June Brown‘s fans have remembered the iconic moment she met with another showbiz heavyweight, Lady Gaga, after her death aged 95 on Sunday.
The EastEnders star, whose passing was announced on Monday, made an appearance on The Graham Norton show in 2013 alongside the pop star, and the pair quickly formed an unlikely friendship.
Re-sharing a clip of their meeting on social media, many fans recalled the moment as ‘TV gold,’ while others paid tribute to soap star June after her death.
‘TV gold’: June Brown’s fans have remembered the iconic moment she met with another showbiz heavyweight, Lady Gaga, after her death aged 95 on Sunday
Gracing the stage in a dramatic fur coat with a cigarette, June left Gaga in awe when she appeared on Graham Norton, with the host asking the Born This Way hitmaker whether she’d heard of the star.
‘I am a really big fan of yours. You are so fabulously dressed. I am honoured to be sitting next to you,’ Gaga said, before picking up June’s glass of wine.
She added: ‘I want to drink from your cup to see what those genes are.’
Sensational: The EastEnders star made an appearance on The Graham Norton show in 2013 alongside the pop star, and the pair quickly formed an unlikely friendship.
Beloved: Gracing the stage in a dramatic fur coat with a cigarette, June left Gaga in awe when she appeared on Graham Norton
June later revealed in 2019 that Gaga’s kindness continued off-screen, telling The Daily Star: ‘She was so funny, intelligent and down to earth, but when she went in front of the press, you could see her put the Gaga persona on.’
The actress also revealed the star even invited her on a night out, adding: ‘She saw me sitting on my own and came back, dropped the whole Gaga thing and invited me to a nightclub.
‘Sadly I couldn’t make it, but I thought what a charming and talented girl.’
The heartwarming encounter resurfaced on social media following June’s death, with many fans lauding the moment as ‘TV gold.’
Drink up! ‘I am a really big fan of yours. You are so fabulously dressed. I am honoured to be sitting next to you,’ Gaga said
Reflecting: The heartwarming encounter resurfaced on social media following June’s death, with many fans lauding the moment as ‘TV gold’
One posted: ‘Terribly sad news about the legendary June Brown. I want to remember this pure moment she met Lady Gaga and ended up totally stealing the show and making a friend for life. A true legend of soap land!’
Another wrote: ‘This will forever be TV gold!’ while a third tweeted: ‘June Brown meeting Lady Gaga remains a top-tier television moment. What a light we’ve lost.’
‘A completely glorious moment; JB was an awesome woman,’ one fan posted.
‘@ladygaga heartbreaking news June Brown has passed away. Iconic interview on @grahnort with the both of you. So sad,’ a fan also posted.
Best pals: June revealed in 2019 that Gaga even invited her on a night out
For decades Brown was one of the most famous faces on British TV, playing the devout Christian famed on Albert Square for her chain smoking, gossiping and mothering of those in need.
Her relationship with her tearaway son Nasty Nick Cotton, John Altman, who she forgave and forgave for his crimes until she gave up on him and he died after consuming a bad batch of heroin bought for him by his very own mother.
Her loving relationship with Jim Branning, played by John Bardon, would captivate millions, leaving fans in tears as she said goodbye to him following a stroke.
Brown’s family revealed she died peacefully on Sunday while the BBC urged fans to raise a glass of sweet sherry in her memory. The star still loved a tipple and a cigarette well into her 90s.
Farewell: Brown’s family revealed she died peacefully on Sunday while the BBC urged fans to raise a glass of sweet sherry in her memory (pictured in 2020)
An EastEnders spokesman said: ‘We are deeply saddened to announce that our beloved June Brown, OBE, MBE, sadly passed away last night.
‘There are not enough words to describe how much June was loved and adored by everyone at EastEnders, her loving warmth, wit and great humour will never be forgotten.
‘June created one of the most iconic characters in Dot Cotton, not just in soap but in British television, and having appeared in 2,884 episodes, June’s remarkable performances created some of EastEnders’ finest moments.
‘We send all our love and deepest sympathies to June’s family and friends. A very bright light has gone out at EastEnders today but we shall all be raising a sweet sherry in June’s memory. Rest in peace, our dearest June. You will never be forgotten.’
A statement from her family said: ‘We are deeply saddened to announce our beloved mother, June, passed away very peacefully at her home in Surrey on Sunday evening, with her family by her side.
‘We would kindly ask that our privacy is respected at this very difficult time.’
Legendary: The soap star played Dot Cotton in more than 2000 episodes, filming her final scenes in 2019
