Dame Barbara Windsor's face "lit up" when she heard 'EastEnders' are going to pay tribute to her legendary character.

Barbara Windsor and Scott Mitchell

Barbara Windsor and Scott Mitchell

The 82-year-old star - who played Peggy Mitchell from 1991 to 2016 - is set to have a baby named after her in the soap.

Her on-screen granddaughter Louise - played by Tilly Keeper - is pregnant with her boyfriend Keanu Taylor's (Danny Walters) baby, and the pair will name their bundle of joy Peggy.

Barbara's husband Scott Mitchell told The Sun newspaper: "She thought what a lovely thing it is Peggy Mitchell will live on in a family member. What a lovely tribute.

"It made her quite emotional and I have been reminding her each time we watch the show every night. Each time her whole face lights up."

The Queen Vic legend said goodbye to Walford following her terminal cancer storyline, which saw Peggy take her own life.

The 'Carry On' star decided to leave the BBC soap following a near six decade career after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2014.

Scott explained: "When she was doing her job, or out in public being Barbara Windsor, it didn't seem to affect her. But it was showing at home. By 2016, it was getting worse.

"The repetitiveness was becoming more common and there was slight confusion in conversation, but nothing major."

And Scott revealed how he convinced the soap's boss that Barbara should return to 'EastEnders' one last time to say goodbye to her character.

He added: "Barbara contacted the executive producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins to make the suggestion and, at first, he said, 'I can't kill an iconic character'.

"So I went to see him and, without giving the full situation, confided that she was really struggling to learn lines and wouldn't ever be coming back again after this ... Ironically, I think it's some of the best work she ever did. I was incredibly proud of her."


Tagged in