Larry Lamb has remembered Dame Barbara Windsor as the "head girl" of 'EastEnders'.
Dame Barbara Windsor
The 73-year-old star has paid tribute to his late pal and co-star following her death on Thursday (10.12.20) aged 83 following a long battle with Alzheimer’s, and he recalled the star always insisting "everybody got on and did their work" when she was playing iconic soap character Peggy Mitchell on the BBC show.
Larry - who played Barbara's on-screen husband Archie Mitchell on 'EastEnders' from 2008 to 2010 - said: "She was really something else. It's a real sad moment.
"The first thing she said to me was, 'Oh, you're a bit tall aren't you? Never mind, we're all the same size lying down.'
"She was quite a character. Within 'EastEnders' she was like the head girl. She insisted everybody got on and did their work. She was a very professional actress.
"There was no messing around with her. She was always on top of her lines and not very happy if other people weren't on top of their lines.
"For so many people, she was a major part of their lives."
Despite her showbiz status, Larry admitted Barbara was "absolutely real" when she spoke to people and "something special in life and particularly in Albert Square".
He added: "She's such a tiny little thing. They had to have a special raised platform for her [behind the Queen Vic bar], otherwise she would be lost behind the beer pumps.
"She was something special in life and particularly in Albert Square.
"She was absolutely real. When she was talking to you there was no sense that there was some special person talking to you.
"She had a way of being able to conduct herself and relate to people that was just exactly from where she had grown up. She was her. She was Barbara."
Larry also praised Barbara's husband Scott for taking care of her and "worshipping her", particularly during her battle with Alzheimer's.
Speaking on 'Good Morning Britain', he added: "Poor Scott was just a tower of strength. Standing by her and looking after her, and worshipping her. Just an extraordinary father figure for her, which is exactly what she needed.
"He was the man of her dreams. Absolutely trustworthy and reliable. A delightful guy to be around."
Scott has remembered his late wife for the "love, fun, friendship and brightness" she brought to people's lives.
He said: "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."
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