Barbara Windsor’s adoring husband Scott Mitchell’s emotional statement in full

Dame Barbara Windsor's "humour and fighting spirit" has been hailed by her husband Scott Mitchell, after she died on Thursday aged 83.

The EastEnders and Carry On legend was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2014, but kept her condition secret until symptoms started to show in 2018.

Sadly, her condition had worsened in recent months and she died at 8.35pm on Thursday at a London care home

Scott has paid tribute to his wife, saying how he cherished the final weeks of her life and that he stayed at her bedside for the past seven days before she passed away peacefully.

He said that Barbara's final weeks were "typical of how she lived her life" and "full of humour, drama and a fighting spirit until the end".

In a statement following her sad death, Scott said: "Her passing was from Alzheimer's/dementia and Barbara eventually died peacefully and I spent the last seven days by her side.

"Myself, her family and friends will remember Barbara with love, a smile and affection for the many years of her love, fun, friendship and brightness she brought to all our lives and the entertainment she gave to so many thousands of others during her career."

He continued by sharing details of how she was fighting until the end and that she always had her humour to keep her smiling.

"Barbara's final weeks were typical of how she lived her life. Full of humour, drama and a fighting spirit until the end.

"It was not the ending that Barbara or anyone else living with this very cruel disease deserve. I will always be immensely proud of Barbara's courage, dignity and generosity dealing with her own illness and still trying to help others by raising awareness for as long as she could."

Scott continued: "Thank you to all the drs, nurses and carers who are angels at the Care Home for your kindness and care to Barbara and I throughout her stay with you. You are my heroes.

"And my gratitude to our family, friends and everyone in the media and the general public for all the good wishes and warm support that has been shown to Barbara over the last few years during her illness. Barbara deeply appreciated that.

"May you rest in peace now my precious Bar. I've lost my wife, my best friend and soul mate and my heart or life will never feel the same without you.

"I will be making no further statements and now need the time to grieve this painful, personal loss."

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Barbara WindsorScott MitchellEastEndersAlzheimer's disease