Carry On, Barbara Windsor

My tribute to the legend Dame Barbara Windsor (1931–2020)This article was first published in the year of Barbara’s passing. I felt it was important that it did not fade away, not only as a tribute to Barbara’s extraordinary talent and character, but also in recognition of Scott Mitchell , who has since gone on to do remarkable things.

By Steven Smith

Who did not love Barbara Windsor — the second Queen of the UK and true British acting royalty? I genuinely do not know a single person who, on Thursday 10th December, did not shed a tear at the (though expected) loss of the world’s most bubbly blonde. We will never forget that infectious, suggestive laugh, nor the extraordinary talent of that iconic Cockney bird.

Dame Barbara Windsor was best known for her roles in EastEnders and the Carry On films. Her acting saw her BAFTA-nominated for her role in Sparrows Can’t Sing and Tony-nominated for her Broadway performance in Oh! What a Lovely War.

Barbara became a Dame not just for her work in entertainment, but also for her incredible dedication to charity. Her support spanned a diverse range of causes, including Age Concern, Age UK, the Amy Winehouse Foundation, Great Ormond Street Hospital — the list truly is endless.

I can’t hand on heart say that Barbara was a close friend of mine — the word friend is used so liberally these days. But over the years, I encountered her many times and was fortunate enough to spend quality time with her. You never forgot a chat with Barbara, because in a world of showbiz magic, she was refreshingly real and wonderfully to the point.

My first outing on the London showbiz scene was with journalist Lester Middlehurst. It was a little nerve-wracking for me, and among the celebrities present was Barbara Windsor, who knew Lester well. My dad was a huge fan of the Carry On films, as was I, and I felt star-struck and slightly out of my depth. Before I knew it, there were around five flamboyant men all vying for Barbara’s attention.

Standing beside me was a very handsome dark-haired fellow named Scott. It was a relief chatting to him — he was down-to-earth, funny, and instantly put me at ease. Not long after, Barbara came over to us. Of course, Scott was her fella, and together they were simply lovely — a genuinely warm and affectionate couple.

Being keen on theatre, I asked Barbara what it was like working at the Royal Court with Joan Littlewood. She looked at me quizzically and said, “What did you ask me, darling?” I repeated the question just as her posse of admirers returned.

“Sshhshh,” she said. “I’m talking to Steven.” She took Scott and me aside and laughed, “That’s not the usual question I get asked.” We had a wonderful chat, and Lester later commented, “Barbara seemed to like you.” She had that rare quality of making people feel special — she genuinely made others feel good.

Over the next few years, I chatted more with Scott — he shared my sense of humour. My next meeting with Barbara was at my dear friend, Irish singer Rose-Marie’s 50th birthday, held in a pub on the Edgware Road. Barbara made a beeline for me.

“You’re always chatting to my Scott,” she said. “You know, darling, some people who ought to know better aren’t always nice to him.”

We spent ages talking about relationships. At the time, my partner was 28 years older than me, and we discussed people’s reactions to age gaps.

I asked her, “Are you looking forward to becoming a Dame?”

“Never — not with my history with Ronnie and the boys,” she laughed.

But right it was — and a Dame she most deservedly became.

There was also a wonderfully camp trip to Marbella with some of the Coronation Street cast, including the fabulous Denise Welch. EastEnders were filming there, and Barbara, Scott, and Rula Lenska joined us for dinner. What a wild night that was.

The last time I saw Barbara and Scott was at June Brown’s book launch, Before the Year Dot. Executives were desperately trying to lure Barbara back into EastEnders — even that night they were pitching it to her. But she wasn’t budging.

“I’ve had enough,” she told me and Rose-Marie.

Something struck me when news of her death broke. So many people began by commenting on her height. Perhaps because I’m not a size-queen, it never once crossed my mind. Barbara was huge in stature — she filled every room with personality and talent. She certainly did not suffer fools gladly. She was, without doubt, a giant of the industry.

Barbara was a true professional. She always had a smile on her face at every event. As her on-screen daughter Daniella Westbrook recently said, Barbara believed you owed it to the public to always put on your happy face: “If you’re not at your best, don’t go out.” Daniella added that once Barbara got home, she liked nothing more than putting the kettle on, taking her shoes off, sitting on the sofa — and simply being Babs.

Babs — who we all miss dearly.