Two familiar faces return to say goodbye to Dot (Picture: BBC / Jack Barnes / Kieron McCarron)

EastEnders legends from years gone by return to pay tribute to Dot Cotton (June Brown) on the day go her funeral.

Dot, as viewers know, sadly died earlier this month, with Sonia Fowler (Natalie Cassidy) receiving a phone call from Ireland to notify her.

Heartbroken, Sonia relayed the news to the residents of the Square, as the preparations began to give Dot the send-off that she truly deserves.

The latest offering of the BBC One soap saw Dot return home to No. 27 Albert Square for the last time, as her loved ones shared a special moment with her before the funeral service.

Monday’s (December 12) outing sees the day of the funeral arrive, and as the Square mourns the loss of one of its finest, a number of former mainstays stage a comeback to pay tribute.

Mary ‘The Punk’ Smith (Linda Davidson), Lofty Holloway (Tom Watt) and Lauren Branning (Jacqueline Jossa) to name a few.

Colin Russell (Lord Michael Cashman) and Disa O’Brien (Jane Graveson) are also setting foot back in Walford for the funeral, and if you’re struggling to recall who these characters are, or when we saw them last, then you’d need look no further, as we’ve got you covered

Who is Disa in EastEnders?

Disa O’Brien, played by Jan Graveson, was a friend of Diane Butcher’s (Sophie Lawrence), who Dot took care of during her time in the Square.

Disa was a runaway, first introduced in 1990 during the show’s 536th outing, which was a flashback episode.

Diane had previously run away from Walford following a row with dad Frank (Mike Reid) before reuniting with him several months later – when viewers were shown what exactly happened during her time on the streets via a double flashback episode, which is when Disa debuted.

Disa made her debut in 1990 (Picture: BBC)

While Diane returned to the Square with Frank afterwards, Disa remained on the streets. That is, until Diane and boyfriend Mark Fowler (Todd Carty) set off in search of her later in the year, finding out that she was pregnant.

Disa avoided Diane and Mark at first, but after giving birth she left the newborn baby on Diane’s doorstep, knowing that the streets weren’t suitable place for a child.

Determined to do the right, Diane and Mark subsequently set off in search of missing Disa, and eventually they found her – bringing her back to the Square where they let her live in Mo Butcher’s (Edna Dore) flat.

The duo were keen for Disa to bond with her baby, who she initially named Billie, but she struggled to do so at first. Dot, however, proved incredibly supportive towards Disa, and often looked after her little one, who was later re-named Jasmine.

Dot looked after Disa during her time of need (Picture: BBC)

Dot’s support proved instrumental, with Disa ultimately falling in love with her little girl. Things, however, took a turn when a man named Ken Raynor turned up, claiming to be Disa’s uncle. In reality, he was Disa’s stepfather – and the biological father of her child.

Disa confided in Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) via the Samaritans that she had been a victim of sexual abuse, which is what led to her living on the streets.

Ken, meanwhile, kidnapped Jasmine in a bid to make Disa return home with him, but Dot – with some assistance from the police – intervened, and managed to trap the abuser, rescuing Jasmine in the process.

Disa arrives back and reunites with Kathy (Picture: BBC / Jack Barnes / Kieron McCarron)

Ken was subsequently arrested and, with support from Kathy, Disa confided in her mum Sandra about the abuse she had suffered at Ken’s hands.

Sandra refused to believe her daughter at first, but she ultimately realised she was telling the truth. Afterwards, she paid Ken a visit, telling him that Disa and her would be testifying against him.

Disa, meanwhile, left the Square with Jasmine and mum Sandra in February 1991, hoping to start afresh elsewhere. Her comeback tonight will be her first in the soap since.

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Who is Colin Russell in EastEnders?

Graphic designer Colin Russell, played by Lord Michael Cashman, arrived in the Square in 1986, becoming EastEnders’ – and one of soap’s – first ever gay characters.

Colin’s sexuality was kept a secret at first, but it soon came to light, with viewers discovering that he was gay at the same time as the rest of the Square.

Colin was one of soap’s first gay characters (Picture: BBC)

The character featured in many a groundbreaking moment, primarily as a result of his relationship with Barry Clark (Gary Hailes), who arrived in the show shortly after him.

Barry was Colin’s primary love interest, and the two couldn’t have been more different, but soon enough, they moved in together.

Dot, who was friends with both Colin and Barry, was appalled when she discovered that they shared a bed, with a famous scene – which aired in 1987 – saw her start to spread rumours that the couple had AIDs.

Colin’s relationship with Barry made history (Picture: BBC)

Colin and Barry during their final appearance together (Picture: BBC)

Despite this, however, Dot soon came to accept both Colin and Barry, forging a strong friendship with the pair of them for the remainder of their respective stints in the serial drama.

Colin also featured in the first ever same-sex kiss in a soap opera, nothing more than a simple peck on Barry’s forehead, which caused controversy at the time.

Barry subsequently ended his relationship with Colin due his fears about his homophobic dad and he left the Square in 1988.

Colin and Guido kissed in 1989 (Picture: BBC)

Colin, meanwhile, embarked on a new romance with Guido Smith (Nicholas Donovan), and the pair would share the first mouth-to-mouth same-sex kiss in a soap in early 1989, in another scene which caused uproar.

Colin left Walford in February 1989, and Barry made a one-off return as part of his ex’s exit storyline, though the couple did not get back together. 

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But that wasn’t the last we saw of Colin, as he staged a short comeback in 2016 to invite Dot to his same-sex wedding as he married Eddie Tsang.

Dot was initially opposed to attending the service, but she ultimately did so and had a great time. 

EastEnders airs Dot’s funeral on Monday December 12 at 7:40pm on BBC One.

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Two famous faces from the past return to Walford say goodbye to beloved Dot.