Barbara Windsor's widower pictured with new girlfriend Tanya Franks

Barbara Windsor’s widower Scott Mitchell pictured with EastEnders star Tanya Franks for the first time since their blossoming romance was revealed

Barbara Windsor’s widower Scott Mitchell and EastEnders actress Tanya Franks have been pictured enjoying a stroll together days after their relationship was revealed.

Scott’s wife of 27 years Dame Barbara died in December 2020, aged 83, following a seven-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

And Scott, 60, and Tanya, 55, who played drug addict prostitute Rainie Cross on the soap, made their relationship official earlier this month while on holiday in Greece.

The happy couple were spotted wandering the streets of London over the weekend.

Scott donned a funky blue and white floral shirt along with a pair of blue denim jeans for the casual day out.

New love: Barbara Windsor’s widower Scott Mitchell and EastEnders actress Tanya Franks have been pictured enjoying a stroll together days after they confirmed their relationship

He also opted for a pair of cream Dr Marten-style shoes and carried a large bouquet- of flowers.

Meanwhile, Tanya looked the epitome of chic as she donned a floral blouse and a pair of slim-fit denim blue jeans to match Scott.

Scott and Tanya are in the early stages of dating, having forged a close friendship over the years as they worked together to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s with ‘Bab’s Army’.

In 2019, Scott ran the London Marathon alongside Tanya and raised thousands Alzheimer’s Research UK in Barbara’s memory.

Alzheimer’s is close to Tanya’s heart as she also ran in honour of her step-father Derek.

Scott and Tanya ran the London Marathon together again this year with fellow EastEnders stars as part of Bab’s Army.

A source told The Sun, Scott is ‘truly happy’. They said: ‘Scott has found love again with Tanya and is truly happy. His and Barbara’s friends are delighted he’s found someone to share his life with.

‘It’s fairly early days but Scott is cautiously now looking forward to the future. They decided to update their wider circles while on holiday in Greece and everyone was over the moon.

‘There is so much friendship and respect between them both and they’re taking things slowly.’

Happy: Scott, 60, and Tanya, 55, who played drug addict prostitute Rainie Cross on the soap, made their relationship official earlier this month while on holiday in Greece 

Romance: The happy couple were recently spotted wandering the streets of London over the weekend

Scott and Tanya were pictured in each other’s company late last month as they attended the Ashley Brodin summer garden party lunch.

Tanya has appeared in 382 episodes of EastEnders. She made her debut as Rainie back in 2007 and signed a full-time contract in 2018.

Her last appearance on the soap was in June last year.

During her seven-episode guest stint in 2010, the character even had a fling with Phil Mitchell, played by Steve McFadden, who was Barbara’s on-screen son. The duo crossed paths while Rainie sought crack cocaine from a drunken Phil.

The story was widely panned and branded ‘horrid’ and ‘inappropriate’, while former star of the show Natalie Cassidy, who plays Sonia Fowler, described the storyline as ‘shocking’.

Aside from EastEnders, she has a whole host of TV credits to her name including’ Family Affairs, The Bill, Pulling and Broadchurch.

Matchy: Scott donned a funky blue and white floral shirt. Meanwhile Tanya looked the epitome of chic as she donned a floral blouse and a pair of slim-fit denim blue jeans to match Scott

Barbara was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2014 and kept her fight with the illness private for four years.

After her death, Scott said: ‘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.’

After her death, Scott said he thought he would never be able to love again. He heartbreakingly said last year: ‘I was blessed to have crossed paths with Barbara.

Well loved: Dame Barbara died in December 2020, aged 83, following a seven-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease [pictured 2011] 

‘On paper, it shouldn’t have worked, but it did with us and I am so thankful that she chose me to share her life with because I don’t think I will ever find another.’

Before her relationship with Scott, Tanya was married to fellow actor James Barriscale, with whom she founded the film and theatre production company Stock-pot Productions. He played Jonathan Malnet, the adoptive father of Jade Green on the soap.

James also starred in The Bill. It is not known when the couple split.

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

While little is known of his dating life before meeting the iconic star, Scott has shed light on the intricacies of their romance, amid rumours they had ‘an open marriage’.

Kind: Tanya had a close bond with Barbara and this year ran the London Marathon as part of Bab’s Army. When Barbara died she shared this photo on Instagram alongside a tribute

Get out me pub! Barbara played Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders [pictured with her sons Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp) and Phil (Steve McFadden) in 2016] 

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

He explained that their relationship was not a ‘closed book’, with Barbara not wanting her husband to ‘stop living his life to the full’. In the book, he wrote: ‘Ours was not an open relationship, but it wasn’t a closed book either…

‘She had always said sex was sex and love was love, and she wasn’t one for double standards, so she kept her reservations to herself and never asked me directly.’

Former cocaine addict Scott was supported by Barbara through his battle, as she revealed in her autobiography: ‘ I think I could have stopped Scott’s spiral of self-destruction had it not been for another craving that transformed him from the wonderful guy I loved into a sad, pathetic creature I hardly recognised.

‘I would look at him and think: I’ve done nothing wrong and yet I’ve managed to ruin this man’s life. Scott would see the tears in my eyes and promise to go on the wagon. But it never lasted for more than three or four days and then he would be off on another bender.’

Eventually, Scott received treatment for his addiction with the guidance of Elton John’s manager John Reid and treatment from therapist Beechy Colclough.

Happiness: In 2019, Scott ran the London Marathon alongside Tanya and raised thousands Alzheimer’s Research UK in Barbara’s memory

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