Western Morning News (Saturday)
Stars pay tribute to Dame Barbara Windsor
STARS have paid tribute to “larger than life” Dame Barbara Windsor following the screen legend’s death aged 83.
The much-loved EastEnders and Carry On actress, who suffered from dementia, died aged 83 on Thursday evening at a London care home, husband Scott Mitchell said. He paid tribute to his “wife, best friend and soulmate” saying his “heart or life will never feel the same without you”.
The EastEnders cast lined up to remember the actress who played Queen Vic landlady Peggy Mitchell, while other stars paid tribute to the woman dubbed “the unofficial Queen”.
The BBC One soap said in a statement that it was “deeply saddened that we’ve lost our Dame”.
“From the moment Barbara stepped foot in Walford she created an icon in Peggy Mitchell, our formidable landlady, who the audience instantly fell in love with,” it said.
“But to all of us at EastEnders, she was our dearest friend who was truly loved and adored by everyone.”
Steve McFadden, who plays Dame Barbara’s on-screen son Phil Mitchell, said he “truly loved Barbara” and will “miss her terribly”.
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“When anyone ever asked what she was like, I would always say she was everything you would hope she would be, and more,” he said. Letitia Dean, who stars as Sharon Mitchell, said the actress “will be missed beyond measure”.
She said: “They broke the mould when they made Dame Barbara Windsor, there will never be another like that incredible woman, everyone who met her loved her and she will be deeply missed.”
Shane Richie, who played Alfie Moon in Walford, said in a statement: “I’m absolutely devastated as Barbara was a friend as well as my TV boss in the Queen Vic. We shared many a story in between filming – to amazement of situations (we found ourselves in) to laughter.”
Adam Woodyatt, who plays Ian Beale, said: “I grew up watching ‘Babs’ in the Carry On films and for me to then work with her was a privilege and honour. I have so many happy memories and moments that I will always cherish, even when Peggy floored Ian with a punch.”
Larry Lamb, who played Peggy’s love interest Archie Mitchell, recalled the first time the pair met on the set of the BBC soap. “She was larger than life. She was the head girl at EastEnders, she was the one everybody respected and she liked everything to run smoothly. She was an old-school actress... She knew how to keep everybody together and make it a team, she was really special.”
Danny Dyer, the soap’s Mick Carter, wrote on Instagram: “Rest in Peace Babs. There is only one Dame in my eyes. So grateful to have known ya. You was a beautiful rare one.”
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall wrote, on the Clarence House twitter account, that the actress was a “great British actor and tireless charity campaigner who will be deeply missed”.
Patsy Palmer, who played Bianca Jackson on EastEnders, wrote on Instagram: “We shared such magical times together and I’ll cherish every one. I can hear that laugh now as I sit and think about her. I hope it’ll ring in my ears forever. She always looked out for me.”
Danniella Westbrook, who played Dame Barbara’s on-screen daughter Sam Mitchell, tweeted: “My heart is broken. Bar you will always be in my heart forever.”
Former EastEnders actress June Brown said she was thinking of Dame Barbara’s “very loving husband Scott, who has created a legacy for her by training to run marathons in her name, owing to her great popularity, to raise an enormous amount of money in aid of the charity Dementia Revolution”.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson paid tribute during a visit to Blyth in Northumberland, saying “she was one of those people that just cheered
you up, and cheered everybody up because she had a kind of irrepressible naughtiness that was totally innocent.
“And whenever she went into a room, and she did a lot of good work for charity and looking after lonely and vulnerable people, she lit up people’s faces.”
Sir Elton John said: “The world has lost the biggest ray of light. And heaven has the sweetest and funniest angel.”