Dame Barbara Windsor’s widower Scott Mitchell admits that he ‘still wakes up in panic’ worry about the late star

Lady Barbara WindsorThe widower Scott Mitchell has shared that he ‘still wakes up in panic’ worry about the deceased star, as he did when she was still alive.

Barbara, known for her representation of Peggy Mitchell in the BBC soap Eastersdied Alzheimer’s Illness in 2020 at the age of 83.

Scott, 62, who became Barbara’s caretaker in 2014 when she fell ill with the disease, said that he would always be ‘constant alert’ in the night in case she had a fall.

And years after her death, Scott admitted that he still has trouble sleeping all night.

He told The mirror: ‘I never recovered from my sleep when I took care of Barbara. I will fall asleep at 11 am, but I can wake up all night.

‘I was so conscious when she came up at night because she fell at night. So I never really slept. I was always alert. ‘

Dame Barbara Windsor’s widower Scott Mitchell, 62, shared that he ‘still wakes up in panic’ worry about the deceased star, as he did when she was alive

Barbara, known for her representation of Peggy Mitchell in the BBC Soap Opera Easters, died of Alzheimer’s disease in 2020 at the age of 83 (shown together in 2019)

He added: ‘There are times when I wake up and I panic because I think, is she good with her? Like before. I have to talk to myself and say: “It’s okay. She has peace”. It is much less than before now. ‘

Scott and his new partner Tanya Franks spoke earlier about their romance on Lorraine.

In the aftermath of the loss of his wife, Scott described how his ‘incredible friendship’ with Tanya, 57, became a romance.

Speak with hosts Cat Deeley And Ben ShephardHe said: ‘We have forged an incredible friendship for four years and something great bloomed …

“The opposite of what dementia is. I am very happy that I have a partner who doesn’t mind talking about my deceased wife. ‘

Scott and Tanya forged a close friendship over the years while they worked together to increase consciousness over Alzheimer’s with ‘Bab’s Army’.

Alzheimer is close to the heart of Tanya with her running in the Marathon of London as part of Bab’s army for her stepfather Derek.

Tanya, who knew Easters -star Barbara and played drug -addicted prostitute Rainie Cross on the soap, admitted that she can ‘do nothing but support’ about the struggle of Barbara and his work in the care of the TV icon.

Scott, who became Barbara’s caretaker in 2014 when she fell ill with the disease, said that he would always be ‘constant alert’ at night in case she had a fall

Scott now has a relationship with his new partner Tanya Franks (shown together in 2024), Barbara’s former Easters Co-star and good friend

Tanya had a close relationship with Barbara and this year the London Marathon ran as part of Bab’s army. When Barbara died, she shared this photo on Instagram next to a tribute

Barbara and Scott married in 2000 and their romance was controversial at the time due to their 27-year-old age gap (depicted in 2000)

Tanya played crack-cocaine addict as Rainie Cross on the BBC soap where her storyline followed her and Barbara’s son Phil Mitchell on the screen

Tanya said: ‘I can do nothing but support him to talk about it. You often feel alone when you take care of someone Alzheimer’s…

‘The support system could grow through communication. Barbara is just as good about the legacy of Alzheimer’s as I am with my stepfather. They are hundreds of thousands we raised by doing the three marathons. ‘

Scott repeated: “If someone wants to give someone a million pounds, a large company or sponsor for next year’s marathon, I will do another marathon and shave my hair, and that is the big, shaving my hair.”

“I don’t want people to go through the last phases of what I have experienced with Barbara.”

He said: “She is a great lady who knew Barbara. It cannot be easy to be with someone who was the other half of Barbara Windsor, especially the fact that I still placed myself there and talks about her.

‘So it tells me the type of person who is Tanya, that she can deal with it. She is very sure of herself as a person. Only because for whatever reason you are not with someone, you do not want to say that you simply eliminate a valve of love. ‘