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27/03/2014 - Part 1

It is a big day for Dot, but can those closest to her provide any support? Phil's actions cause trouble for himself and those around him, and Linda causes a rift with Johnny.

A lone crow sits on the railings outside Dot’s house. Inside, Dot’s sat beside the coffin, having been there all night. Ian struggles to write a eulogy for Nick. Dot tells Charlie Dotty has a cold so can’t attend the funeral. Fatboy worries that Andrew and Rose aren’t coming either. Sharon insists they’ll make the day special for Dot. Ian brings food for the wake to the Vic, along with a photograph of Nick, and thanks Mick for hosting while the restaurant’s closed. Shirley doesn’t have high hopes for Ian’s speech.

As Linda helps Ian on with his coat, the speech falls from his pocket, unbeknownst to him. The hearse and funeral cars arrive on the Square with a ‘son’ wreath of flowers. At the crematorium, the funeral turnout is sparse. Les Coker leads in the funeral procession. The service begins and Ian’s horrified to realise he’s lost his speech. There’s an awkward silence when Tim Stevens invites the mourners to share their memories of Nick. Jane steps in and reads a quote from the bible. Sharon rushes in late with Ian’s speech, having retrieved it from Linda. Ian makes a touching eulogy, celebrating Nick’s uniqueness. Charlie squeezes Dot’s hand as they watch the curtains draw around the coffin.

At the wake in the Vic, Jane and Sharon commend Ian for his eulogy. Ian’s chuffed, oblivious to Phil pulling the speech from his pocket. Charlie introduces himself to Ronnie. Jane complains her new boots are hurting. Dot listens to the inane chatter around her. A jeering Phil reveals Ian’s speech was taken from an internet website. As the other mourners round on Ian, Dot berates them - everyone’s forgotten about Nick already. Charlie supports her from the Vic, Dot stops to snatch the photograph of Nick from Cora. Outside, Charlie hugs Dot as she cries for her son.

Phil helps Sharon with an early delivery at the new bar. Sharon convinces Phil to attend Nick’s funeral by teasing she’ll be wearing black stockings but is later detained by another delivery. Phil offers Shirley a lift to the funeral when he spots her standing alone. At the church, Phil sits next to Shirley. He admits he still thinks of Heather too, and squeezes her hand as she cries. Phil quickly drops Shirley’s hand when Sharon enters. Shirley thanks Phil for being a gent.

Max tries to talk to Ronnie about her visit to Stacey. Ronnie snaps Stacey didn’t mention him. Sonia wants Max to attend Nick’s funeral as Carol’s too ill. Max refuses – he doesn’t like funerals. As a frustrated Sonia exits, Max looks sadly at a photograph of Bradley.

Lucy’s annoyed Ian’s commandeered her laptop and won’t take the time to look at her webpage for LB Lettings. She shows the webpage to Lauren. Billy eavesdrops and asks to go into business with her. Lucy realises she can’t go it alone but would rather work with a girl. Peter grins – he knows just the person.

Patrick talks to Dexter about Paul. Patrick’s reluctant to let Cora accompany him to see Dot after her behaviour yesterday. Charlie accepts their flowers for Dot. Cora hijacks Dot’s grief and claims to know what it’s like to lose a child as she’ll never see Rainie again. Patrick’s unimpressed. They bicker and Charlie tells them to go. Cora snaps they’d better make sure to put all of Nick in the ground. Patrick realises Dot’s witnessed everything from her window. As the funeral cars pull away, Dot refuses to look at Patrick, who feels terrible. Cora convinces Mick to serve her wine put aside for the wake and complains about the food. Patrick doesn’t attend the funeral and ignores Cora.

Johnny’s pleased when Linda tells him she’s cooking a family meal. Linda clocks Johnny chatting and laughing with a builder as he serves him at the bar, hauls him to one side and berates him for trying to pick up men at the wake. Later, Linda’s mortified to spot the builder kissing a girl. Johnny hands Linda a blank Mother’s Day card – he was saving it for Sunday but doesn’t know what to write anymore.

Jane’s avoiding Masood. She’s relieved when Masood swears being friends is enough for him and she doesn’t have to move out. But as Jane moves off, Masood’s face falls.

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30 minutes

Audio described

Music Played

  • Music Played

    • David Guetta

      Getting Over You

    • Rudimental & Becky Hill

      Powerless

    • Gary Barlow & Elton John

      Face to Face

    • Bruce Springsteen

      High Hopes

    • Leona Lewis

      Bleeding Love

    • Rihanna

      Diamonds

    • Bruno Mars

      Young Girls

    • Shakira

      Waka Waka

    • Jacob Banks

      Worthy

    • Elbow

      New York Morning

    • The 1975

      Settle Down

Credits

Role Contributor
Dot Branning June Brown
Ian Beale Adam Woodyatt
Denise Fox Diane Parish
Jane Beale Laurie Brett
Lucy Beale Hetti Bywater
Peter Beale Ben Hardy
Charlie Cotton Declan Bennett
Les Coker Roger Sloman
Linda Carter Kellie Bright
Mick Carter Danny Dyer
Johnny Carter Sam Strike
Arthur 'Fatboy' Chubb Ricky Norwood
Lauren Branning Jacqueline Jossa
Dexter Hartman Khali Best
Cora Cross Ann Mitchell
Patrick Trueman Rudolph Walker
Billy Mitchell Perry Fenwick
Phil Mitchell Steve McFadden
Sharon Rickman Letitia Dean
Ronnie Mitchell Samantha Womack
Shirley Carter Linda Henry
Sonia Fowler Natalie Cassidy
Masood Ahmed Nitin Ganatra
Bobby Beale Rory Stroud
Builder Oliver Mott
Tim Stevens Joe Claflin
Executive Producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins
Director John Greening
Writer Jeff Povey

Broadcasts