June Brown’s onscreen son John Altman – aka Nasty Nick Cotton – has revealed the late EastEnders icon ‘believed in a higher power.’
The veteran soap star passed away aged 95 on Sunday and tributes have been flying in for the national treasure, who portrayed Dot Cotton on-and-off between 1985 and 2020.
John, 70, played Dot’s villainous son on a semi-regular basis from 1985 until his onscreen death in February 2015 – and honoured his ‘second mother’ on Tuesday’s Good Morning Britain.
‘She definitely believed in a higher power’: June Brown’s onscreen son John Altman discussed her spiritual beliefs on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday – after the EastEnders actress insisted she had no fear of dying
He told hosts Richard Madeley and Kate Garraway: ‘She’s so kind. She used to say healing prayers; she was quite spiritual. She definitely believed in a higher power.’
June insisted to The Mirror three years ago she did not worrying about dying because of her belief in an afterlife and immersion in the Christian faith.
‘What’s the point of worrying? I could go to sleep tonight and not be here tomorrow. “Oh dear, June’s gone,” they’d say,’ she said.
Close: John, 70, played Dot Cotton’s villainous son on a semi-regular basis from 1985 until his onscreen death in February 2015
RIP: The veteran soap star passed away aged 95 on Sunday and tributes have been flying in for the national treasure
Meanwhile, John revealed the pair would run lines in her dressing room while ‘having coffee and a few ciggies’, with June a ‘real stickler’ for the script being accurate.
‘[They were] treasured moments for me in my career, it was such a joy to work with her. She was older than me so she was more experienced – she’d guide me sometimes, say, “Slow down a bit on that, dear.”’
John went on to tell how he’d last seen June a month before her death: ‘She was tired. She’d slowed right down. I’d like to say, so much thanks and god bless her family who’ve been fantastic, rallying round her – they’ve taken great care of her.
Tribute: John told hosts Richard Madeley and Kate Garraway: ‘She’s so kind. She used to say healing prayers; she was quite spiritual. She definitely believed in a higher power’
‘She didn’t have to go into a home or anything. She spent her last days in her lovely home in the Surrey Hills.’
The actor also heaped praise onto the actress’ generosity, recalling how she could ‘never say no’ to supporting charities.
‘I used to tell her off – “June, you can’t do any more charities”. She said, “Oh dear, I have to”. She supported the donkeys, among many others, Children with Cancer, The Taverners – she just couldn’t say no,’ he said.
Fond memories: Meanwhile, John revealed the pair would run lines in her dressing room while ‘having coffee and a few ciggies’, with June a ‘real stickler’ for the script being accurate
Richard and Kate asked John what he would miss the most about June, to which he provided a heartwarming answer: ‘She was a dear friend. Someone I could confide in, and probably my second mother, really. My real mother said she looked more like my mother than she did!’
For decades Brown was one of the most famous faces on British TV, playing the devout Christian famed on Albert Square for her chain smoking, gossiping and mothering of those in need.
She forgave and forgave son Nick for his crimes until she gave up on him and he died after consuming a bad batch of heroin bought for him by his very own mother.
Her loving relationship with Jim Branning, played by John Bardon, would captivate millions, leaving fans in tears as she said goodbye to him following a stroke.
Sad: John added: ‘She was a dear friend. Someone I could confide in, and probably my second mother, really’ (pictured in 1997)
Brown’s family revealed she died peacefully on Sunday while the BBC urged fans to raise a glass of sweet sherry in her memory. The star still loved a tipple and a cigarette well into her 90s.
An EastEnders spokesman said: ‘We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved June Brown, OBE, MBE, sadly passed away last night.
‘There are not enough words to describe how much June was loved and adored by everyone at EastEnders, her loving warmth, wit and great humour will never be forgotten.
Stunning: An EastEnders spokesman said: ‘We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved June Brown, OBE, MBE, sadly passed away last night’ (pictured in her youth)
‘June created one of the most iconic characters in Dot Cotton, not just in soap but in British television, and having appeared in 2,884 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 out 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.’
A statement from her family said: ‘We are deeply saddened to announce our beloved mother, June, passed away very peacefully at her home in Surrey on Sunday evening, with her family by her side.
‘We would kindly ask that our privacy is respected at this very difficult time.’
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