EastEnders star June Brown has asked for time off from the show and her role as Dot Cotton in order to write her autobiography.

It seems that 85 year old June – who’s starred in the show since 1985 but who left for four years in 1993 to return in 1997 – initially asked the show’s bosses for a year off, however, she ultimately agreed to a six month sabbatical.

A show insider told the Daily Mirror, “Some friends on the set feared she may be considering a permanent exit…

“But EastEnders bosses are determined to keep her and they have offered her six months off which she has taken.

“She has admitted the filming can be exhausting and she feels some time off is long overdue.”

June’s final scenes as Dot were filmed last week, and it’s understood that when the launderette closes down, Dot will leave Walford to spend some time with friends.

Of June’s time away from the show, an EastEnders spokeswoman said, “June is on a break but will be back in a few months.”

And June’s agent added, “June has taken some time away from EastEnders to focus on her autobiography but she will be returning to the programme.”

But of course, her temporary exit is a worrying one for the show’s bosses as both Patsy Palmer and Lindsey Coulson are also on a six month break, and Adam Woodyatt and Steve McFadden will be taking time off later this year to star in panto.

However, although Jessie Wallace – who of course plays Kat Moon – has similarly been away from the show for three months, she is due back on our screens in the next couple of weeks, and of course, Letitia Dean is heading back to the soap to reprise her role as Sharon Watts.