Barbara Windsor's widower Scott 'happy' after moving on with EastEnders star who knew wife
Scott Mitchell has found love again with EastEnders star Tanya Franks, three years after losing his late wife Dame Barbara Windsor.
The couple were married for two decades. Scott, who was 26 years Dame Barbara's junior, was devoted to the actress throughout their relationship.
He cared for her right up until the end, remaining by her side as the Peggy Mitchell actress' health deteriorated. Despite his sorrow and grief, he has since found love again.
At the time of the Carry On star's death, Scott was left devastated after spending half of his life with her. Scott has now shared that despite his new romance, Dame Barbara will always remain a huge part of him – which his new partner has been accepting of.
The actor has got together with Babs' soap colleague Tanya Franks. The couple went public last summer, but Scott has admitted that he still visits Barbara’s grave regularly to speak to her.
“I’m very happy, she’s a wonderful lady who knew Barbara and is very understanding. It can’t be easy to be with someone who was the other half of Barbara Windsor.
“Especially the fact that I still put myself out there and talk about her. So, it says to me the type of person that Tanya is, that she can deal with that."
Crediting his new partner he sweetly said: “She’s very sure of herself as a person”.
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“Just because you’re not with someone for whatever reason, it doesn’t mean to say that you just switch off some valve of love”.
“There’s always going to be a place for Barbara in my heart," he candidly added.
“I might turn the TV on and suddenly she’ll be there and it takes my breath away sometimes, because I’m not expecting it.”
She was also part of an award-winning BBC Three comedy, Pulling with Sharon Horgan.
The duo became friends before their romance blossomed last year after meeting at an Alzheimer’s awareness event where they were raising money.
Scott declared: “I think we all have to be very careful when we make judgements.
“It’s like eight years of grieving, how long can I grieve for? I know [Barbara] wanted me to be happy, I know I deserve to be happy.
“It doesn’t take away anything that we shared. All of our lives go by very quickly and we can be held back by worrying what others might say. You’ve just got to live your life."