Yahoo News EastEnders' Barbara Windsor moved to care home
EastEnders legend Barbara Windsor has sadly been moved into a care home, her husband Scott Mitchell has revealed.
Opening up about how the home he shared with the Peggy Mitchell actress for years now feels empty without her, but her Alzheimer's had progressed to the point where he didn't have any choice.
"I have been used to hustle and bustle in this little space, then suddenly, silence ," he told The Sun.
"All you can hear are your thoughts, and that's not always healthy. I feel I'm on an emotional rollercoaster. I walk around, trying to keep busy, then burst in to tears. It feels like a bereavement.
"It's always been my biggest fear, that one day I would have to take her somewhere and she'd be thinking, 'Why would he do this to me?' That fear has become a reality. It's something I never wanted."
Scott recalled the day two weeks ago when he had to take her there, admitting that he had to lie to her about what was happening as not to distress her.
He stated: "Walking out of the house that day was an incredibly tough thing to do because, the reality is, I doubt if Barbara will ever return. She didn't know that as we were driving off, but I did. It was an awful feeling.
"She still seems unsettled and, in her lucid moments, I can see she's worked out this isn't temporary. She's still thinking and saying I've let her down. Of course that's a painful thing to hear, but I know it's not the Barbara I know speaking.
"I put family pictures up, one of her getting her Damehood from the Queen, and one of her, Paul O'Grady and Cilla Black at the Royal Variety Performance. And framed posters of her work, like Sparrows Can't Sing, and Entertaining Mr Sloane. I've tried to make it so she looks around and there's some familiarity."
Barbara was diagnosed with the chronic neurodegenerative disease in 2014, and retired in 2018 after revealing her diagnosis publicly.
The soap paid a touching tribute to the actress last year, naming Louise Mitchell's baby Peggy to honour her.
Digital Spy has launched its first-ever digital magazine with exclusive features, interviews, and videos. Access this edition with a 1-month free trial, only on Apple News+.
Interested in Digital Spy's weekly newsletter? Sign up to get it sent straight to your inbox.
Read more EastEnders spoilers on our dedicated homepage
Want up-to-the-minute soaps news, spoilers and gossip on your social feeds? Just hit 'Like' on our Digital Spy Soaps Facebook page and 'Follow' on our @soapscoop Twitter account.
You Might Also Like
