Dot Branning

Dorothy "Dot" Branning (née Colwell, also Cotton) is the mother of criminal Nick Cotton. Dot has worked as a launderette assistant for most of that time, along with Pauline Fowler.

Backstory
Dot was born in 1935 in Walford, London, E20 to Bob Colwell and Martha Colwell. Bob died or left Martha. In 1942, when Dot was 6, she was evacuated to Wales to her aunt Gwen due to London being bombed in the Second World War. Dot was sent back to London in 1944/1945 and had 3 younger half siblings.

Dot met Charlie Cotton and they married in 1956. In 1957, Dot was pregnant but had an abortion. In 1959, her and Charlie had a son Nicholas Charles Cotton. Dot worked at the Launderette in Bridge Street, Walford. She could not pronounce the surname of her boss Mr Papadopolous Snr.

In 1963, Charlie got Dot's sister Rose Cotton pregnant and they had a son Andrew Cotton. Dot's son Nick was a tearaway and caused his mum a lot of grief.

1986-2015-
In 1986, Dot went through the menopause and even stole things from a shop. In April 1989, Dot found the body of Donna Ludlow, who had been staying with her. Donna had been rejected by her biological mother.

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 made regular visits to him regularly, however, he passed away in April 2015 - whilst Dot was in prison.

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.

At Christmas Time in 2015 Dot and Fatboy had grown close and Fatboy saw Dot as a mentor figure. When Ronnie kills Fatboy indirectly by locking him in a car boot and the car was crushed Dot remained unaware. After Fatboy was confirmed dead when Vincent found him he told Dot that Fatboy had gone abroad to Austria for a once in a lifetime opportunity. Dot seemed greatly saddened at this but was glad that Fatboy was "happy".

2017-
In October 2018, Dot visits Dr. Legg.

As of 2018, Dr Legg is 98 years old. He goes to live with Dot in Albert Square in October 2018, and revealed that he has pancreatic cancer. While Dr Legg is visiting Dot, Stuart Highway is also residing there and helps around the house and talks to Dot. Dr Legg appears to be sceptical of Stuart's intentions. After Dot has gone to bed, Dr Legg tells Stuart he got him wrong and thinks he is a good person. Stuart thanks him, and pulls out a wallet from his back pocket. He tells Dr Legg that it is his wallet and that he left it in the kitchen. Dr Legg looks inside and notices his photo of his wife is gone, as Stuart walks out and says "night-night" with a grin.

First and last lines
"Give us a tea." - First line.