Barbara Windsor's widow Scot Mitchell reveals trolls abuse
‘Someone said ”I see the long game paid off”’: Barbara Windsor’s widower Scott Mitchell reveals trolls accused him of being with the EastEnders star for her money after her death
Barbara Windsor’s widower Scott Mitchell has revealed that cruel trolls accused him of being with the late EastEnders star for her money after her death.
The actor, 59, – who is preparing to release his new book, By Your Side My Life Loving Barbara Windsor – was married to the actress for 20 years but was told: ‘I see the long game paid off’ when she passed away.
Peggy Mitchell icon Barbara died in December 2020 aged 83 following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease and reportedly left £4.6million to Scott in her will.
Upsetting: Barbara Windsor’s widower Scott Mitchell has revealed that cruel trolls accused him of being with the late EastEnders star for her money after her death
The pair married in April 2000 but due to their 27-year age-gap were often subjected to unwanted commentary regarding their relationship, despite the pair enjoying a long and happy marriage.
Scott has now explained that after letting Companies House know that Barbara had passed away, their joint company moved into his sole name – something which was reported by an online news site.
He then explained to The Sun: ‘I don’t look at comments but for some reason, one was above the line and someone had said, ‘I see the long game paid off.’
‘After 27 years and everything we went through together, it was shocking that someone could actually think like that. But it showed me that whatever you do, there’s always going to be someone critical.
Loss: The actor, 59, – who is preparing to release his new book, By Your Side My Life Loving Barbara Windsor – was married to the actress for 20 years but was told: ‘I see the long game paid off’ when she passed away (pictured in 2019)
‘So I thought, ‘Just tell your story like Barbara said you should’.
Speaking to the publication he also reflected on his life without her and said he still wakes up in the night thinking ‘is Barbara ok’ before remembering that she is gone.
He also revealed how he met with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson in August this year to discuss plans to call the £95million set aside for dementia research The Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Mission – something he hopes Johnson’s successor Liz Truss will see through.
Barbara was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2014 and kept her fight with the illness private for four years.
Passing: Peggy Mitchell icon Barbara died in December 2020 aged 83 following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease and reportedly left £4.6million to Scott in her will (pictured in 2010)
After her death, Scott told PA: ‘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.’
Barbara played Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders for more than 20 years.
Icon: Dame Barbara is pictured as Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders, 1994. She appeared on the soap from 1991 to 2010, and made several guest appearances before leaving for good in 2016
The late actress appeared in a host of Carry On movies between 1964 and 1974, including Carry On Spying, Carry On Doctor and Carry On Camping.
In true icon style, Barbara’s final TV role was starring in her own biopic, which chronicled her humble beginnings in Shoreditch up to 1993, with Jaime Winstone and Samantha Spiro playing the star at different points in her life.
The amount Dame Barbara left to various loved ones, co-stars and charities in her will following her December 2020 death was ‘revealed’ last year.
Not only did the star reportedly give £4.3million to Scott, but she also donated £1000 each to seven different charities, according to The Sun.
Estate: Scott was reportedly left Barbara’s £4.63million estate after her death (pictured together at an event in 2017)
Barbara also left 85-year-old Anna Karen – who played Peggy Mitchell’s sister Aunt Sal in EastEnders – £1000.
The paper added that £5,000 was left to Barbara’s sister-in-law Marsha Alexander and her husband Laurence. £2000 went to her cousins Leslie Larsen and Julie Elliot.
The NSPCC, Breast Cancer Care, Help The Aged, Grand Order Of Lady Ratlings, National Osteoporisis Society, Headley Court (a wounded soldiers rehab centre) and Age UK made up the seven charities that Barbara left £1000 each to.
Scott was left the rest of Barbara’s £4.63million estate.
WHAT IS ALZHEIMER’S?
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive, degenerative disease of the brain, in which build-up of abnormal proteins causes nerve cells to die.
This disrupts the transmitters that carry messages, and causes the brain to shrink.
More than 5 million people suffer from the disease in the US, where it is the 6th leading cause of death, and more than 1 million Britons have it.
WHAT HAPPENS?
As brain cells die, the functions they provide are lost.
That includes memory, orientation and the ability to think and reason.
The progress of the disease is slow and gradual.
On average, patients live five to seven years after diagnosis, but some may live for ten to 15 years.
EARLY SYMPTOMS:
- Loss of short-term memory
- Disorientation
- Behavioral changes
- Mood swings
- Difficulties dealing with money or making a phone call
LATER SYMPTOMS:
- Severe memory loss, forgetting close family members, familiar objects or places
- Becoming anxious and frustrated over inability to make sense of the world, leading to aggressive behavior
- Eventually lose ability to walk
- May have problems eating
- The majority will eventually need 24-hour care
Source: Alzheimer’s Association
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