Pat Butcher or Dot Cotton?

I can't decide! I think Dot might just edge it though...

I'd say Dot. I loved Pat but I think Dot's image is more stuck in the general public's psyche. Even people that don'( watch EE know what Dot ooks like - she is very recogniseable. I'd say she along with Dirty Den are the most iconic characters in EE's history. They're up there with Hilda Ogden and Bet Lynch from Corrie.

I think dot

Dot.

Pat is up there but not quite Dot/Dirty Den level.

If you mean iconic as in more well known then its Dot Cotton. I think if you mention her the majority of people in the UK will at least have some idea of who she is unless they have been living under a rock.

Before I watched Eastenders I'm 2011 I only knew Peggy, Kat, dot, phil, bianca , Michelle and den maybe Sharon too and only hear pat by name so I didn't have a clue until I actually watched it

Haha, you started watching in 2011? you missed the last 3 years (2007-2010) that EastEnders was exceptional!

Before in had to do anEnglish essay I avoided watching soaps. The 9th or 10th June episode I avoided watching the soaps but I got hocked after that. Watched loads of clips and episodes on yt though and only era in vague on is 1988-1995 as not many clips/full episode are findable on YouTube/dailynotion

Can we stay on topic please ?

I'll say Pat

Hmm, I would have to say Dot. I'm sure the majority of people in the UK have heard of Dot. But Pat Butcher is one of the most iconic characters ever in EE.

June has said she will never quit EE so will die in the role. So Dot probably won't get an exit on screen. I wonder though how many ratings Dot's eventual funeral would get? like said here already, most of the country have to know who she is.

Both equally I think as I can't choose between the two. Although I prefer Pat as a character.

Dot!!! Both are iconic soap characters though!

I would say Dot. Many people who I've spoken to think she is part of the original cast. Even my mum thinks this and she has been watching since day 1. I'm not gonna burst her bubble and tell her otherwise

As a none Corrie viewer, I can tell you that Hilda Ogden isn't iconic in my opinion as I have no idea who she is. I know in the eyes of viewers she is somewhat of legend but those that don't watch it, like me, probably have no idea who she is.

Bet Lynch, Deirdre Barlow, Liz McDonald and Ken Barlow however are pretty recognizable to none Corrie fans so I'd say those are more iconic than Hilda.

Dot might not have been in the first episode but she was an original. Tony and Julia created her at the same time as the others. There was also a problem with casting. Julia couldn't find the right actress who matched her picture of Dot. It wasn't until Leslie Grantham actually recommended June for the role did the character finally come to life.

I don't think you can measure iconicness. You are either an icon or you're not. They are both icons.

Pat, she was related to everyone.

I think they're both iconic but i'll choose....

Dot!

I wouldn't call EastEnders 'exceptional' around that time tbf.

As for iconicness, I'd say Dot. People wanted to open launderettes called 'Dot Cotton's Wash Shop'. And people still call her 'Dot Cotton' as opposed to 'Dot Branning' which I guess symbolises her iconicness amongst older EE viewers.

Pat is still legendary though, just not in the same way.

They are both legendary icons but Dot is the more famous of the two in regard to the general public.

I think my parents thought the same! I think I burst their bubble though, oops

This is quite true tbf, Hilda Ogden would be extremely popular among older viewers, but to many younger people, no one has a clue who she is tbf, even the young corrie viewers! Whereas with Pat, and Dot, they've been around in the 21st century, and EastEnders would tend be more referred to amongst younger people, in schools etc...

Hm, maybe not, but it was better than what it is now, and the characters were better too IMO, we never had as many cringe moments as we do now, and the writing was a lot better, I'd say the show was more appealing tbf, and it never got boring, the quieter episodes were never boring and you couldn't find a lot to moan about, a lot of people on here tend to look at Santers era in a negative way, but in terms of the general public and social media fans, the Santer era proves much more popular than the show is now. The show has improved, but there's way too many new boring characters, and the younger cast are used way too much and there's too many! The show isn't as good as the Santer era just yet. The show really appealed to me and a lot of younger viewers back then, but I don't think it would now it I had never watched the show before.

And yes, I agree with you there, Dot is probably the more iconic one, they're very different, but like I said dot edges it!

Dot, I think more people know who Dot is than Pat aswell