EastEnders confirms six returning characters for Dot Cotton's emotional funeral

Lorraine Stanley looked worlds apart from her on-screen EastEnders character as she dressed to impress for the 2022 Inside Soap Awards. Lorraine’s character Karen Taylor is known for taking much less pride in her appearance, as she’s often seen with her hair tied up on a scruffy bun on top of her head and with little to no makeup. Lorraine pulled out all the stops for the awards however, and wore her gorgeous blonde tresses down and straight.The soap star sported a V-neck midi dress with bold purple, green, yellow and black prints, with the sleeves having delicate bejewelled detailing.

EastEnders' Clair Norris took to the red carpet at last night's National Television Awards and looked stunning in a soft pink gown, covered with dramatic ruffles and teamed with elegant white, strappy sandals. Clair, 24, who plays Bernadette Taylor in the soap, looked far away from her day job in Albert Square where she's usually dressed in baggy clothes, a purple padded jacket and has her brunette hair scraped up in a bun.The soap star was photographed beaming on her way into the ceremony to join her EastEnders cast mates who were nominated for Best Serial Drama but lost out to Emmerdale.

Current and former EastEnders characters have turned out in force for Dot Cotton's funeral, with iconic characters making their return to Albert Square for the emotional scenes.The mass return to Walford includes Jacqueline Jossa, who has returned to the role of Lauren Branning for the first time since her departure in 2018. Alongside Lauren, another five characters are returning to say their goodbyes to the much-loved Dot.

Former EastEnders' star Danniella Westbrook has landed her first acting gig in six years after her EastEnders role was recast.The actress is headed to the West End to play the Fairy Godmother in adult pantomime, Sinderfella which has been dubbed a “delightful and risqué version" of Disney's Cinderella. Danniella, 48, will play the role alongside Big Brother's Simon Gross who is cast as one of the Ugly Sisters and a show insider said the former soap star "couldn't wait to get back to her acting roots".The source told The Sun: "She is nervous as she hasn't acted since she returned to EastEnders back in 2016, but her passion has always been acting so she is super excited for this next chapter of her career." Daniella played Sam Mitchell in EastEnders during the 1990s and she recently hit out at the BBC for recasting a different actress as her former character.

EastEnders stars Letitia Dean, 54, and Gillian Taylforth, 67, both displayed their chic sense of style as they filmed Dot Cotton's funeral on Wednesday. The actresses, who play Sharon Watts and Kathy Beale respectively, were both dressed in sombre attire as they filmed Dot's final farewell, following the death of actress June Brown in April. Showing her recent makeover, Letitia cut a chic figure in a black wool coat with a fur-lined collar as she linked arms with Gillian for the scenes.

EastEnders has officially confirmed that former characters including George 'Lofty' Holloway, Lauren Branning and Mary 'The Punk' Smith are among those set to return to Albert Square for the funeral of Dot Branning later this year.

The first trailer for HBO Max’s The White Lotus season two just debuted online!

Velma has officially been confirmed as a lesbian in the upcoming Trick or Treat Scooby Doo movie.

BBC EastEnders actress Clair Norris looked almost unrecognisable compared with her soap character as she glammed up for a night out with her beau. Clair, 24, who plays Bernadette Taylor in the soap, looked far away from her day job in Albert Square where she's usually dressed in baggy clothes, a purple padded jacket and has her brunette hair scraped up in a bun.

EastEnders has started filming a special funeral episode for Dot Cotton after actress June Brown passed away aged 95 in April. New filming pictures give viewers a first look at the emotional scenes, which are set to air in the upcoming weeks, and see a horse-drawn carriage with white flowers spelling out "Dot".

Jacqueline Jossa has returned to EastEnders as the cast and crew start filming the funeral of Dot Cotton following the death of June Brown in April, who played the character for 35 years.