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Piers Morgan praises 'feisty' EastEnders star June Brown in emotional tribute

Piers Morgan has penned an emotional tribute to late EastEnders legend June Brown who has sadly died aged 95.

The beloved actress famously portrayed Dot Cotton on the BBC soap, where she reigned over Albert Square for 35 years.

June’s family were deeply saddened to announce their “beloved mother” had passed away peacefully at her Surrey home on April 3.

Former Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan called June a “wonderfully talented” actress in a heartfelt tribute to the soap icon on social media.

The bold broadcaster also praised her for being a ‘funny, feisty and fabulous’ lady off screen – after she appeared on his TV show Life Stories back in 2014.

Taking to Twitter on Monday (April 4), Piers said: “RIP June Brown, 95. A wonderfully talented actress whose long-time portrayal of irascible fag-puffing Dot Cotton in EastEnders was one of the all-time great performances in British Television.

Piers Morgan remembered late EastEnders legend June Brown on Twitter

“June was such a funny, feisty, fabulous lady off screen too. Very sad news.”

Morgan decided to share a sweet photo showing him with his arm on June’s shoulder after he interviewed her on his bare-all ITV show, Life Stories.

The pair were both smiling in the backstage photo, which Piers shared in front of his millions of followers.

During her chat with Piers, June made a number of candid revelations, such as admitting she felt she hadn’t been a good mother.

When asked the question by the host, she Piers: “No, I don’t think I was”.

June told Piers she “wasn’t a natural mother” when she appeared on his Life Stories ITV show

She added: “I wasn’t a natural mother. I love my children but it was a lot of work.”

The star said it was essential for her to have chosen to be a working mother as she otherwise would have become “depressed” and “miserable”.

She also confessed: “I was a bit selfish, I suppose.”

Despite this, June devoted lots of time to her childen as she gave birth to six in the period of just seven years.

She also spoke openly about her heartbreak after finding her husband Johnny Garley had taken his own life at the pair’s home.

June was awarded an MBE for her services to Drama and Charity in 2008
(Image: PA)

Opening up about the traumatic event, June explained: “I’d left him a shilling and an eight pence so that he could put a shilling in the gas,”, adding: “[and] he’d left his will and his note to me written on the back of his script.”

June’s impressive career spanned a whopping six decades – an achievement celebrated when she was awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2008 for her services to Drama and Charity.

She walked away from EastEnders during the show’s 35th anniversary week as she claimed her Dot character had a lack of decent storylines.

An EastEnders spokesperson paid tribute to the soap legend in a statement following the sad news she had passed.

Piers praised June for being a “wonderfully talented actress” in his emotional tribute
(Image: Twitter/Piers Morgan)

They said: “There are not enough words to describe how much June was loved and adored by everyone at EastEnders, her loving warmth, with 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 2884 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 our 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.”

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk


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