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Peggy Mitchell 2016

Dame Barbara Ann Deeks, better known by her stage name Barbara Windsor, was born on 6th August 1937 in London, England. She was an English actress. Who portrayed Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders from 1994 to 2010 and appearing sporadically from 2013 to 2016 when her character was killed off by committing suicide after a battle with cancer. Barbara took over the role of Peggy from Jo Warne.

PeggyMitchell 2016

Barabara as Peggy Mitchell.

Barabara's other roles include The Carry on Films and Alice and Wonderland films. Barabara was married to Ronnie Knight and Stephen Hollinge before meeting her third husband, Scott Mitchell staying with him until her death. Barbara sadly passed away on 10th December 2020.

EastEnders[]

Dame Barbara Windsor

Dame Barbara Windsor

Barbara once claimed that her biggest professional regret was that they only wanted unknown faces in TV's EastEnders.[1]

In 1994, Barbara was cast in the series. She took over the role Peggy Mitchell (previously played by Jo Warne in 1991), for which she received the Best Actress award at the British Soap Awards in 1999 and a Lifetime Achievement award from the same source in 2009.

A debilitating case of the Epstein-Barr virus forced a two year absence from EastEnders from 2003 to 2005. During this period she made a two episode appearance in 2004. She rejoined the cast in mid 2005 on a one year contract. The Doctor Who episode "Army of Ghosts" broadcast on 1st July 2006 included a specially recorded clip from a fictional episode of EastEnders featuring her appearing in character.

In October 2009, Barbara announced she was to quit her role as Peggy Mitchell, saying she wanted to spend more time with her husband.[2] On 10 September 2010, her character left Albert Square after a fire at The Queen Victoria pub, of which she was the owner. Following her on-screen departure, she ruled out ever returning to the series.[3]

In July 2013, it was announced that Barbara was to return for one episode, which aired on 20th September 2013. She again returned for a single episode on 25th September 2014, and made a further appearance for EastEnders thirtieth anniversary on 17th February 2015. In February 2015, Barbara, along with Pam St Clement (Pat Evans), took part in EastEnders: Back to Ours to celebrate thirty years of EastEnders. Barbara and Pam looked back on some of their characters' most dramatic moments.

In November 2015, Barabara secretly filmed a return to EastEnders, which was shown in January 2016. After this, the character was confirmed to be killed off later in the year. This was Barbara's decision, as she said that as long as Peggy were alive, she would always be drawn back to playing her. Her last appearance aired on BBC One on 17th May 2016.

On 29th December 2020, in the closing credits of the episode which showcased the entire cast and crew of 2020 along with a message “In Loving Memory Of Dame Barbara Windsor MBE”.

  1. Hibbin, Sally and Nina Hibbin. What a Carry On: The Official Story of the Carry On Film series, Hamlyn, 1988. ISBN 0-600-55819-3 p. 43
  2. "Actress Windsor Quits EastEnders". United Kingdom: BBC News. 28 October 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8329637.stm. Retrieved 3 December 2009. 
  3. Connolly, Lucy (30 September 2010). "Babs: I'll never return to Enders". The Sun (London). http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/soaps/3159093/Actress-Barbara-Windsor-73-says-she-wont-return-to-soap-opera-Eastenders.html. Retrieved 1 October 2010. 
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