Ooh er! Everything you need to know about Babs – the new Barbara Windsor biopic

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by Emma Dodds |
Published on

Jaime Winstone and Samantha Spiro will star as Barbara Windsor in the new BBC One drama about her life

National treasure Barbara Windsor has been stealing the hearts of the UK since she first burst onto our screens as the blonde bombshell in the Carry On series in 1964.

Younger generations will know her as the Mitchell matriarch in EastEnders - and we were all devastated by Peggy's death in May last year.

And now that the BBC are making a drama about her life, we feel sure that even MORE people will fall in love with Barbara.

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Barbara has been in show business since 1950 (Credit: BBC Pictures) ©BBC Pictures

The drama, called Babs, will be aired on BBC One this Sunday at 8pm and will star Jaime Winstone (daughter of Ray), as young Barbara.

As you can see from the pics, she is the absolute image of Barbara from her Carry On days!

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Jaime will star as Young Barbara in the film of her life (Credit: BBC Pictures) ©BBC Pictures

As well as being a talented actress, Jaime can also sing - having featured on many different tracks, including The Streets' When You Wasn't Famous.

Yet another thing she has in common with our Babs!

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Babs gave Jaime her seal of approval (Credit: BBC Pictures) ©BBC Pictures

Jaime described it as "a complete honour to play Dame Barbara Windsor" in the new show, saying: "It is a role I have manifested for years and am so excited to step into her national treasure shoes!

"I have always been a huge fan of Barbara and to be able to play her throughout this stage in her life is gonna be very special. I can't wait to start filming."

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Jaime has been practising the Babs giggle (Credit: BBC Pictures) ©BBC Pictures

The 90-minute drama will take us through Barbara's life - from her very early childhood, through her relationships with husband Ronnie Knight and her brief liaison with infamous gangster Reggie Kray.

Whilst Jaime was pretty nervous to try and BE Barbara when she was right there on set, there was a particularly lovely moment they shared.

She said: "Once she came up to me and said, 'Oh darling, you're more me than me', and that was a huge pat on the back.

"She said, 'At the end of the day, this is your role.' That's what makes her even more amazing – this is her life story and she had the grace to sit back and tell me it was also my job.

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The three Barbaras - Samantha Spiro, Barbara Windsor and Jaime Winstone (Credit: BBC Pictures) ©BBC Pictures

Sounds like Jaime has Babs' seal of approval!

But it's not just Ms Winstone who will be playing the legendary Barbara Windsor - Jaime will be sharing the role with Samantha Spiro, who will portray an older Babs.

Whilst you might not instantly recognise the name, you'll Samantha's face from various bits and bobs. But her best credentials for the show are probably the fact that she has actually played Barbara before.

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Samantha has played Barbara many times (Credit: BBC Pictures) ©BBC Pictures

Yes, Samantha Spiro starred as Babs in Cor, Blimey!, a TV film that aired back in 2000 exploring the relationship between Barbara and her Carry On co-star Sid James.

She also played her on-stage in Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick, which was a play about the stars of Carry On.

Basically, there's literally no-one better equipped to play Babs than Samantha!

Apart from perhaps, you know, Barbara herself.

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Samantha will be portraying Barbara when she is a little older (Credit: BBC Pictures) ©BBC Pictures

You may recognise a few other famous faces in the show, too.

There's Nick Moran, who is most famous for his lead role as Eddy in Lock, Stocks and Two Smoking Barrels. He will be playing John Deeks, Barbara's dad.

Barbara's mum Rose will be played by Leanne Best, who has appeared in loads of British telly such as Ripper Street, Casualty, Doctors and Line of Duty, as well as having a role in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

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Nick Moran and Leanne Best will play John and Rose Deeks, Barbara's parents (Credit: BBC Pictures) ©BBC Pictures

The show will also feature another British TV legend - Zoë Wanamaker will appear in the show as Joan Littlewood, a famous playwright whose theatre group Barbara joined.

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Zoë Wanamaker will be back on our screens! (Credit: BBC Pictures) ©BBC Pictures

We just cannot wait to watch the show and learn more about Barbara's life!

Babs will air on BBC One this Sunday at 8pm.

Will you be tuning in this Sunday? Are you a fan of Barbara Windsor? Let us know over on Facebook and Twitter.

Like this? Now read these:

EastEnders’s Barbara Windsor hits back at Danniella Westbrook’s ‘snub’ claims

Barbara Windsor on Eastenders tensions: 'I fell out with Jessie Wallace'

Dame Barbara Windsor honored at TV Choice Awards

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