Dame Barbara Windsor diagnosed with Alzheimer’s

Legendary British performer Dame Barbara Windsor has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, her husband has revealed.

Windsor is best known for her Carry On film career and Eastenders role.

Scott Mitchell says his 80-year-old wife has kept the devastating news secret since they were first told in 2014 – but that her symptoms have grown worse in recent weeks.

“I’m doing this because I want us to be able to go out and, if something isn’t quite right, it will be OK because people will now know that she has Alzheimer’s and will accept it for what it is,” he said.

 

Only a small circle of friends were told shortly after the diagnosis, Mitchell said, revealing the news any earlier would have been detrimental to her health.

Symptoms of the condition first became evident in 2009, just before she left EastEnders for the first time, when she began finding it difficult to learn her lines. By 2016, her forgetfulness and confusion were getting worse, and it was agreed she would leave EastEnders for the final time.

Barbara Windsor has appeared in nine Carry On films and played pub landlord Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders, variously from 1991 – 2016. In 2017 she portrayed herself as a veteran showbiz star in a telemovie Babs.

Dementia Australia

Source: Telegraph