Branning in EastEnders. They became one of the show's most beloved couples

Viewers were captivated by her relationship with her tearaway son Nick, played by John Altman, who would die from a heroin overdose bought for him by Dot (pictured right)

June Brown is pictured at her book signing at Easons store in Dublin, Ireland.She is joined by two of her daughters Sophie and Naomi in 2013

June Brown with her husband Robert and children. The actress was a mother-of-six born in rural Suffolk in 1927

An EastEnders spokesman said: 'We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved June Brown, OBE, MBE, sadly passed away last night.

'There are not enough words to describe how much June was loved and adored by everyone at EastEnders, her loving warmth, wit and great humour will never be forgotten.

'June created one of the most iconic characters in Dot Cotton, not just in soap but in British television, and having appeared in 2,884 episodes, June's remarkable performances created some of EastEnders' finest moments.

'We send all our love and deepest sympathies to June's family and friends. A very bright light has gone out at EastEnders today but we shall all be raising a sweet sherry in June's memory.

'Rest in peace, our dearest June. You will never be forgotten.' 

A statement from Brown's family said: 'We are deeply saddened to announce our beloved mother, June, passed away very peacefully at her home in Surrey on Sunday evening, with her family by her side.

'We would kindly ask that our privacy is respected at this very difficult time.'

Members of the EastEnders cast have paid tribute to June Brown. Gillian Taylforth, who plays Kathy Beale in the show, hailed Brown as 'an amazing woman and a truly wonderful actress'.

She said: 'I'm truly heartbroken by this news. June Brown OBE, MBE, was an amazing woman and a truly wonderful actress.

'I shared many scenes with her over the years and she was always someone I looked up to and learnt from.

'There will never be another June Brown and I'm sending all my love to her family.'

Adam Woodyatt, who plays Taylforth's on-screen son Ian Beale, also paid tribute to the actress, who died at her home in Surrey on Sunday with her family by her side.

He said: 'I'm lost for words, something June never was.

'So many memories, so much fun. Just purely and simply an incredible woman who had the most incredible life and career, I was fortunate to have shared a small part of it.

'They never made you a Dame (we did try), but to me you will always be Dame Brown.' 

June Brown began her career after the war, training at the Old Vic in South London

Dot would always be taken advantage of by her son Nick, and he would always be forgiven by his Christian mother

Dot would find love with Jim, who proposed on the London Eye overlooking the Houses of Parliament

Eastenders actress June Brown stands outside Buckingham Palace in London after receiving an MBE for services to Drama and Charity in 2008

Eastenders cast with the award for TV Soap of the year during the 2017 Television and Radio Industries Club Awards, three years before she left the show

<div class="art-ins mol-factbox news halfRHS" data-version="2" id="mol-4c7517c0-b423-11ec-bb80-ff214d69c65f" website legend June Brown dies aged 95