Dotty Cotton

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Not to be confused with Dot Cotton, another fictional character of EastEnders.

Dotty Cotton
EastEnders character
Reiss Colwell

Kirsty "Dotty" Cotton is a fictional character from the

Dot Branning (June Brown) and inherit the money from her will. She and Dot subsequently become close after Dotty sabotages Nick's murder attempt at the last minute. In her final storyline which aired on 23 February 2010, she left with her mother Sandy (Caroline Pegg/Martha Cope), who she believed died. On 3 October 2019, Dotty returned, with the role recast to Milly Zero.[1] In December 2021, Sandy tells her that she is not Nick's daughter and that her father is Tom "Rocky" Cotton (Brian Conley).[2] However, in September 2022, this is revealed to be a lie. On 13 November 2022, it was announced that Zero had quit the show and Dotty left on 16 December 2022.[3]

Initially, critics disliked Dotty Cotton. Jane Simon from

The Daily Mail criticised her accent. [4] Critics from The Daily Mirror and The Guardian were glad to see her leave.[5][6] However, executive producer Diederick Santer praised Conlin for her portrayal of Dotty,[7] whilst both Brown and Altman opined that the storyline was one of their highlights.[8][9]

Storylines

2008–2010

Dotty arrives in

will, and tells Nick.[12] They plan to kill Dot to inherit the money,[12] and trick her into thinking she is suffering from dementia.[13] Eventually, Nick tells Dotty to give Dot an overdose of her medication, [13] but, Dotty has a change of heart and gives the pills to Nick in his beer.[14] When Nick learns of Dotty's double-crossing, he drags her to the café and holds everyone inside hostage.[13] Dotty escapes with most of the others, but the café explodes, and in the commotion, Nick escapes. Suspecting that Dotty might be just as evil as Nick, Dot plants some tablets on the kitchen table while Dotty's back is turned. [15] Dot leaves the room and spies on Dotty, who ignores the tablets.[15]

Dot holds a birthday party for Dotty, inviting Tiffany (Maisie Smith) and Liam Butcher (James Forde), but they do not want to attend.[16] The next day, Tiffany tells Dotty she is not invited to her birthday party.[16] Dotty tells Dot that Tiffany is not having a party and asks if they can invite her round.[16] When they ask Tiffany's mother Bianca Jackson (Patsy Palmer), Bianca invites them to Tiffany's party.[16] The next day, Tiffany and Dotty lie so they do not have to go to school.[17] Dotty takes Tiffany's bridesmaid's dress and MP3 player, after Tiffany does not allow her to try the dress on, and runs away with them, throwing the MP3 player into a bin.[17] Dotty pushes Tiffany into the bin as she tries to retrieve it.[17] Dotty then runs away to avoid getting in trouble, and when Tiffany is found,[17] Bianca visits Dot, who is unsure about Bianca's claims.[18] Dotty tells Dot she knows nothing about the dress but Dot then finds it in Dotty's school bag.[18] Dot returns the dress to Bianca without Dotty's knowledge.[19] The next day, Dotty is left alone with Dot's husband Jim Branning (John Bardon) who is recovering from a stroke.[20] She pours water on him to make it seem he has wet himself, but Dot catches her.[20] Dotty says she hates them both and wishes that Nick had killed Dot.[20] Dot smacks Dotty across the legs and Dotty manipulates her into letting her stay off school.[21] After Dotty calls the police, Dot is arrested for assault but is released without charge and Dotty apologises.[22]

Dot receives a visit from Dotty's mother Sandy.[23] Dot assumes she is from Social Services, but Sandy says she is looking for her daughter Kirsty.[23] Dot says she knows nobody of that name, but when she sees a photo she realises that it is Dotty.[23] Dot hides Sandy's visit from Dotty, but later talks to Sandy about her daughter and her past.[24] She also asks Dotty about the friends and family she used to have, but Dotty says Dot is the only family she needs.[25] However, she soon admits that she misses her mother, and Dot reveals that she is alive and Nick had lied to her.[25] Dotty says she wants to see her mother, so Dot calls her.[25] When Sandy arrives, Dotty is delighted and Dot tells Dotty she should go with Sandy.[25] They say an emotional goodbye, and Dot says she can visit at any time.[25]

In May 2012, Dot and her sister

the Mumbles in Swansea
in October 2017.

