And the veteran actress, who played Albert Square's do-gooding Dot Branning, said personal experience had made her realise pensioners are treated as second-class citizens. June, 92, said: "The elderly in Britain aren't really given enough respect. Grandparents are ignored or packed off to care homes. Old people are considered worthless fuddy-duddies and often overlooked, which makes them sink into loneliness. I noticed it as soon as I started to age. "I'm not bragging but I used to be rather beautiful, with lovely legs, and people would always ask me to dance. But suddenly people didn't take any notice of me any more. I was at a party in my 50s and was forced to dance with a chair because nobody wanted to dance with me. I'm serious.
I just really wanted to dance so I took the chair and danced with it
June Brown
"I just really wanted to dance so I took the chair and danced with it. I didn't care a jot what people thought of me. Didn't even look at them. I was just happy dancing."
Speaking in the latest Radio Times, on sale today, June's assessment chimes with the Daily Express Respect for the Elderly crusade. June still lives in her Surrey home, helped by her two daughters, but lost the hearing
