EastEnders' Dot Branning puts Jim in care home

EastEnders' Dot Branning makes the heart-wrenching decision to put husband Jim into a care home.

John Bardon - who has played Jim in the BBC One soap since 1996 - suffered a stroke in real life in 2007 and in recent years has been reduced to appearing when his health allowed so has decided to leave the show.

In the emotional storyline - which will be screened in May - Dot (June Brown) decides to move Jim into full-time care as she can no longer cope with his needs.

A source told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "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.

"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 again."

However, an 'EastEnders' spokesperson says the door hasn't been closed for John and he is always welcome back if his health allows it.

They said: "We would love to continue working with John in the future and we hope to see Jim on our screens again."