Former EastEnders actress Katie Jarvis has claimed that iconic actress June Brown was allowed to smoke real cigarettes while on the set of the BBC soap
An iconic EastEnders actress was allowed to breach major rules on set.
June Brown was allegedly allowed to break the rules by smoking on the set of EastEnders, according to her former co-star Katie Jarvis. The veteran actress – who died in in 2022 at the age of 95 – played Dot Cotton on the BBC soap for more than three decades before leaving in 2020 and Katie has now revealed June was given special treatment and was the only cast member allowed to light up at work.
She told The Sun newspaper: “I always remember, June sat down, and she was just smoking and smoking … Yeah she was the only one that was allowed! She’d always be working as an actress daily. She put her cigarette down, went on the set, and she’s reading these pages of dialogue.
“She knew all of her lines never got them wrong, and obviously, she was always allowed to walk around smoking!” After June’s death, she was remembered on the show as they screened a funeral for her character Dot and the actress’ real-life children were among those seen mourning the loss onscreen.
It was revealed that June didn’t want her character to be killed off while she was still alive so ‘EastEnders’ bosses spoke to her family after her death and were given the green light to show Dot’s funeral in the soap. EastEnders executive producer Chris Kershaw told The Sun newspaper: “She did of course know that when she did leave us, it was the right thing to do. “After some time, we couldn’t put it off much longer. We spoke to June’s family who knew it was what she would have wanted.”
After June’s death, a spokeswoman for the BBC soap paid a glowing tribute to the actress saying: “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.”
