FILM AND television actress Barbara Windsor has passed away aged 83.
Windsor, who was best known for her work on the Carry On films as well as playing Peggy Mitchell on the BBC soap EastEnders, died peacefully from Alzheimer’s at a care home in London this past Thursday evening.
Her husband Scott Mitchell confirmed the news in a statement.
Mitchell 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.”
Windsor’s husband spoke candidly about the past few weeks he spent alongside his wife.
“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.”
Mitchell called on the UK government to invest more in researching the disease that took Windsor’s life and impacted her final years.
“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.”
Mitchell paid tribute to the healthcare workers who ensured Windsor was comfortable in her final few days.
"Thank you to all the doctors, 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.”
He also thanked those friends and family who have supported Windsor during her final few years.
“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.”
He concluded his statement with a heartfelt message to his late wife.
"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.”
GettyWindsor’s career first began at the tender age of 13 when she began working in the theatre, appearing in a string of productions including Oh! What A Lovely War and Fings Ain't Wot They Used To Be.
She found fame starring alongside the likes of Sid James and Kenneth Williams in the his Carry On film comedy series, appearing in nine of the 31 movies made under the banner.
To many, however, she will be remembered for her performance as landlady Peggy Mitchell in Eastenders – a role she played until 2016.
First diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2014, Windsor went on to serve as an ambassador for the Alzheimer's Society and famously delivered a letter to the Prime Minister signed by 100,000 people calling for better care for people affected by dementia.
Born and raised in Shoreditch, London, Windsor boasts Irish heritage via her maternal great-grandmother, Mary, who was the daughter of Irish immigrants who fled Irish at some point between 1846 and 1851 in order to escape the Irish Potato Famine.
