Barbara Windsor gave husband Scott Mitchell her blessing to move on after she died

The husband of the late Dame Barbara Windsor opened up about how the EastEnders star encouraged him to find a new love before she died at the age of 83.

Windsor and Scott Mitchell tied the knot in 2000 after eight years of dating, and enjoyed sharing their lives together for 20 years before she died in 2020.

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Last year, Mitchell admitted that he still thought 'of the good times' with Windsor to help him cope with his grief, adding at the time: "I lost my best friend. My other half. That's what I lost. That's why I still feel that sense now that she still is there with me. Sometimes feeling the loneliness that she's not there any more."

Three years on, Mitchell has now found love again with another EastEnders star, actor Tanya Franks, who played Rainie Cross, Tanya Branning’s sister, in the soap between August 2007 and August 2022.

Mitchell went public with his relationship with Franks while on holiday in Greece this month, and has since told The Sun: "Life feels really good right now and we are enjoying some special time together."

Mitchell added that friends and families are thrilled to see them both so happy; especially considering Windsor's wishes for her husband before she died.

The actor passed away after being diagnosed with Alzheimers disease in 2014, but told Mitchell, who was 26 years younger than her, to carry on living his life to the full.

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The widower opened up about Windsor's wishes for him in an interview with Best magazine earlier this year, explaining: "Before she died, Barbara told me to cry, be broken-hearted, then have the best time."

Mitchell went on to joke about how Windsor might have carried on if the roles were reversed, saying: "Knowing Barbara, she would have remarried a nice 25-year-old by now!

"Now it's time to think about me and my future. Barbara will always be a massive part of my life, but she would want me to move on."

Though Mitchell seems to be following Windsor's wishes, he has made sure to honour her memory over the last few years by campaigning for Alzheimers Research UK and raising hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Part of his campaigning has involved running the London Marathon, though ahead of the most recent event in April, he admitted it would 'definitely' be his last marathon.

“I know I said that last time but this one really is my last one. It doesn’t get easier," he said.

“For the last few years I have tried to keep Barbara’s memory alive. I’ve done my best to raise money and awareness for Alzheimer’s and dementia but I think after this marathon it will be time to pull back a little."

Mitchell explained that he needs to 'look after' himself, adding that he wants to 'focus on my future and my happiness'.