EastEnders used to have quite a unique Christmas episode trend – and it concerned the ever-iconic Dot Cotton.
The chain-smoking, god-fearing Walford legend was a regular fixture on the BBC soap during two stints between 1985 and 2020.
Two years following her last appearance, the character passed away in 2022, mirroring the real life death of actress June Brown.
Years on, Dot is still fondly remembered on-set at the show’s Hertfordshire production base, with her former home – No. 25 Albert Square – preserved in time with photographs and decor from her tenure.
Fans are also able to relive some of her finest moments, with thanks to classic episodes which are repeated daily on U&Drama, and boxsets of more contemporary instalments from 2000 onwards on BBC iPlayer.
With thanks to the throwbacks, one of Dot’s little quirks has been picked up on.
Did you know that she wore the same dress every Christmas for 32 years?
First seen in the 1988 festive edition, the red patterned gown was worn like clockwork on every yuletide celebration following.
With the character working in the Bridge Street Laundrette, it’s no surprise that the garment stayed in such great condition over the years.
It also undoubtedly harks back to Dot’s troubled wartime childhood, a time when prized items of clothing – often termed ‘Sunday best’ – were looked after.
In 2003, a special episode featured flashbacks to her being evacuated to Wales during World War II.
Soap characters often have their signature looks, and you may remember that Dot often wore a beige overcoat in almost every episode. She was also famed for her various headscarves… but this particular dress was only ever worn on 25th December.
During June’s time on the show, she was part of some pretty hard-hitting Xmas eps. We all remember where we were when Max Branning’s (Jake Wood) affair with Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner) was revealed… and poor Dot was sat on the sofa!
Undoubtedly her most famous Christmas story actually happened the day before, when Jim Branning (John Bardon) proposed to her atop the London Eye.
