Dame Barbara Windsor dies with dementia, aged 83

Actress and national treasure Dame Barbara Windsor has died with dementia, her husband has confirmed.

The iconic actress – best known for her roles as Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders, and in the Carry On films – passed away peacefully on Thursday evening at a London care home with her husband Scott Mitchell by her side.

In a moving tribute, Scott, who went public with her diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease in 2018 to help other families who have loved-ones battling the disease, said he had lost his wife, best friend and soulmate.

Dame Barbara was a star of stage and screen since she was just 12 years old and enjoyed a career spanning nearly six decades. She was awarded a Damehood in 2016 for services to showbusiness and charity.

And in 2019, Dame Barbara and Scott became the faces of Dementia Revolution – a joint campaign between Alzheimer’s Research UK and Alzheimer’s Society – as Charity of the Year for the 2019 Virgin Money London Marathon.

The year-long campaign, leading up to race day on Sunday 28 April 2019, raised an incredible £4 million, making it one of the most successful Charity of the Year partnerships in the history of the London Marathon.

Scott ran the marathon as part of Barbara’s Revolutionaries – a team of friends and EastEnders cast members – helping to raise over £150,000 to fund pioneering research at the UK Dementia Research Institute.

“We’re devastated to learn of the death of Dame Barbara and our hearts and condolences go out to her husband Scott and the family. “We will all remember Dame Barbara’s warmth and effervescence, but Alzheimer’s Research UK and thousands affected by dementia will be forever grateful for her dignified contribution to dementia campaigning in her final years. “Dame Barbara’s work in helping to rally support and demystify an often-misunderstood condition made a difference to us and many others and further adds to her legacy as a one of the nation’s favourites. She was a friend to our charity, and we are desperately sad to lose her.”