Dot Cotton offered £300,000 to stay an Eastender
EASTENDERS icon June Brown has been offered a £300,000 pay packet by BBC bosses desperate to stop the 89-year-old star from retiring.
The mother-of-six, who plays Dot Cotton on the show, has been asked to stay on until March 2018 when she will be 91, it has been reported.
A source said: “Bosses at the BBC like to open talks early so things don’t go down to the wire.
“They realise June isn’t getting any younger but she has intimated that she wants to carry on in the role as long as she feels able, so that is great news.”
Related articles
The award-winning actress first appeared in the soap in 1985. She is the show’s second-longest serving cast member, just behind Adam Woodyatt, who plays Ian Beale.
The chain-smoking launderette lady has been at the heart of some of the show’s most successful storylines.
Her character, now Dot Branning, faced a tough year in 2015.
Dot Cotton panics over Colin and Barry's relationship
The soap favourite was jailed for manslaughter following the death of her wayward son Nick.
Bosses at the BBC like to open talks early so things don’t go down to the wire
She suffered another blow while awaiting trial, when she learnt of the death of husband Jim.
More recently she confessed to long-term friend Patrick Trueman she may be going blind and was controversially sacked from her job at the launderette.
The actress has previously suggested she might retire from her role on the soap.
In February she said: “I don’t think I want to end my life on a soap, but we’ll see.”
Last night her agent, Scott Mitchell, said: “I can clarify that June has no plans to retire at this point in time although I would never comment on a client’s contract details or negotiations.”
The BBC did not comment on the contract talks.
