Eastenders actress Barbara Windsor dies at 83TheJournal.ie

FAMOUS BRITISH ACTRESS Barbara Windsor, best known for her roles in Eastenders and the Carry On franchise, has passed away at the age of 83.

Windsor was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2014 and made the news public in 2018.

Windsor played pub landlady Peggy Mitchell on the BBC soap Eastenders beginning in 1994, and soon became one of the most beloved characters on the small screen as she yelled at dishonest drinkers to “Get out of my pub! “.

It became the defining role of her career and saw her star opposite Ross Kemp and Steve McFadden as her fictional sons Grant and Phil, with the late Mike Reid as her on-screen husband Frank Butcher.

The character left our screens in 2003 when Windsor took a year off for medical reasons after being diagnosed with the Epstein-Barr virus, but returned as a series series regular in 2005.

In 2009, she announced that she would be leaving the soap opera again to spend more time with her husband Scott, whom she married in 2000.

She returned for guest appearances on the soap opera over the next several years, but in 2016 she played Peggy for the last time.

Before becoming synonymous with Albert Square, Windsor delighted Carry On fans with her portrayals of a “good old girl,” appearing in nine films in a series known for its raunchy humor.

He first appeared in Carry On Spying in 1964, with his last film role in 1974’s Carry On Dick.

One of her most famous scenes was in 1969’s Carry On Camping, when her bikini top flew off in the middle of an exercise class.

Windsor at Buckingham Palace in 2016.

Source: PA

The actress was named a lady on the 2016 New Years honors list for her services to charity and entertainment.

Windsor’s death was confirmed tonight by her husband Scott Mitchell, who said that she “died in peace” after the last few weeks “full of humor and drama.”

He wrote in a statement:

It is with deep sadness that I can confirm that my dear wife Barbara passed away at 8.35pm on Thursday 10th December in a London nursing home. Her passing was from Alzheimer’s / Dementia and Barbara finally died peacefully and I spent the last 7 days by her side.

I, her family and friends will remember Barbara with love, a smile and affection for the many years of her love, fun, friendship and brilliance that she brought to all of our lives and the entertainment she provided to so many thousands of people during her career.

Barbara’s last weeks were typical of how she lived her life. Filled with humor, drama and fighting spirit until the end, it is not the ending that Barbara or anyone else living with this cruel disease deserve. I will always be immensely proud of Barbara’s courage, dignity and generosity in dealing with her own illness and continuing to try to help others by raising awareness for as long as possible.

Dementia / Alzheimer’s remains the leading cause of death in the UK. Although in difficult times, I urge the Prime Minister, his Government and other parties to stay true to their previous promises and invest more in Dementia / Alzheimer’s Research and Care.

Thank you to all the doctors, nurses, and caregivers who are angels at the Nursing Home for their kindness and care towards Barbara and me during their stay with you. You are my heroes.

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

Rest in peace now my precious bar. I lost my wife, my best friend and soul mate and my heart or my life will never feel the same without you.

I will not make any more statements and now I need time to mourn this painful personal loss.