'Life feels really good right now': Barbara Windsor's widower Scott Mitchell finds love again with EastEnders actress

14 July 2023, 11:56

Scott Mitchell with Barbara Windsor (l) and Tanya Franks (r)
Scott Mitchell with Barbara Windsor (l) and. Picture: Alamy

By StephenRigley

Barbara Windsor's widower Scott Mitchell has found love again three years on after her death with EastEnders actress Tanya Franks.

Carry On star Dame Barbara who starred as Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders died in December 2020, aged 83, following a seven-year battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Scott, 60, and Tanya, 55, who played drug addict prostitute Rainie Cross on the soap, made their relationship official earlier this month while on holiday in Greece.

The recruitment consultant said: "Life feels really good right now and we are enjoying some special time together."

Scott and Tanya are in the early stages of dating, having forged a close friendship over the years while worked together to raise awareness about Alzheimer's with 'Bab's Army'.

Scott Mitchell with Barbara Windsor
Scott Mitchell with Barbara Windsor. Picture: Alamy
Tanya Franks
Tanya Franks. Picture: Alamy

Read More: Tributes pour in for Dame Barbara Windsor after her death aged 83

Read More: Barbara Windsor’s ex-husband Ronnie Knight who was jailed for £6million robbery dies aged 89

Alzheimers is close to Tanya's heart as she also ran in honour of her step-father Derek.

In 2019, Scott ran the London Marathon alongside Tanya and raised thousands Alzheimer's Research UK in Barbara's memory.

A source told The Sun, Scott is "truly happy".

They said: "Scott has found love again with Tanya and is truly happy.  His and Barbara's friends are delighted he's found someone to share his life with.

"It's fairly early days but Scott is cautiously now looking forward to the future. They made the decision to update their wider circles while on holiday in Greece and everyone was over the moon.

"There is so much friendship and respect between them both and they're taking things slowly."

Tanya made her EastEnders debut as Rainie back in 2007 and signed a full-time contract in 2018. Her last appearance on the soap was in June last year.

Barbara was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2014 and kept her fight with the illness private for four years.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

A graffitied house in Kilburn, north-west London

Mystery as homes and businesses across UK targeted with red paint, as balaclava-clad thugs seen spraying graffiti

Indian police officers search a vehicle near Pahalgam in south Kashmir after assailants indiscriminately opened fired at tourists visiting Pahalgam, Indian controlled Kashmir, Tuesday, April 22, 2025.(AP Photo/Dar Yasin)

At least 26 tourists killed as gunmen open fire in 'terrorist attack' in India, with dozens wounded

A local resident pushes a bicycle past a destroyed residential building following shelling in the town of Toretsk, eastern Donetsk region

Russia 'to keep land seized from Ukraine in peace deal' as talks resume in UK - and agreement 'could come this week'

Not enough NHS staff to ensure safe care on wards, survey finds

'Wake-up call for health service': Too few nursing staff on duty to provide safe NHS care, says report

Trump to let Putin keep hold of territory seized from Ukraine under the terms of a proposed peace deal

Trump to let Putin keep hold of territory seized from Ukraine under terms of a proposed peace deal

first editions of the First Four Folios of William Shakespeare's collected plays

300-year-old Shakespeare folios to go on auction expected to fetch up to £4.5 million

Bowel cancer. doctor wearing a medical mask shows to senior woman intestines anatomical model during a visit to the clinic

Blood test which could detect up to 12 common cancers being assessed for NHS use

BRITAIN-CRIME-MURDER-TRIAL

Police officers who fail background checks to be automatically sacked under new rules

A home heat pump

Heat pumps to be sold with ‘smart’ function under plans to save households money

Rubbish Piles Up In Birmingham As Refuse Workers' Continue Strike Action

Birmingham bin strike talks set to resume after weeks of rubbish piled up on streets

Disney+ Flintoff London Premiere

'I couldn’t get out of the room' - Freddie Flintoff reveals mental health struggles after horror Top Gear car crash

Water coming out of a tap

Devon residents without water to receive £200 compensation, says MP

The crash took place on the A25, between Bletchingly and Godstone.

Three-vehicle crash in Surrey kills three people, including 13-year-old boy

Hundreds of bin workers have been on all-out strike for more than a month

At least 26,000 tonnes of rubbish removed from Birmingham’s streets, says minister as strikes continue

Three Medway Council workers walking along Rochester High Street in Kent in the UK.

More than 1.5 million council workers offered pay increase of 3.2%, as lowest paid workers to get £6,000 increase

American Film Institute's 46th Life Achievement Award Gala Tribute to George Clooney - Reception

George Clooney makes shock confession about 11-year marriage to wife Amal