5 MINUTES WITH...

Dame Barbara Windsor, 79, who this week has a cameo role in BBC1 drama Babs – based on the legendary actress’ life story...

How did the idea of Babs come about?

I’ve been approached a couple of times about my life story being done, but it had always worried me as to how it would be portrayed. Then the excellent Tony Jordan told me he felt my life needed to be told and that he wanted to “get behind the giggle and the wiggle.” That sold it to me.

Did you have input in the script?

I had many meetings with Tony where I would sit on a sofa and we would chat about specific moments in my life; it was like going to therapy! I tried to give him as much freedom and trust to write his story of me in an honest way.

How do you feel about Jaime Winstone and Samantha Spiro playing you?

I was kept in the loop regarding the casting and I saw some audition tapes. It’s a strange feeling looking at someone who is supposedly being you! When Jaime was 15, she sat behind me in a theatre with her dad, Ray, and she giggled and sounded like me. I turned around and joked, “You should play me one day.” Life has a funny way of coming full circle.

Did you choose which years the drama covered?

That was Tony’s choice. He starts it at a time when things were difficult for me. It was before I landed the role of Peggy Mitchell in Eastenders, my second marriage was at an end. I was on the verge of bankruptcy and I had just met Scott (husband Scott Mitchell) who was 26 years my junior.

How did it feel when you watched it back?

It was very emotional. At times I could hear Scott crying sitting next to me. At the end I stood up and walked out of the room and had a good cry, too.