To mark the occasion, several characters are returning to attend the service<\/a>, including Dot\u2019s step-granddaughter Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Joss) as well as Colin Russell (Lord Michael Cashman CBE), Barry Clark (Gary Hailes), Disa O\u2019Brien (Jan Graveson) and Mary \u2018The Punk\u2019 Smith (Linda Davidson).<\/p>\n The BBC soap\u2019s boss Chris Clenshaw recently confirmed that the original plan for Dot\u2019s funeral was to bring back even more characters, but aligning everyone\u2019s schedules proved to be difficult.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was which characters, like you go to funerals and you see people that you haven\u2019t seen in decades that will make an effort to go to that funeral because they made an impression on that person\u2019s life,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, there were people that couldn\u2019t come unfortunately and that was due to logistical reasons. But it was about being authentic and truthful to Dot\u2019s character as to who would be there.\u201d<\/p>\n Clenshaw also explained that Dot\u2019s death will have an impact on her step-granddaughter Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy).<\/p>\n \u201cIt isn\u2019t something we mulled over. Sonia and Dot had a very special relationship. I think that Dot has shaped Sonia\u2019s character. I know that Nat and June had a very special, unique relationship. I don\u2019t even think it was a decision, it was obvious,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cShe cares so much; she\u2019s always cared so much about Dot so she had to be at the centre and I think Nat gave a stellar performance.\u201d<\/p>\n Alongside old and new faces on the Square, the on-screen memorial service will also feature actress June Brown\u2019s children in a cameo<\/a>.<\/p> Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n Visit our dedicated\u00a0EastEnders<\/a>\u00a0page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers.\u00a0<\/strong>If you\u2019re looking for more to watch, check out our\u00a0TV Guide<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0Streaming Guide<\/a>, or visit our\u00a0Soaps<\/a>\u00a0hub.<\/strong><\/p>\n The latest issue of Radio Times magazine is on sale now \u2013\u00a0subscribe now<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong>For more\u00a0<\/strong>from<\/strong>\u00a0the biggest stars in TV, listen to the\u00a0Radio Times View From My Sofa podcast<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n By Stefania Sarrubba Published: Friday, 09 December 2022 at 12:00 am EastEnders is getting ready to pay tribute to late actress June Brown and her character Dot Branning in upcoming funeral scenes. To mark the occasion, several characters are returning to attend the service, including Dot\u2019s step-granddaughter Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Joss) as well as Colin […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":26912,"template":"","categories":[1,2,5],"acf":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/12\/eastenders-boss-says-more-characters-couldve-returned-for-dots-funeral.jpg",620,413,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/12\/eastenders-boss-says-more-characters-couldve-returned-for-dots-funeral-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/12\/eastenders-boss-says-more-characters-couldve-returned-for-dots-funeral-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/12\/eastenders-boss-says-more-characters-couldve-returned-for-dots-funeral.jpg",620,413,false],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/12\/eastenders-boss-says-more-characters-couldve-returned-for-dots-funeral.jpg",620,413,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/12\/eastenders-boss-says-more-characters-couldve-returned-for-dots-funeral.jpg",620,413,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2022\/12\/eastenders-boss-says-more-characters-couldve-returned-for-dots-funeral.jpg",620,413,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By Stefania Sarrubba Published: Friday, 09 December 2022 at 12:00 am EastEnders is getting ready to pay tribute to late actress June Brown and her character Dot Branning in upcoming funeral scenes. To mark the occasion, several characters are returning to attend the service, including Dot\u2019s step-granddaughter Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Joss) as well as Colin…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/26911"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26912"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26911"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26911"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"""\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2022\/12\/lauren-branning-sonia-eastenders-01fb6d1.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
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