EastEnders' Milly Zero hints at dark new story for Dotty Cotton

EastEnders spoilers follow.

EastEnders star Milly Zero has hinted at dark times ahead for her character Dotty Cotton, as her "destructive tendencies" threaten to ruin her unconventional relationship with Vinny Panesar.

In a new interview with Digital Spy, the actor explained that Dotty's future storylines will be "a real mixture of light and shade", with Dotty reaching a new low. She also revealed that future episodes are set to "really explore her vulnerable, lonely side."

After exposing the misdeeds of her 'uncle' Rocky (Brian Conley), aka Tom Cotton, over the festive period, Dotty found herself sleeping rough. Keen to get herself off the streets, she cosied up to besotted best friend Vinny (Shiv Jalota), and slyly suggested that something romantic could happen between them if he sorted her out a place to stay.

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"We're going to have a look at some of the relationships she has, with Vinny, and maybe some of the other Panesars, and what that looks like, and, you know, seeing Dotty find a sense of belonging – and to also explore her relationship further with Rocky," Zero teased.

"There's lots of drama to be had in 2022."

The 22 year old went on to defend Dotty's recent actions, and argue that she hasn't deliberately set out to hurt Vinny by pretending she likes him more than just a pal: she's just desperate and has no one else to turn to.

"She really cares about him, he's her best friend and they are in a relationship right now, but she's just missing that kind of sexual attraction," Zero went on.

"She knows that Vinny would do anything for her, and she's kind of fallen on really hard times. She was homeless, and saw, in that moment, 'He'll do anything for me. I'm going to have to use him in order to keep a roof over my head.'

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"The romantic feelings are definitely lacking, and that's where the manipulation comes in. She's kind of pretending that they do exist in order to get what she needs from Vinny. There's a long road ahead – I don't know if the future means they're going to end up together, and live a happily-ever-after, though.

"I think we've all been there, haven't we? When you can look at someone, and you're like, 'They're nice, they're good-looking, they're funny, they're good for me – but what is it that I'm missing? I don't fancy them.'

"She's kind of got the ick a little bit. She sees him as a little bit cringey," Zero admitted. "She knows that he worships her but I don't think, as a girl, that's ever really that attractive. I think girls want what they can't have a lot of the time and Dotty's probably used to going for bad boys and stuff like that. I think Vinny will likely end up getting hurt at some point."

EastEnders airs on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays on BBC One.