Paul O'Grady says Barbara Windsor is 'doing really well' in Alzheimer's battle

Paul O’Grady has paid tribute to both Barbara Windsor and her husband Scott Mitchell in how they’re coping with the EastEnders star’s battle with Alzheimer’s.

The comedian told the Daily Mirror that he’s been to see her since she had a pacemaker fitted, but added that while she’s keeping well, it is still ‘heartbreaking’ to see.

“She is doing really well, and he is remarkable, Scott. Since she has had the pacemaker, I’ve been to see her,” he said.

“The love they have for each other, it breaks your heart. She knows who I am. She’s fine.

“I used to look after people with Alzheimer’s and it really is hard. One minute they are really off the spectrum and the next they are lucid and saying, ‘I’m really sorry’ – it’s heartbreaking.”

Windsor recently underwent the surgery to have a pacemaker fitted, after her medication for the degenerative disease was leaving her dizzy and breathless.

Scott made an appearance on Loose Women recently, as part of the Dementia Revolution charity campaign.

During the interview, he revealed that she had briefly forgotten who he was for the first time.

“It happened the other week, I helped her out of the bath and she looked at me and said, ‘I don’t know who you are,’” he said.

“Obviously, the thing I think that most people who have a loved one with this illness will get is the testing, challenging thing of the repetitive nature of it.

“For instance, when you’re sitting there of an evening and maybe the same question comes at you, however many times, let’s say eight to 20 times in one evening, sometimes it’s hard to keep that calmness in your voice, to not show that you’re slightly irritated.

“As much as you love someone, you’re human and you get to that point where you yourself may have had a day – I’ve got my own work to do, I’m thinking about Barbara – occasionally I show it.

“And I’m always mortified afterwards if I show it. I said to [Loose Women panellist] Jane [Moore] in the interview, she won’t remember what I’ve said, but she’ll remember how I’ve made her feel.”

Windsor was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2014.

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