Barbara Windsor's widow Scott Mitchell 'couldn't be happier' after new romance with EastEnders star
Dame Barbara passed away in 2020 as Scott Mitchell moves on with Tanya Franks.
Barbara Windsor's widower Scott Mitchell 'couldn't be happier' in his new romance with Tanya Franks three years after the actress's death.
Dame Barbara died in December 2020, aged 83, following a seven-year battle with Alzheimer's disease. Scott, 60, and the EastEnders legend tied the knot in 2000 and he supported her in her final years.
Scott has found love again with EastEnders actress Tanya, 55, and his close pals insist he's super happy in his new relationship. Celebrity make-up artist Gary Cockerill and his husband Phill Turner have spoken to OK! Magazine about their happiness at seeing Scott enter a new relationship.
Phill said: “We tried to do a Sunday lunch with him the other week, but his new partner Tanya Franks is touring with Calendar Girls and he wanted to be there for her. But I’m sure we’ll reschedule.”
He added: “We couldn’t be happier for him.”
Gary added Tanya was “absolutely lovely” as he gushed over his pal, who set up the Babs’ Army fundraising team following the death of his late wife three years ago. He said: “Barbara was a massive part of our lives for 25 years. We loved her to bits and it was so sad when she passed, but Scott was so brilliant with her.
"He looked after her until the very end. He really is a special man. Of course he wanted to find happiness again – and Tanya is a really lovely lady."
Tanya and Scott bonded alongside the rest of the EastEnders' cast while training for the marathon in 2019, 2021 and 2023. Scott opened up about his new relationship on This Morning and told Holly Willoughby and Dermot O'Leary: "We met the first year that we did the marathon. It's a very funny thing.
"I could not have picked two ladies who are more opposite, they are the polar opposites when it comes to talking about their personal life."
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He added: "Tanya is an incredible lady, but she believes that her personal relationships are not something that she wishes to discuss. I respect that. We did meet through running and we still do run together."
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