Barbara Windsor bids tearful goodbye to EastEnders after 14 ‘wonderful years’
By
Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 1:03 PM on 17th July 2010
EastEnders’ actors bade an emotional farewell to the show’s biggest legend after Barbara Windsor said goodbye to Albert Square last night.
The
star, 72, who began playing Queen Vic landlady Peggy Mitchell 16 years
ago, brought tears to her fellow cast members’ eyes as she filmed her
final scenes.
Afterwards, she was pictured hugging screen family Roxie (Rita Simons), Glenda (Glynnis Barber) and Ronnie (Sam Womack).
Farewell: Barbara Windsor puts her arms round on her on-screen family Roxie (Rita Simons), Glenda (Glynnis Barber) and Ronnie (Sam Womack) at the party
Miss Simons told The Sun: ‘She is my honorary real-life auntie.’
June Brown, who plays fellow stalwart Dot Branning, added: ‘I shall miss her enormously.’
Miss
Windsor, a real East Ender with links to the infamous Kray twins, told
cast members at a party in the Elstree studios: ‘I have had the most
wonderful time on EastEnders and I will miss you all.
‘The show has changed my life and I want you all to continue the good work, because I’ll be at home watching you.’
Her
on-screen son Steve McFadden, who plays Phil Mitchell, promised fans
they will not be disappointed by her exit storyline, which sees her
leave after being in the soap for 14 years.
Emotional: Miss Simons hugs Miss Windsor, her ‘honorary real-life auntie’
Miss Windsor, who quit to spend more time with her family, entered Albert Square in 1994.
She was, however, forced to undergo a two-year absence between 2003 and 2005, due to illness.
Mr
McFadden, 51, told the Daily Mirror: ‘I am pleased for Barbara because
she has worked hard and deserves this part of her life.
‘She is a canny bird and she has played a blinder because she is going out on a massive high.’
On fire: Albert Square’s pub the Queen Vic appears to have gone up in smoke
The details of Peggy’s departure are being kept top secret.
But her last day of filming came just days after bosses set fire to the Queen Vic.
Sources say her exit will have ‘repercussions for the whole of Albert Square’.
Earlier
this year, after Miss Windsor quit, it was announced that that a host
of other characters in the soap are being axed before this autumn’s HD
relaunch.
There is speculation that some of some, if not all of them, could perish in the fire.
Six
characters, including mechanic Rick ‘Minty’ Peterson, taxi driver
Charlie Slater and student Libby Fox, will have ‘exciting exits’, the
BBC has promised.
Plots and turns: Peggy kisses
brother-in-law Archie Mitchell (Larry Lamb) in 2009
Clan matriarch: Peggy with her on-screen family outside the Queen Vic pub
The other characters leaving Albert Square are
motorbike courier Danny Mitchell, student Adam Best and Libby’s
grandmother Liz Turner.
The fire won’t be the first time that the pub has been threatened by a packet of Swan Vestas.
Grant Mitchell set it alight for the insurance money in 1992.
And
just last November, evil Archie Mitchell and then-lover Janine Butcher
planned to use Bonfire Night as the perfect cover to burn down the
much-loved Walford bar to leave the Mitchells with no income.
Another failed love: Peggy after marrying Frank Butcher (Mike Reid) in 1999
First day: Peggy arriving in Albert Square in 1994
Archie
was then of course murdered by Stacey Slater using the pub’s namesake
bust of Queen Victoria – adding to the building’s body count.
Den Watts was buried under concrete in the beer cellar after being murdered just next to the bar by second wife Chrissie.
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