2019–2022

In October 2019, Dot returns to Walford after visiting family, and brings Dotty back with her, as Dotty was bored with her life in Wales. She explains that she wants to study in London, and attends the leaving party of

Dennis Rickman (Bleu Landau), Dotty's friend and colleague, dies on the boat, and she later discovers a voicemail that reveals Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) locked him in. Dotty then blackmails Ian, asking for The Arches, otherwise she will expose him. Ian destroys the voicemail and Dennis' mother Sharon Watts (Letitia Dean) refuses to believe Dotty when she accuses Ian in public. She initially studies an engineering degree at university but Ian has her expelled as revenge for her blackmailing him. Dot moves to Ireland to live with Dotty's half-brother Charlie Cotton (Declan Bennett), leaving her step-granddaughter Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy) in charge of her home. Dotty is bitter when Dot gives Sonia inheritance money she believes is rightfully hers. Ruby Allen (Louisa Lytton) hires Dotty to work at her club when she drops out of university. Tiffany and Keegan move in with Dotty and Sonia and also start working with Dotty at Ruby's nightclub. Dotty develops an interest in Peter Beale (Dayle Hudson) despite receiving attention from his brother Bobby Beale
; however, their romance soon fizzles out.

In 2021, Dotty has a one night stand with her friend

Finlay Baker (Ashley Byam). Vinny is heartbroken when he finds out, which leads to Dotty being thrown out and later being assaulted by Vinny’s sister Ash Panesar (Gurlaine Kaur Garcha
).

When Rocky’s close friend Harvey Monroe (Ross Boatman) accuses her of stealing his wallet, a crime of which Dotty is innocent of for a change, she seeks revenge by catfishing Harvey and he sends her £10,000. Bobby and his friend Freddie Slater (Bobby Brazier) both discover the truth and urge her to come clean. The truth is eventually exposed and Rocky demands that Dotty repay the money. When Dot passes away, although Dotty is upset, her greedy nature is exposed once more as she is convinced she will inherit Dot’s estate. Although Dotty inherits £10,000, the majority of Dot’s estate goes to Sonia, including Dot’s house (25 Albert Square). A furious Dotty gets drunk and splashes alcohol everywhere in an attempt to burn the house down. Although she is unsuccessful in this, and Sonia pleads for her to stay, Dotty packs her bags and leaves in a taxi, parting on bad terms with her family and telling Walford to ‘go to hell’.

Creation and development

Casting, introduction and development

Dotty and her father Nick (John Altman) planned to kill Dot (June Brown, pictured).

On 2 October 2008 it was reported that

Tiffany Dean which she had previously auditioned for but she succeeded in impressing the producers, who offered her the role of Dotty instead.[29] The part of Tiffany went to Maisie Smith.[30] Dotty was originally eleven years old, but on Conlin's casting, they changed her age to seven.[29] Introduced as a guest character by Santer[31] she made her first appearance on 26 December 2008.[10]

Starting to appear more frequently, Dotty became a recurring character. Santer told Digital Spy in May 2009 that Dotty's storyline would go "to a very, very dark place!"[7] He questioned whether the character was born bad or if her father had made her that way, and if she could be more dangerous than Nick.[7] As the storyline between Dot, Dotty and Nick progressed, Nick's true agenda was revealed when he blackmailed his mother into giving him money for custody of Dotty. In a further plot twist, it was revealed to the audience in 2009, that Dotty was colluding with her father all along.[32] The plot climaxed in June 2009 and marked Altman's departure from the show for the fourth time. Dotty later left on 23 February 2010.[25]

Characterisation

Dotty is introduced as a seven-year-old child who has pigtails.[33] The EastEnders website described her as "butter wouldn't melt when it comes to this cockney sparrow, but underneath she's a devil in disguise", as well as conniving, backstabbing and cold-hearted.[34] Altman described Dotty as "a chip off the old block",[35] as did Nancy Banks-Smith from The Guardian[36] though the Daily Record described Dotty as "a chip off her grandma's block".[37] Charlie Clements, who played Bradley Branning, said that Dotty, being Nick's daughter, was "bound to be a bit iffy."[38] He also called her "evil",[38] as did several critics.[39] Simon called Dotty "[the] apple that hasn't fallen far from the tree."[40] On Holy Soap, Dotty is called a "demon child" and "sweetness and light" on the surface, "but underneath lurks a devil!".[41] Nancy Banks-Smith from The Guardian described Dotty as "enigmatic",[36] while Kris Green from Digital Spy compared Dotty's image to that of Damien Thorn from The Omen and Regan MacNeil from The Exorcist.[42]

Reintroduction (2019)

On 25 July 2019, it was announced that Dotty would be reintroduced, with the role recast to Milly Zero.[43]

