ROSS KEMP: I’m Barbara still rem
TV tough guy Ross Kemp has revealed his on-screen mum Dame Barbara Windsor still recognises him despite her battle with Alzheimer’s.
Ross, 54, who played Grant Mitchell in EastEnders, says he sees the screen legend as much as he can.
And he revealed he is just grateful the 81-year-old – who played Peggy Mitchell in the long-running BBC soap – can still tell who he is.
But he added that it is getting harder as her condition worsens.
He also praised Dame Barbara’s husband Scott Mitchell for doing such a good job taking care of her.
Ross told the Daily Star Sunday: “She’s lovely. I go round and see her but it is getting harder.
“I can’t reiterate enough how much Scott is doing for her. He’s going above and beyond in the way he’s looking after her.
“And you’ve got to remember he’s also an agent – he looks after both Lacey Turner and June Brown. So he’s juggling all that.”
He added: “Barbara has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s but she still knows who I am.”
Dame Barbara was diagnosed with the degenerative disease in April 2014, but only went public with the heartbreaking news last year.
Ross, who is as well-known for his hard-hitting telly documentaries, last returned to Albert Square in 2016 after Dame Barbara asked him to come back for Peggy’s exit.
And he hasn’t ruled out another return to Albert Square. Producer Kate Oates – who previously worked on Emmerdale – is now at the helm.
Ross said: “Everybody is saying how fantastic she is and I would love to meet her and have a chat.
“But it’s down to her, not me. It’s always a big undertaking working on a soap, but you would never say never.
“And I think nowadays you can be in a soap and do documentaries and, of course, shows like Car SOS.”