Locked in handcuffs, EastEnders Dot Cotton bids farewell to on-screen husband Jim Branning after being allowed out of jail for his funeral.

Actor John Bardon, who had played Jim in the BBC One soap since 1996, died last September aged 75. He was written out of the soap in 2007 after suffering a stroke.

The following year June Brown gave a mesmerising performance as Dot recording a message for her beloved Jim. It led to a Bafta nomination in 2009.

As John recovered from his stroke he made a number of brief returns to the soap, his last being in 2011.

EastEnders bosses decided to remember John by giving Jim a traditional East End send-off that sees Alfie Moon driving the horse-drawn hearse.

Dot is currently on remand after confessing to killing son “Nasty” Nick Cotton.
In a touching scene, Jim’s grand-daughter Abi hands over his flat cap to Dot so she can place it on his coffin.

The hearse in Jim Branning's funeral

An EastEnders source said: “Jim’s funeral was always going to be emotional – a lot of the cast attended John’s funeral. They mourned John’s passing and Jim’s funeral was all about celebrating the iconic character he’d created. Everyone knows a Jim Branning. He was known for always wearing his flat cap, liking a tipple in the Queen Vic and being grumpy. But it was the love for his Dorothy and the partnership he created with June that no one on the soap will ever forget.”

Dot Branning is allowed to attend the funeral, wearing handcuffs

Jim’s funeral was shot last week in north London. It will be screened next month.

Fans have started a “Free Dot” campaign but soap bosses are keeping tight-lipped about whether she will be let out for good.

A source added: “Losing Jim so soon after Nick leaves Dot in pieces. At the funeral her family and friends urge her to get legal help. She needs to be back home with them all, not languishing in a prison cell.”