Dame Barbara Windsor has been battling Alzheimer's Disease for the last four years, according to her husband Scott Mitchell.
The 80-year-old actress, best known for her roles in various 'Carry On' films and later as Peggy Mitchell, landlady of Eastenders' Queen Vic pub, has grown 'steadily worse' in recent weeks, according to Mitchell, her husband of 18 years.
He told The Sun that she has been on medication for the condition and that he wanted to speak out to help families of other people in similar conditions.
"Firstly, I hope speaking out will help other families dealing with loved ones who have this cruel disease. Secondly, I want the public to know because they are naturally very drawn to Barbara and she loves talking to them," he said. "So rather than me living in fear she might get confused or upset, they’ll know that if her behaviour seems strange, it’s due to Alzheimer’s and accept it for what it is."
He added that the diagnosis in 2014 had been difficult.
"When the doctor told us, she began crying then held it back, stretched her hand out to me and mouthed, 'I’m so sorry'," he said. "I can’t protect her any longer. And, since her 80th birthday last August, a definite continual confusion has set in, so it’s becoming a lot more difficult for us to hide."
He also said that Windsor had given him her blessing to share the news of her condition, as they wanted it to come out on their own terms.
The actress last appeared in Eastenders for six episodes in 2016 - with producers unaware of her diagnosis - and was killed off after being diagnosed with cancer.
