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Tributes for beloved EastEnders actress

<p dir="ltr">The beloved <em>EastEnders</em> actress June Brown has passed away at the age of 95.</p> <p dir="ltr">June’s devastated family announced the heartbreaking news of her passing on April 3, saying she “died peacefully” at home. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved June Brown, OBE, MBE, sadly passed away last night,’ the official <em>EastEnders</em> Twitter account wrote on Sunday. </p> <p dir="ltr">“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.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I would watch, listen and be totally captivated by her. She was an inspiration and I am truly blessed to have worked with and laughed with this unbelievably talented lady, icon, legend. </p> <p dir="ltr">“The irreplaceable June Brown.”</p> <p dir="ltr">June was best known for her role as Dot Cotton in <em>EastEnders</em>, a role she played for more than 30 years. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">1/3“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... <a href="https://t.co/7OYtHJiIUb">pic.twitter.com/7OYtHJiIUb</a></p> <p>— BBC EastEnders (@bbceastenders) <a href="https://twitter.com/bbceastenders/status/1510955197106958339?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">RIP June Brown, 95. <br />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. <br />June was such a funny, feisty, fabulous lady off screen too. Very sad news. <a href="https://t.co/qhg2qqUdcd">pic.twitter.com/qhg2qqUdcd</a></p> <p>— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) <a href="https://twitter.com/piersmorgan/status/1510967032006602758?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">I took this shot of June Brown in, what I understand to have been her final scene on ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/bbceastenders?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bbceastenders</a>⁩. Love to all the cast and crew missing her. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/junebrown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#junebrown</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/eastenders?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#eastenders</a> <a href="https://t.co/vZ57FNR8ur">pic.twitter.com/vZ57FNR8ur</a></p> <p>— Christopher McGill (@McGillTweet) <a href="https://twitter.com/McGillTweet/status/1510998252933496836?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">As funny as she was wise, as wise as she was kind. When I joined Eastenders, June was the first of the older cast to embrace me. I love you June. We all do. ❤️🕊 <a href="https://t.co/MKVi0iNfGu">pic.twitter.com/MKVi0iNfGu</a></p> <p>— michelle gayle (@michellegayle1) <a href="https://twitter.com/michellegayle1/status/1510958271926001668?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">A very sad day. I never had the pleasure of meeting/working with the mighty June Brown - but we adored watching her on the telly box. What a legacy June leaves behind. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eastenders?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Eastenders</a> would not have been the same without her. Love &amp; strenght to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eastenders?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Eastenders</a> &amp; June's loved ones. RIP💔 <a href="https://t.co/oGv0EvelF6">https://t.co/oGv0EvelF6</a></p> <p>— Balvinder Sopal (@BalvinderSopal) <a href="https://twitter.com/BalvinderSopal/status/1510964816256671745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

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Beloved sitcom star dies in house fire

