Barbara Windsor’s widower Scott Mitchell has shared the heartbreaking four words the soap star asked him, in the lead up to her death.
EastEnders’ Peggy Mitchell and Carry On icon Dame Barbara died in December 2020, aged 83, following a seven-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Scott shared details of her ‘cruel’ battle with the disease during an appearance on Thursday’s Good Morning Britain, where he recalled the icon’s last moments.
The actor revealed that Barbara asked him “Are you my daddy?” as her health started to deteriorate and confusion between her present-self and childhood began.
Asked by host Richard Madeley if Barbara still knew him ‘at the very end’, Scott said: ‘She did, it came and went at times.
Barbara Windsor’s widower Scott Mitchell, 61, has shared the heartbreaking four words the soap star asked him, in the lead up to her death
EastEnders’ Peggy Mitchell and Carry On icon Dame Barbara died in December 2020, aged 83, following a seven-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease (pictured together in 2017)
‘At times she would confuse me for other people and at one point ironically she said to me “Are you my daddy?”. It’s a cruel thing to watch.’
Barbara was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2014 and kept her fight with the illness private for four years.
She and Scott married in 2000 and their romance was controversial at the time due to their 27 year age gap.
Scott, who is now in a relationship with Barbara’s former co-star Tanya Franks, also shared the moment Barbara noticed a symptom, several years before her diagnosis and EastEnders departure.
He said: ‘First signs with Barbara was a couple of times she froze at work and said that was so unusual for her on set of EastEnders.
‘She came home and said “I don’t know what’s happened, I just went blank. For the life of me, not only could I not remember the lines, I didn’t know why I was here or what I was doing”.
‘And that was way before diagnosis. I’d say that was a good three years before diagnosis.
‘She was diagnosed in 2014, this would have been happening around 2009, because she came out of the show in 2010.
Scott shared details of her ‘cruel’ battle with the disease during an appearance on Thursday’s Good Morning Britain, where he recalled the icon’s last moments
The actor revealed that Barbara asked him “Are you my daddy?” as her health started to deteriorate and confusion between her present-self and childhood began (pictured in 2019)
Asked by host Richard Madeley if Barbara still knew him ‘at the very end’, Scott said: ‘She did, it came and went at times’
‘At times she would confuse me for other people and at one point ironically she said to me “Are you my daddy?”. It’s a cruel thing to watch’, he added
She and Scott married in 2000 and their romance was controversial at the time due to their 27 year age gap (pictured in 2019)
Scott, who is now in a relationship with Barbara’s former co-star Tanya Franks, also shared the moment Barbara noticed a symptom, several years before her diagnosis
He said: ‘First signs with Barbara was a couple of times she froze at work and said that was so unusual for her on set of EastEnders. She came home and said “I don’t know what’s happened, I just went blank. For the life of me, not only could I not remember the lines”
‘And of course unfortunately, we know it’s a progressive disease, it affects so many people now, the stats are frightening, 1 in 2 of us will either be affecting personally or we will be caring for a loved one.’
Shortly after Barbara’s death, Scott said: ‘Her passing was from Alzheimer’s/dementia and Barbara eventually died peacefully and I spent the last seven days by her side.
‘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.’
