Dame Barbara Windsor dead: EastEnders legend dies at 83 after Alzheimer’s battle
EastEnders and Carry On legend Dame Barbara Windsor has died at the age of 83 following her tragic but brave battle against Alzheimer’s disease
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Dame Barbara Windsor has died aged 83, her husband Scott Mitchell has announced.
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 said the cherished actress’ final weeks were “typical of how she lived her life” and “full of humour, drama and a fighting spirit until the end”.
Mr Mitchell told PA: “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.
“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.”
While Barbara’s friends, family members and husband Scott had rallied around her with love and support, she had become lonely during the coronavirus lockdown as she didn’t understand why no one was visiting her.
Scott moved Barbara into a care home earlier this year on the advice of her neurologist.
The actress spoke publicly about her condition in 2018, encouraging people to run the 2019 London Marathon in aid of Dementia Revolution, to “support ground-breaking research to find a cure for a condition that affects so many people, like me”.
Tributes have rolled in for a much-loved treasure.
Actress Danniella Westbrook, who played Dame Barbara’s on-screen daughter Sam Mitchell on EastEnders, tweeted: “MY HEART IS BROKEN .Bar you will always be in my heart forever. Good bye , I LOVE YOU XXX RIP Barbara WINDSOR.”
A representative for actor Steve McFadden, who plays Dame Barbara’s on-screen son Phil Mitchell, told PA he was “devastated” by her death.
TV presenter Jonathan Ross tweeted: “Barbara Windsor in real life was everything you might have hoped for. So warm, so funny, so kind. Goodnight sweetheart x”
Born Barbara Ann Deeks in 1937, she took the stage name Barbara Windsor in 1953 after being inspired by Queen Elizabeth’s coronation.
Babs started acting at just 13, after training at Aida Foster School in Golders Green.
Following some theatre roles, her film debut in 1954 saw her play a rebellious schoolgirl in The Belles of St Trinian’s.
From the 1950s to 2011, Barbara made theatre appearances around the country, appearing in pantomimes such as Aladdin, Dick Whittington and Cinderella. In 1965 she was nominated for Best Featured Actress in a Musical at the Tony Awards.
Barbara became famous in the 1960s, with roles in the Carry On… films.
She would appear in nine of the bawdy comedies, from 1964 to 1977, and also starred in two years in the West End revue Carry On London!
But Barbara would become most famous for her role as no-nonsense matriarch Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders.
She played the pub landlady from 1994 to 2016 – a role for which she won two British Soap Awards: Best Actress in 1999 and a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.
Peggy was best known for the phrase “Get Outta My Pub!”
Her EastEnders life saw her have numerous romances, manage the iconic Queen Vic pub, and even run for local government.
Although she first survived breast cancer, the character was killed off in 2016 as the cancer returned and lead her to suicide, after an emotional week of episodes.
Barbara had three husbands in her lifetime, but never wanted children. She married nightclub owner Ronnie Knight in 1964 and they divorced in 1985, following his connection with the 1983 Security Express Robbery.
Then, in 1986, she married Stephen Hollings in Jamaica.
The soap star met Scott Mitchell – who would be her third husband – in 1992, when she was 55 and he was 28. She divorced Hollings in 1995 and married Mitchell in 2000.
Scott announced in 2018 that Windsor had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2014, and spoke of his sadness that she forgot they were married.
Ever since, he has stuck by her side and cared for her as best he could.
In August, Barbara was said to be “comfortable and happy” after being moved into a nursing home after her condition worsened in lockdown.
Her friend Christopher Biggins said it had been a very difficult situation for Scott.
He said: “It is such a difficult situation and Scott has behaved impeccably.
“I don’t know how he has done it. He deserves the highest accolade that anybody can give anybody, together with all carers.
“The decision I know wasn’t easy but I think he has made the right decision for everybody concerned. It is just tragic. But you have to look to the future and to Barbara’s comfort. I hear she is very comfortable and happy.”
He had last seen her before the first lockdown began in March.
He said: “I went to have tea with her. She was fabulous. She always remembered who I was which was great because I think I’m such a strong character.
“She has problems with other people but we always had such a laugh.
“I’m going to go and visit her quite soon when it is convenient.”
Sadly, while Barbara sometimes remembered many things about her past and her loved ones, there were times when she couldn’t.
She had moved into a care home in London in mid-July.
Speaking of the day he left her at the home, Scott said: “I’ll never forget the feeling of emptiness. I felt sick in the pit of my stomach that I’d left her. I still feel like that.
“By the time I got home and went to bed, I just felt desperately sad. It’s been 27 years since we met and we spent so much of that time in each other’s company. It feels like another chapter has gone.”
In 2018, Barbara had heart surgery after she collapsed at home while suffering from side-effects of her Alzheimer’s medication.
It was reported at the time that she’d suffered complications after her medication left her feeling dizzy and breathless.
She had a pacemaker fitted during an eight-day hospital stay.
Husband Scott Mitchell’s statement in full
“It is with deep sadness that I can confirm that my darling wife Barbara passed away at 8.35pm on Thursday 10th December at a London Care Home.
“Her passing was from Alzheimer’s/Dementia and Barbara eventually died peacefully and I spent the last 7 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.
“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.
“Dementia/Alzheimer’s remains the UKs number one killer. Although in challenging times, I urge the Prime Minister, his Government and other parties to be true to their previous promises and invest more into Dementia/Alzheimer’s Research and Care.
“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.
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