EastEnders fans experienced a wave of nostalgia and emotion as the voice of the beloved character Dot Cotton was heard during Sonia Fowler's final episode on Thursday night (April 17). The touching moment, which saw Dot's voice return to the screen after some time, left viewers deeply moved, especially since Dot's character had died off-screen in a poignant storyline in 2022, leading to a heartfelt farewell from the residents of Walford.
The soap world mourned the loss of June Brown, the legendary actress who portrayed Dot, earlier in 2022, with her passing deeply affecting both fans and fellow cast members. Hearing Dot's voice again in what could be described as a cameo appearance was hailed by fans as "a nice touch", reports the Mirror.
As the iconic Sonia made her exit from the show following Natalie Cassidy's decision to leave the role, the episode paid homage to Sonia's history with several references. It began with a recording of Dot's voice, a monologue originally intended for her husband Jim Branning as he lay in hospital recovering from a stroke, recorded over a decade ago.
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Sonia is seen reflecting on the recording before deciding on her own future. In a fitting tribute, the end credits of the episode included both June Brown and her character Dot Branning, alongside the rest of the cast. Fans expressed their appreciation for this "lovely" gesture on social media,
Fans have been full of praise for the episode, with one viewer sharing on social media: "Lovely Dot / June cameo in today's episode." A second said: "Dot was in the credits." A third added: "I was in tears as soon as I heard Dot's voice."
Other viewers believed the exit of Sonia was among the best ever seen in TV soaps. One said: "Can we have a 'best send off ever' category at the Soap Awards? Sonia's will win hands down, such a brilliant episode. It had it all, from hearing Dot's voice, the lovely surprise from Rocky and of course the trumpet. Loved it all!".
Sonia’s emotional farewell saw her leave Walford at the culmination of Thursday night's episode. The BBC soap confirmed that three other characters would also exit.
Natalie Cassidy, who portrayed Sonia for thirty years, had her departure announced earlier this year after deciding to leave the series. Four characters in total departed in the latest twist, including the much-loved Bianca Jackson, played by Patsy Palmer, who is currently gracing the Celebrity Big Brother house. Also exiting were Sonia's daughter Bex and baby daughter Julia.
Natalie has spoken candidly about her decision to quit the show, saying: "I'm 42 this year, I just feel like it's time to be brave. You don't want to get to 70 and think, 'I never tried that'. I've loved this programme with all my heart. I started at ten, it's in my bones, it's in my heart. I'd been thinking about it for a little while. I had a wonderful chat with Chris back in the summer. It's just exciting."
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