It has been a tough week for Albert Square’s legendary Dot Cotton.
She found out that she could potentially lose her job due to her boss Mr Papadopolous Jr’s plans to turn the launderette into a dry cleaners.
“[It’s down to] market forces, new consortium, moving with the times – all that old balderdash,” Dot explained to Shirley.
Even worse, poor old Dot will have to re-interview for the job she has been doing forever.
I'll start a petition me if Dot gets fired from the laundrette #eastenders
— 🌍 (@EGrace95xXx) September 27, 2016
Well, on Thursday night’s episode, that job interview took place – and Dot wasn’t going down without a fight.
The interviewer adopted a snooty, condescending tone during their conversation, and even suggested that Dot should consider retiring.
And that’s when Dot fought back, explaining:
“We’re not just human resources you know, like your other resources but with legs on. We’re people and we try to do our best.
“I might not have done your fancy courses and your whatsit, and I ain’t going to! I’ve worked here in this launderette from before you was born. I know everything there is to know about laundry.
“I know how to get a coffee stain out of a pinafores or a raspberry stain out of a nice white pair of slacks!”
It wasn’t enough to save her job, however. The interview told Dot: “We do appreciate all your hard work, but as I said, unfortunately, we just can’t offer you a position once the refurbishment takes place. I am sorry.”
Fans had all the feelings about her episode:
Dot Cotton is breaking my heart! 💔 #Eastenders
— Rishma Dosani (@Rishma_Dosani) September 29, 2016
https://twitter.com/Phusic1492_Al/status/781979884939870209
NO THEY CAN'T FUCKING SACK DOT COTTON/BRANNING, FROM THE LAUNDRETTE THOUGH !!!#EastEnders #EndOfAnEra #AnotherPartOfMyChildhoodGone !
😳🤔😱😬— Luke Wyatt-Jones (@LukeWyattJones) October 1, 2016
How DARE they sack Dot?! Disgraceful! #EastEnders
— Roz Laws (@rozlaws) September 30, 2016
https://twitter.com/White81David/status/782168677135310848
@bbceastenders Dot Cotton ((June Brown), what an absolute class act #LovelyLady #EastEnders 👏👏
— Stuart Conlon (@StuartConlon) September 29, 2016
One fan has even taken to organising an online campaign to have Dot’s job reinstated.
Watch the scene below, or on the EastEnders Facebook page.