BARBARA Windsor’s widower Scott Mitchell has praised his new partner Tanya Franks for supporting him.
Scott’s wife of twenty years – Dame Barbara – tragically passed away in 2020 after a seven year battle with dementia.
Scott, 61, and Tanya, 56, grew close after working together to raise awareness for dementia as part of ‘Bab’s Army’.
Speaking about their relationship on today’s This Morning, Scott told Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley: “We forged an incredible friendship over the four years and something wonderful blossomed out of it...
“The exact opposite of what dementia is. I'm very fortunate that I have a partner that doesn't mind me speaking about my late wife.”
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Tanya – best known for playing Rainie Cross on EastEnders – joined Scott in fundraising after her step father Derek went through a similar thing.
She said: “I can do nothing but support him in talking about it. You often feel alone in it when you are caring for someone with Alzheimer's...
“The communication allowed the support system to grow. Barbara is as much about the legacy of Alzheimer's as it is me going through it with my step father. It is hundreds of thousands that we've raised from doing the three marathons.”
Scott went on to reveal he would take part in another marathon – but there were certain conditions.
He said: “If for next year's marathon someone would like to give a million pounds, a big company or sponsor, I will do another marathon and shave my hair off as well, and that is the big one, shaving my hair off.”
