Barbara Windsor’s widower Scott Mitchell admits it was ‘horrible to witness the terror’ his late partner experienced amid her dementia battle

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Scott Mitchell, Barbara Windsor’s husband, shared that it was a heart-wrenching experience to observe the fear she faced as she fought against dementia.

Barbara, famously recognized for her role as Peggy Mitchell in the long-running BBC series EastEnders, passed away in 2020 due to complications from Alzheimer’s Disease at the age of 83.

As a devoted caretaker, I, Scott, stepped into this role for Barbara back in 2014 when her health took a turn due to the disease. Recently, I shared my experiences with BBC Newsnight, discussing her illness and its profound effect on me.

He talked about how the illness was gradually claiming her, and shared some of the difficult behaviors he encountered during this time.

In the show, he expressed that he encountered a truly lively woman named Barbara, who was not only intellectually brilliant but also had an exceptional memory.

Barbara wasn’t simply vibrant; she was easily recognizable and known to everyone. Sadly, I watched as this ruthless, dreadful illness gradually took her away from me.

During the program, he was similarly questioned about advice he might offer to individuals managing a loved one’s declining memory.

Scott advised against arguing, sharing that he learned the hard way. In simpler terms, he suggests not to challenge or contradict others. Instead, he recommends understanding and accepting their perspective, as their reality may differ significantly from ours. Essentially, he encourages stepping into their shoes and joining them on their journey.

For your comfort and their peace of mind, go along with things and put on a smile. I often smiled at Barbara quite a bit. (Informal)

OR

To avoid troubling them, let’s just roll with the punches and keep smiling. I used to flash my pearly whites at Barbara quite frequently. (Casual)

Whenever she got stuck in a cycle, she would query the same thing for the fifteenth time, and inside I felt like shouting due to the exhausting experience of dealing with this repeatedly each night, night after night. It’s taxing on a caregiver.

As an ardent admirer, I’d strive to muster a smile and offer a faint echo, as if hearing this momentous revelation for the first time. Oh, it’s heart-wrenching! It’s appalling to be a spectator, and the dread I saw her endure was indescribably distressing.

Later this year, Scott had revealed that he continues to wake up in a state of panic, concerned about the deceased star, much as he used to be when she was alive.

He shared with The Mirror that he has yet to fully recover from his sleepless nights while caring for Barbara. He often falls asleep at 11 pm, but may find himself waking up throughout the night.

Because she often had night falls, I was always mindful of her nighttime activities and remained awake most of the night, staying vigilant instead.

He commented that there are moments when he wakes up feeling alarmed, wondering if she is all right, as he once did frequently. He needs to reassure himself, saying ‘everything is fine. She’s at peace’. Thankfully, these instances occur much less frequently than they used to.

Scott is currently in a loving relationship with his new companion, Tanya Franks. In the past, he openly discussed their romantic involvement on the Lorraine show.

After the passing of his wife, Scott described how his deep-rooted friendship with Tanya, aged 57, blossomed into a romantic relationship.

In conversation with hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard, he shared that over a span of four years, they developed an extraordinary bond, and something truly beautiful emerged from that friendship.

A more natural and easily readable way to phrase this could be: ‘I am incredibly lucky to have a partner who is understanding and supportive enough to let me talk about my deceased wife, as if we were discussing something entirely the opposite of dementia – perfect memory or clarity.’

Over time, Scott and Tanya developed a strong bond while collaborating on raising awareness about Alzheimer’s through ‘Bab’s Army.’

Tanya deeply cares about Alzheimer’s, as she takes part in the London Marathon as a member of “Bab’s Army,” running for her beloved step-father Derek who is affected by it.

Tanya, a former EastEnders co-star of Barbara and portrayer of the character Rainie Cross, publicly declared her unwavering backing for Scott, as he addresses Barbara’s health struggle and his dedicated care for the beloved television personality.

Tanya expressed, “I can only back him up when the topic comes up. It’s a lonely experience when you’re caring for someone with Alzheimer’s, as you might often feel on your own.

The exchange facilitated the expansion of our support network. For Barbara, dealing with Alzheimer’s in my stepfather is just as much about preserving his legacy as it is for me. Together, we have managed to gather over a hundred thousand dollars through participating in three marathons.

Scott said, “For the upcoming marathon next year, if someone offers a million pounds, whether it’s a large corporation or sponsor, I would be willing to participate again and even shave my head on top of running the marathon.

‘I don’t want people to go through the latter stages of what I went through with Barbara.’

He mentioned: ‘She is an extraordinary woman who had known Barbara. It must not be simple to associate with someone who shared a life with Barbara Windsor, considering my ongoing efforts to engage in discussions about her.’

It appears that Tanya possesses the ability to handle such situations, indicating her strong self-assured nature. Being apart from someone does not imply turning off a faucet of affection; love is more complex and enduring than that.

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2025-08-20 10:48