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John Bardon, the actor who played Jim Branning in EastEnders, has passed away aged 75.

He became a regular on the soap in 1999, but had to drastically cut back his appearances following a debilitating stroke 7 years ago.

June Brown, who played his on-screen wife Dot Branning, told Stephen Nolan on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 5 live that he was a "far more sensitive" version of his onscreen character. "He was a joker and a very witty man. But he was also a painter. He could do embroidery and he cooked... He was a window dresser at Selfridges before he went into acting."

June also said that she would remember him as "a man who loved acting. We'd give each other notes...we worked together very well. I miss him terribly. He was a clever man and a lovely man".