Eastenders Dot Cotton legend June Brown reveals she's going deaf and blind

June made the shock announcement on stage with fellow EastEnders star Barbara Windsor

EASTENDERS icon June Brown has revealed she is going deaf – just months after admitting she is praying for her weakening eyesight to return.

 

The 88-year-old actress, who plays Albert Square legend Dot Branning, previously Cotton, suddenly lost her hearing on a recent flight to Scotland – and it hasn't come back.

She made the shock announcement while talking to fellow showbiz legend Barbara Windsor at an event in London's BFI last weekend.

The actress, who has played Dot since 1985, could barely hear her EastEnders co-star as she sat in the front row.

When Barbara, 78, took MBE-winning June up on stage, she said: "Are you talking to me Babs? Tell me, because I am deaf you see and it is very hard for me to hear so I don’t know what you are talking about.

"What did you say to me? Sorry, I would like you all to shout because I can’t hear, you see. I am ever so sorry. I am straining here..."

 

June has played Dot since 1985

A source close to the television favourite said June is "sad, but staying positive".

They added: "She's from the generation that doesn't want to complain. She had never even mentioned it before.

"June likes everything to be upbeat and she wants everyone to know that she has absolutely no intention of pulling back or slowing down."

Last night June confirmed the news to The Sun, telling the newspaper: "Unfortunately it happened when I was going up to Glasgow for a charity.

"My ears impacted and they haven’t come back since. I hope that they might do at some moment.

"I thought it was a bit unkind given I was flying up for charity! But I only spoke about it on stage because I was having a discussion with Barbara."

 

Speaking on BBC Radio 4 in May, June explained that her sight is deteriorating.

She said: “I see things in my eyes now. My eyes are not very good. In the left occasionally I do get this small circle with what looks like cross-wires.

"I do pray about my sight – maybe it will return.”