Lord Michael Cashman, who played Dot’s friend Colin Russell, claimed June discussed ending her life with him before her death (Picture: BBC Picture Archive)
EastEnders icon June Brown allegedly asked her co-star for help ending her life before she died in 2022.
June, who played Albert Square’s chain-smoking legend Dot Cotton, died peacefully at her home in Surrey on 3 April 2022, aged 95.
However, Lord Michael Cashman, who played Dot’s friend Colin Russell, claimed she had discussed ending her life with him before her death.
The 75-year-old made these remarks on Friday while debating the Assisted Dying Bill in the House of Lords.
‘I also remember my dear friend June Brown, who implored me to get her to a country where she could die with dignity and the death that she wanted,’ he told the chamber.
Lord Cashman had previously claimed he discussed assisted dying with a friend, but didn’t name who it was.
Lord Michael Cashman made his claims while debating the Assisted Dying Bill (Picture: © PA)
‘When my dear friend of many, many years suffered for months, she knew there was another way, and she implored me to help her, my lords, I did,’ he said at the time.
‘I was prepared to break the law as I contacted clinics in the Netherlands and Switzerland. However, it was to come to nothing.’
After June’s death, several of her EastEnders colleagues and fans paid tribute to the star who left the soap in 2020.
‘I’m lost for words, something June never was,’ Adam Woodyatt, who plays Ian Beale in the soap, wrote on Instagram.
June died peacefully at her home in Surrey on 3 April 2022, aged 95 (Picture: PA)
‘So many memories, so much fun. Just purely and simply an incredible woman who had the most incredible life and career, I was fortunate to have shared a small part of it. They never made you a Dame (we did try), but to me you will always be Dame Brown.’
An EastEnders spokesperson, meanwhile, said: ‘‘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.’
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Fan Stephen Fry, also paid tribute to her, writing: ‘June Brown, amongst all her other wonderful human qualities and achievements, will be remembered as a tireless and fearless LGBT ally – especially during the darkest days of HIV/AIDS and Section 28 … it was a privilege to know her.’
In February, it was revealed that the canteen in the studio where EastEnders films has been named The Dot in honour of June.
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