Estimated Net Worth: under review
Actor
English stage and screen actor. He was awarded the Laurence Olivier Award in 1988 (1987 season) as ‘Best Actor in a Musical’ for Kiss Me, Kate, sharing the award with co-star Emil Wolk
EMOTIONAL Dot Branning hugs her husband Jim as he leaves Albert Square for the last time.
EastEnders cast and crew were all in tears as John Bardon, who plays Jim, filmed his final scenes.
The actor, who has played Dot’s husband in the BBC1 soap since 1996, suffered a stroke in real life and, in recent years, has been reduced to appearing when his health has allowed.
The story, which will be screened in May, sees Dot, played by 84-year-old June Brown, make the heartbreaking decision to move Jim into full-time care.
It means John, 71, will never again be a soap regular. Some staff believe it is the end of the character.
An insider said: “Dot’s been struggling for a while and realises that she can no longer give Jim the care and attention he deserves and is forced to make the heartbreaking decision that he should move into a home. She fell down the stairs and her friendship with Edward is also growing which makes the situation with Jim difficult.
“It was very emotional on the set for the scenes where Dot discusses her decision and talks to Jim about him going into care for good. There were a lot of tears.
“The feeling is that this is the end of Jim as a character because he won’t leave the home and won’t ever be a regular in Albert Square again.”
John first appeared on the soap in September 1996 and proposed to Dot on the London Eye in December 2001, marrying shortly after.
He suffered a stroke in real life which was introduced as a storyline in 2007 to reflect his condition and allow him time off to recuperate.
He made sporadic appearances during 2008 and 2009, but has been more of a regular fixture in the past 12 months.
Bosses say they may film more scenes from his care home in the future if his health allowed it and he wanted to take part.
An EastEnders’ spokesperson said yesterday: “We would love to continue working with John in the future and we hope to see Jim on our screens again.”