EastEnders star Dame Barbara Windsor dies aged 83

It has been announced that Dame Barbara Windsor, EastEnders and Carry On actress, has died aged 83.

Barbara's husband, Scott Mitchell, made the announcement on 10 December, writing in a statement, "It is with deep sadness that I can confirm that my darling wife Barbara passed away at 8.35pm on Thursday 10 December at a London care home."

He continued, "Her passing was from Alzheimer’s/dementia and Barbara eventually died peacefully and I spent the last seven days by her side.

"Myself, her family and friends will remember Barbara with love, a smile and affection for the many years of her love, fun, friendship and brightness she brought to all our lives and the entertainment she gave to so many thousands of others during her career.

"Barbara’s final weeks were typical of how she lived her life. Full of humour, drama and a fighting spirit until the end."

He added, "It was not the ending that Barbara or anyone else living with this very cruel disease deserves.

"I will always be immensely proud of Barbara’s courage, dignity and generosity dealing with her own illness and still trying to help others by raising awareness for as long as she could.”

Barbara was diagnosed with Alzheimers in 2014 but didn't make the news public until 2018.

In her life, Barbara was known as the EastEnders Queen Vic landlady, Peggy Mitchell, up until 2016 when she left the show after 22 years.

Barbara was also known for her role in the Carry On films, which she starred in through the '60s and '70s, appearing in nine films altogether.

TV stars have flooded social media to pay tribute to Barbara, with her EastEnders co-star, Patsy Palmer (who played Bianca Jackson) writing, "We were like family for a long time, ups downs, ins and outs, but you will never meet a more professional actress than Babs... I can hear that laugh now as I sit and think about her. I hope it'll ring in my ears forever."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson also took to Twitter to pay his respects, writing, "So sad about Barbara Windsor, so much more than a great pub landlady & Carry On star.

"She campaigned for the lonely and the vulnerable - and cheered the world up with her own British brand of harmless sauciness & innocent scandal. Thoughts with Scott and all her family & friends."

Our thoughts are with Barbara's family and friends at this time.

If you have been affected by Alzheimer's, please contact Alzheimer Society who support anyone affected by it.