Scott found love again after losing Barbara – but will never forget her(Image: Getty Images)
Dame Barbara Windsor’s widower, Scott Mitchell, has opened up about the painful backlash he faced after finding love again, five years after the beloved entertainer’s death. Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Mirror, Scott reflected on Barbara’s extraordinary legacy — and the unexpected cruelty he encountered when he revealed his new relationship.
Scott, 62, who has become a prominent campaigner for dementia awareness since caring for Barbara through her battle with Alzheimer’s, went public last year with his romance with actress Tanya Franks, 58. Tanya is familiar to fans of EastEnders as Rainie Cross — and shares Scott’s personal connection to dementia, having lost her stepfather Derek to the disease after an 11-year fight.
Scott admitted there’s always someone to comment ‘That was quick!’ when you move on(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Despite the happiness their relationship has brought, Scott revealed that not everyone responded with kindness.
“There’s always someone who says, ‘That was quick,’” he admitted. “It’s so easy for people behind a screen to judge, especially on social media. What they forget is that their words can really hurt.”
Still, Scott describes his relationship with Tanya as “wonderful,” explaining that she fully understands and respects the enormous place Barbara still holds in his life. Tanya’s compassion, he says, gives him the freedom to speak openly about his late wife and his years as her caregiver.
“She’s never made me question whether it’s okay to talk about Barbara,” he shared. “If I ever thought it caused her pain, I wouldn’t do it.”
Scott and Tanya first became friends as they trained for the London marathon as part of ‘Bab’s Army'(Image: NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Tanya often stands beside him during his talks about caring for someone with Alzheimer’s. Scott begins each one by acknowledging her support: “Before we start, I always thank her for allowing me to share my story.”
Touchingly, Scott revealed that Barbara herself had been fond of Tanya when they met through mutual EastEndersconnections.
“Barbara liked Tanya — she’d say, ‘She asks sensible questions about acting!’” he recalled. “Tanya knew her theatre history, and that meant a lot to Barbara.”
Scott and Tanya’s friendship grew gradually through shared work and charity efforts, including running the London Marathon with the EastEnders team as part of “Babs’ Army.” Over time, that friendship evolved into love.
This Christmas, Scott says, the pair will spend the holiday together with their families — but will still take time to honour the absence of those they’ve lost. “There are always empty chairs at Christmas,” he said softly. “We’ll remember the people who should still be here. That’s how it should be.”
Looking back on Barbara’s life, Scott spoke with deep affection and reverence.
“Some people truly earn the title of national treasure — Barbara was one of them,” he said. “But for me, I remember her as the woman who made me laugh, who loved me unconditionally, who was honest about her flaws and her past.”
He reflected on the decades they shared, describing Barbara as a warm, luminous presence:
“It took forever for us to walk down a street — she wanted to talk to everyone. It was like walking with Tinkerbell. She sprinkled her fairy dust everywhere she went.”
Their love story, he added, was often doubted at first, but ultimately proved unshakeable. “People laughed when we got together, but we lasted. It was unconditional love.”