“Even now, Barbara wants to help”
Ross Kemp on making a documentary about his friend and former co-star Dame Barbara Windsor’s battle with dementia ROSS KEMP: LIVING WITH DEMENTIA
NEW THU / ITV / 7.30PM (NOT SCOT) / EP 1 of 2 / FACTUAL
oss Kemp and Dame Barbara Windsor became good friends while costarring as hard man Grant Mitchell and his mum, Peggy, in BBC1 soap Eastenders.
Having branched out into presenting documentaries, their friendship has inspired Ross’ most personal project yet, a two-parter about dementia showing as part of a new run of his acclaimed
ITV Living With… series.
Now 82, Dame Barbara was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2014 and her husband, Scott Mitchell, has been her primary carer.
In the documentary, Ross, 55, hears from Scott about how the disease has affected their lives, and also meets other, much younger people who have the condition.
Here, Ross tells TV Times why he is telling the couple’s story…
RGiven your history with Dame Barbara, this must have been a very personal documentary… It is, and it’s been emotional. It’s about the impact of dementia not just on the person who has it, but also on their carer and immediate family.
Why did you want to raise awareness of this subject?
After COVID-19 is over, dementia will be by far the biggest killer in this country. More and more people are going to get it, and there’s no cure.
What did Scott tell you about his and Dame Barbara’s
experience?
He’s given a very honest appraisal of what’s happening for them, and what the future holds. I was welling up because it was heartbreaking.
How would you describe her? Barbara is incredibly sharp and fun, with a rapier wit. Woe betide anyone who gets on the wrong side of her, because they end up getting told, but in a humorous way.
What changes have you seen in her as a result of
her condition?
Close-knit: Ross, Dame Barbara and Steve as the Mitchells
The last time I saw her, she recognised me when I walked in, but after five minutes she didn’t know who I was.
Did you talk to Scott about your time with her on
Eastenders?
We looked at photos of
Barbara when she was younger, and of the two of us together, and my God, I look young – still bald, but young! We also talked about how he’s coped during lockdown.
What was your first day working with Dame Barbara like?
I remember walking her onto the set. They’d put her in a red wig, and I said, ‘That’s wrong – you’re not really famous for being a redhead!’ And she replied, ‘It’s going, dear, don’t worry!’ We had a good laugh about that.
Did you know Dame Barbara before she joined the cast of Eastenders in 1994?
I’d met her three or four times. Steve [Mcfadden, who plays
Grant Mitchell’s brother, Phil] and I really wanted her to play our mum, and we’d really pushed for it.
Did she feel the pressure of joining such a huge show?
You have to remember that those were the days when Eastenders was getting around 23 million
viewers! It’s very different going on to that set as a nobody, which is what happened to me.
What do you think the experience was like for her? She was so successful…
For Barbara, a nation was tuning in to watch her first scene, which was with me. She said, ‘I can’t believe I’m doing this!’, walked round the corner and was sick! Then she had a glass of water and said, ‘Come on, dear, let’s get on with it!’ It was the start of a friendship that has endured.
How well do you know Scott?
We got on well from the moment that I met him through Barbara. He’s a lovely, genuine guy who’s raised millions for dementia charities. I’m Scott’s mate, and that won’t change whatever happens.
Did you see much of Scott and Dame Barbara before lockdown? Whenever I’m in London, I’ll see them both, or Scott on his own if Barbara’s not up to it.
Why do you think dementia is particularly tough on the carers? They can suffer incredible depression and guilt, along the lines of, ‘Why is it them and not me? Why am I watching this person slip through my hands and can’t do anything about it?’
How keen was Dame Barbara to help promote awareness of dementia? Barbara wanted her celebrity to be put to good use – that’s one of the reasons why she’s a dame. She’s always tried to help charities and people who are less fortunate than herself. And she’s even doing that now, which tells you a lot about what she’s like as a person.
Did the fact that you knew them encourage Scott to get involved in the documentary? He trusts me to be fair and honest. And we both love Barbara, as do lots of other people. But for him, it’s a different kind of love – she’s the love of his life, for the past 30 years.
So it’s a testament to him that he agreed to get involved.
How would you describe the effects of dementia?
It is a cruel disease that slowly wipes you, like a rubber erasing who you are, what you’ve done and everything you’ve strived to achieve. You go back to your childhood, basically. It’s like being held a prisoner in your own head – something I certainly don’t want to happen to me.
But, sadly, we have no choice about these things.
● Dementia is a term used to describe different brain disorders that affect memory, thinking, behaviour and emotion. There is currently no cure, but treatment can improve symptoms.
● Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia.
● Early symptoms of dementia can include memory loss, difficulty performing familiar tasks, problems with language and changes in personality.
● There are currently estimated to be around 50 million people worldwide living with dementia.
● Dementia is the biggest killer in the United Kingdom.
● Women living with dementia outnumber men almost two to one.
For more information on dementia, visit www.nhs.uk/ conditions/dementia
AFTER FIVE MINUTES
BARBARA DIDN’T KNOW WHO I WAS