Dot Branning





Dot Branning first appeared in 1985. She is Nick Cotton's mother. She married Jim Branning in 2002. She works in the Laundrette

Biography In April 1987, Dot found the body of Donna Ludlow (Matilda Ziegler), who had been staying with her. Donna had been rejected by her biological mother and got so desperate that she slept with Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt). She finally took a fatal overdose of painkillers. All of Dot's old friends have gone: Lou Beale, mother of Dot's friend Pauline, died in her sleep in 1988; Dot fulfilled a promise to her terminally ill friend Ethel Skinner, and helped her die from an overdose in September 2000; Dot's dearest friend and colleague Pauline Fowler was murdered on Christmas Day 2006 when a blow to the head caused her to suffer a fatal brain haemorrhage; Dot would later find out that Pauline's husband Joe Macer was responsible, but he died before he could been charged with murder. Her relationship with Nick is difficult because of the dreadful things he does. For about a year she was the guardian of Nick's daughter Dotty Cotton, whom cold-hearted Nick "sold" to her. Dotty inherited Nick's bad manners and evil character and secretly planned to murder Dot so Nick would inherit £50,000 and they could buy a house away from London. Dot's grandson Ashley died in 2001 in a tragic motorcycle accident caused by his father Nick, who cut the motorcycle's brakes intending to kill his nemesis, Mark Fowler. Dot has often told Nick that she never wants to see him again, but every time he returns (looking for money), she forgives him. Dot's husband Jim suffered a stroke and Dot decided to look after him herself instead of putting him in a nursing home - but eventually this becomes too difficult and in May 2011 Jim goes to live in a home. Dot goes to visit him regularly but this is not shown on screen.

2012

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Dot is reunited with her long-lost sister, Rose. She also meets her nephew, Andrew. Rose lives with Dot, and so does their friend Cora, Tanya's mother. Fatboy also lived with them for a while.