Reception

Jane Simon from the Daily Mirror criticised Dotty's accent and the storyline surrounding poisoning Dot.[4] Stuart Heritage from The Guardian said that Dotty gave him "the willies". He said, "Technically Dotty has already left EastEnders, but it was an open-ended goodbye and she's free to return whenever she likes. This must not happen, simply because she gives me the willies more than anything else I've ever seen",[5] Simon similarly opined saying that she was glad to see Dotty leave.[6] Brown opined that Dot and Nick's storyline with Dotty was one of her highlights of the series,[8] as did Altman.[9] Santer praised Conlin for her portrayal of Dotty saying, "I love that little girl because she's having to play all these layers. Normally, what kids have to do of that age is say lines and be cute. She, though, has to play layers of deception. She has to play a character who's acting."[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ Edwards, Chris (25 July 2019). "EastEnders announces return for Dot Branning's granddaughter Dotty as the role is recast". Digital Spy. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  2. ^ "EastEnders spoilers: Dotty revealed to be Rocky's daughter – not Nick's – in huge Christmas twist". 25 December 2021. Archived from the original on 25 December 2021.
  3. ^ "EastEnders' Milly Zero 'quits soap' and has already filmed final scenes". Daily Mirror. 13 November 2022.
  4. ^
    Trinity Mirror
    . Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  5. ^
    Guardian News and Media
    . Retrieved 19 April 2011.
  6. ^
    Trinity Mirror
    . Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  7. ^
    Hachette Filipacchi UK
    . Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  8. ^
    Hachette Filipacchi UK
    . Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  9. ^
    Trinity Mirror
    . Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  10. ^
    Hachette Filipacchi UK
    . Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  11. ^ a b Clive Arnold (director), Richard Davidson (writer) (29 December 2008). "Episode dated 29/12/2008". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
  12. ^ a b c Rupert Such (director), Richard Zajdlic (writer) (23 January 2009). "Episode dated 23/01/2009". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
  13. ^
    Hachette Filipacchi UK
    . Retrieved 19 November 2011.
  14. ^ Tim Mercier (director) (2 June 2009). "Episode dated 02/06/2009". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
  15. ^ a b Tim Mercier (director) (5 June 2009). "Episode dated 05/06/2009". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
  16. ^ a b c d Lee Salisbury (director), Spenser Frearson (writer) (2 February 2010). "Episode dated 02/02/2010". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
  17. ^ a b c d Audrey Cooke (director), Christopher Reason (writer) (4 February 2010). "Episode dated 04/02/2010". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
  18. ^ a b Lee Salisbury (director), Christopher Reason (writer) (5 February 2010). "Episode dated 05/02/2010". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
  19. ^ Richard Platt (director), Carey Andrews (writer) (8 February 2010). "Episode dated 08/02/2010". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
  20. ^ a b c Richard Platt (director), Rob Williams (writer) (9 February 2010). "Episode dated 09/02/2010". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
  21. ^ Richard Platt (director), Rachel Flowerday (writer) (11 February 2010). "Episode dated 11/02/2010". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
  22. ^ Richard Platt (director), Rachel Flowerday (writer) (12 February 2010). "Episode dated 12/02/2010". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
  23. ^ a b c Clive Arnold (director), Matthew Evans (writer) (16 February 2010). "Episode dated 16/02/2010". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
  24. ^ Rebecca Gatward (director), Gillian Richmond(writer) (22 February 2010). "Episode dated 22/02/2010". EastEnders. BBC. BBC One.
  25. ^
    Hachette Filipacchi UK
    . Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  26. ^ Director: Tim Mercier; Executive Producer: Lorraine Newman; Writer: Matt Evans (11 January 2012). "Dorothy Branning: The Next Chapter". EastEnders. BBC. BBC Red Button.
  27. Hachette Filipacchi UK
    . Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  28. BBC1
    .
  29. ^ a b c "Halstead: Molly, 7, lands a role in TV's East Enders". Daily Gazette. 21 December 2008. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  30. Trinity Mirror. Archived from the original
    on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  31. ^ Wardrop, Murray (2 December 2008). "Eastenders villain 'Nasty Nick' returns to Albert Square". The Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2011.
  32. Trinity Mirror
    . 17 January 2009. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  33. Trinity Mirror
    . Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  34. ^ "Dotty Cotton played by Molly Conlin". EastEnders. BBC Online. 2008. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  35. Trinity Mirror
    . Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  36. ^
    Guardian News and Media
    . Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  37. Trinity Mirror
    . 30 May 2009. Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  38. ^
    Hachette Filipacchi UK
    . Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  39. ^ These critics include:
  40. Trinity Mirror
    . Retrieved 16 June 2011.
  41. Channel 5. Archived from the original
    on 1 July 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  42. Hachette Filipacchi UK
    . Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  43. ^ Harp, Justin. "EastEnders star Milly Zero hints at bigger storylines for Dotty Cotton". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2 January 2020.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dotty_Cotton&oldid=1226119448"