Dame Barbara Windsor’s widower Scott Mitchell has addressed backlash to his romance with Tayna Franks, who also briefly starred in EastEnders .
Windsor, who played Peggy Mitchell in the BBC series, died in 2020 at the age of 83, after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease seven years earlier.
The soap legend, who was also known for her roles in the Carry On films, married Mitchell, 62, in 2000.
Mitchell confirmed his relationship with Franks in 2023, after becoming friends with the actor through his fundraising work for Alzheimer’s Research UK.
Franks made guest appearances on the soap since 2007, playing Rainie Cross, the sister of Jo Joyner’s Tanya Branning, and also starred in Sharon Horgan’s sitcom Pulling.
Speaking on Kate Thornton’s White Wine Question Time podcast, Mitchell said that although some people might think that he has “moved on too fast” after Windsor’s death, his late wife “never” wanted him to be alone.
“I would like to believe she would be happy that someone was there by my side and that I wasn't on my own,” he told Thornton. “She always used to say to me, ‘I never want you to be on your own.’”
“There was a bit of, ‘Oh he’s moved on too fast,’” he added. “And you just think, ‘How dare you?’ People don’t know the pain. They don’t know what the grief has been.”
“I don't think anyone ever gets over a loss of someone they love so deeply. I think we find ways of carrying them with us, and that’s what I try to do every day.”
Mitchell and Franks previously made a joint appearance on This Morning in order to raise awareness of the disease, which also affected Franks’ late stepfather.
“We forged an incredible friendship over the four years and something wonderful blossomed out of it,” Mitchell told the show. “The exact opposite of what dementia is.
“I’m very fortunate that I have a partner that doesn’t mind me speaking about my late wife.”
“I can do nothing but support him in talking about it,” Franks added. “You often feel alone in it when you are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s.”
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