As fans of EastEnders will know, June Brown who plays Dot Cotton, is currently on extended leave from the show, and part of her time spent away from the soap was to film June Brown: Respect Your Elders, which will air on BBC1 on Thursday at 10.35pm…

And in it, according to the Daily Mirror, we’ll see June visiting her co-star John Bardon who of course played the role of Dot’s husband Jim Branning until he had a devastating stroke, which saw him having to leave the role.

However, John’s stroke was written into Dot and Jim’s storyline, and Jim was of course an occasional visitor back in Walford at times when John was well enough to make brief appearances.

But as we’ll see in the show, sadly 73 year old John’s condition has deteriorated and he now needs constant 24/7 care from his elderly wife Edna, as he’s unable to walk and is speech impaired…

And the strain of visiting her friend in that condition is clear as June breaks down and weeps as she declares, “Please don’t let me get like that.”

We’ll hear Edna tell 85 year old June, “He’s going the wrong way now. His main pleasure in life is when his grandson Harry visits.”

The paper adds, “June held John’s hand and asked how his condition made him feel. He wept softly before whispering: ‘Oh dear’.”

After the visit an emotional June said, “It’s good that John’s happy despite his condition but I wouldn’t fancy being resuscitated.

“I would not want to be unable to talk. Imagine not being able to talk when you’re a talkative person.

“At my age, 85, I wouldn’t want to be learning to walk, to be fed, to have my toilet dealt with by someone else, if you understand what I mean.”

June subsequently went to an engraver to have a pendant marked with “Do Not Resuscitate” which she intends to wear around her neck.

Don’t miss June Brown: Respect Your Elders, BBC1, Thursday, 10.35pm.