<p dir="ltr"><em>EastEnders </em>star Anna Karen has passed away at 85.</p> <p dir="ltr">Karen died after her house in the east London suburb of Ilford was ablaze on February 22.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-fed15391-7fff-1c88-1f7f-515079ecc3a3">The actress, who was popular in the 1970s and played Olive in the UK sitcom <em>On the Buses</em> for four years, was the last surviving cast member of the show, which ran for seven series between 1969 and 1973.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Sad news that Anna Karen has passed away in a house fire at the age of 85 R.I.P Anna. God bless you 😇🙏 <a href="https://t.co/9OqKCudmGr">pic.twitter.com/9OqKCudmGr</a></p> <p>— 🇬🇧📺 Classic British TV 📺🇬🇧 (@Classicbritcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/Classicbritcom/status/1496497325920899073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Shane Collins, Karen’s agent who also represented her late friend Barbara Windsor, released a statement following her passing.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s very sad news,” Collins <a href="https://celebrity.nine.com.au/latest/eastenders-anna-karen-dead-at-85-house-fire/c1001a95-24ec-48b7-b939-0968a71d74d7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But I’m happy that Anna will now be with her best mate Barbara and her beloved husband Terry Duggan.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Anna was a great lady and a really nice person. She was a fantastic client to look after. I can’t tell you how much I liked her.</p> <p dir="ltr">“She went through a hard time after she broke her hip a few years ago but came back to work again and appeared in <em>EastEnders </em>with a stick.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Over the last couple of years she has been at home with friends popping by and her neighbours looking out for her.”</p> <p dir="ltr">On Tuesday night at 10.20pm local time, 20 firefighters across three fire engines arrived at Karen’s home and attempted to get the blaze under control, as reported by <em><a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/17744012/anna-karen-dead-fire-on-buses/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sun</a></em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Unfortunately, Karen died at the scene.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to police, the fire was contained by 11.38pm and the cause is being investigated - though it doesn’t appear suspicious.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-1e030b00-7fff-3322-1db3-52106b90166a"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">Tributes to the British actress have quickly emerged online from fellow actors, those who knew her, and fans.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Anna Karen, who played Aunt Sal, has passed away. An EastEnders spokesperson has said “We are deeply saddened to hear that Anna Karen has passed away... Our love and thoughts are with Anna’s family and friends.” <a href="https://t.co/vF5NDIu21a">pic.twitter.com/vF5NDIu21a</a></p> <p>— BBC EastEnders (@bbceastenders) <a href="https://twitter.com/bbceastenders/status/1496512327025365001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Carol Challis, the wife of the late British actor John Challis, wrote: “So sorry to hear that Anna Karen has died. John and I met her often at conventions and she was such a lovely lady. Not fair.”</p> <p dir="ltr">A spokesperson for <em>EastEnders </em>said: “We are deeply saddened to hear that Anna Karen has passed away… Our love and thoughts are with Anna’s family and friends.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Author and broadcaster Morris Bright described the actress as “the loveliest of ladies” and shared a clip of her discussing her <em>On the Buses</em> role.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-2c3e4e8c-7fff-494e-9ca7-4660fa2b0334"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“Devastated to hear <em>On the Buses</em> star, actress Anna Karen, has died in a house fire aged 85. She was the loveliest of ladies,” he wrote.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Devastated to hear On the Buses star, actress Anna Karen, has died in a house fire aged 85. She was the loveliest of ladies. Here she is with Reg Varney &amp; OTB writers Ronalds Chesney &amp; Wolfe discussing the iconic role of Olive with me back in 2002. Remembered with huge affection. <a href="https://t.co/KmfjSNK4Yt">pic.twitter.com/KmfjSNK4Yt</a></p> <p>— Morris Bright MBE (@Morris__Bright) <a href="https://twitter.com/Morris__Bright/status/1496499627725627400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“Here she is with Reg Varney &amp; (<em>On the Buses</em>) writers Ronalds Chesney &amp; Wolfe discussing the iconic role of Olive with me back in 2002.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-c1147734-7fff-6305-f810-9afde7f4614d"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“Remembered with huge affection.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Cheryl Baker, the singer from 1980s pop band Bucks Fizz, also shared a touching tribute to her “fabulous mate”.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">I have just heard the awful news that my fabulous mate, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AnnaKaren?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AnnaKaren</a> has died in a house fire. What an horrific way to die, I can’t bear to think about it. I adored her - She was an absolute treasure, both on and off the screen.</p> <p>— Cheryl Baker (@Cherylbaker) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cherylbaker/status/1496492500118351883?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2022</a></p></blockquote> <p dir="ltr">“I have just heard the awful news that my fabulous mate, Anna Karen has died in a house fire,” Baker wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“What an horrific [sic] way to die, I can’t bear to think about it. I adored her - She was an absolute treasure, both on and off screen.” </p> <p dir="ltr"><span id="docs-internal-guid-08db75a6-7fff-7f19-3db8-046662940c6b"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: @bbceastenders (Twitter)</em></p>

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Dame Barbara Windsor dies aged 83

<p><span>Actress Dame Barbara Windsor, who is best known for her roles in <em>EastEnders</em> and the <em>Carry On</em> films, has died at aged 83.</span></p> <p><span>Her husband Scott Mitchell said she had passed peacefully from Alzheimer's at a London care home on Thursday evening.</span></p> <p><span>He recounted his wife’s life beautifully, and said she would be remembered for the "love, fun, friendship and brightness she brought to all our lives".</span></p> <p><span>The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, who both met Dame Barbara, also went on to pay tribute to her acting and charity work.</span></p> <p><span>Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "So sad about Barbara Windsor, so much more than a great pub landlady and Carry On star."</span></p> <p><span>He went on to say that she was "one of those people that just cheered you up, and cheered everybody up because she had a kind of irrepressible naughtiness that was totally innocent.</span></p> <p><span>"She did a lot of good work for charity and looking after lonely and vulnerable people, she lit up people's faces."</span></p> <p><span>Dame Barbara was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2014 and had moved to a care home earlier in 2020.</span></p> <p><span>She appeared in nine films in the Carry On comedy series, plus Sparrows Can't Sing, for which she was nominated for a Bafta, as well as parts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and On the Fiddle with Sir Sean Connery.</span></p> <p><span>She made a permanent mark for her portrayal of landlady Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders.</span></p>

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