Ross Kemp emotionally discussed his final conversation with Dame Barbara Windsor days before her death aged 83 during an appearance on Monday’s Good Morning Britain.
Ross, 56, who played Barbara’s hardman onscreen son Grant Mitchell on EastEnders, revealed the iconic actress had wished for ‘everything to be good in his life’ shortly before her death on Thursday, following a six-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Recounting their last phone call, he said: ‘I spoke to her three weeks ago on FaceTime and by that time Barbara was in a very bad state.
Much-missed: Ross Kemp emotionally discussed his final conversation with Dame Barbara Windsor days before her death aged 83 during an appearance on Monday’s Good Morning Britain
‘I asked Scott [Mitchell, her husband] if she had a window because the nature of the illness is it comes and goes and as you get closer to the end, you lose more and more consciousness.
‘She had a window, he rang me on a Sunday afternoon and she just turned round to me and said, “I just want everything to be good for you in your life” and that is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life.’
‘She was a genuinely good person and she was very, very lucky to have someone like Scott who stayed by her side and who was a rock for her.’
RIP: Ross, 56, who played Barbara’s hardman onscreen son Grant Mitchell on EastEnders, revealed the iconic actress had wished for ‘everything to be good in his life’ shortly before her death on Thursday, following a six-year battle with Alzheimer’s Disease
Ross, who along with Scott, has endeavoured to raise awareness around dementia and improve care for the condition, urged the government to spend more money on research.
He said: ‘I know we’re headed for a dreadful economic time, Brexit, COVID. But bear in mind someone develops dementia every three minutes in the UK and its still considered a social care issue
‘It’s a medical issue which affects people mentally and slowly takes over their entire bodies. It’s part of Barbara’s legacy, Scott wants the government to fulfill their promise
‘I would like to see a dementia tax. There is no cure, there is no vaccine and its getting worse
Family: Ross played Grant Mitchell, Peggy’s hardman son in EastEnders (left), pictured alongside her other onscreen son, Steve McFadden, who plays Phil Mitchell, (right)
‘There are 850,000 people with dementia in the UK. By 2050, they estimate there will be 2million people with dementia, we need to spend more money on research and find out how to prevent this.
‘Because of the friends and family around people with dementia, it’s estimated because of the care they provide, they save the government in the region of 11.7billion a year’.
Carry On actress Barbara died at 8.35pm on Thursday at a London care home, her husband Scott, 57, confirmed.
He had moved into her home a few days earlier to be by her side when she died.
He said: ‘She had a window, he rang me on a Sunday afternoon and she just turned round to me and said, “I just want everything to be good for you in your life” and that is something that will stay with me for the rest of my life’
He said in a statement: ‘Her passing was from Alzheimer’s/Dementia and Barbara eventually died peacefully and I spent the last seven days by her side.
‘Myself, her family and friends will remember Barbara with love, a smile and affection for the many years of her love, fun, friendship and brightness she brought to all our lives and the entertainment she gave to so many thousands of others during her career.’
He added: ‘It was not the ending that Barbara or anyone else living with this very cruel disease deserve. I will always be immensely proud of Barbara’s courage, dignity and generosity dealing with her own illness and still trying to help others by raising awareness for as long as she could.’
At the end of his moving tribute, Mr Mitchell said: ‘May you rest in peace now my precious Bar. I’ve lost my wife, my best friend and soul mate and my heart or life will never feel the same without you.’
Dame Barbara was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2014 and made the news public in 2018.
Support: Ross, who along with Scott, has endeavoured to raise awareness around dementia and improve care for the condition, urged the government to spend more money on research
She starred on EastEnders as pub landlady Peggy Mitchell on and off from 1994 to 2016 and was famous for her catchphrase: ‘Get outta ma pub!’
Paying tribute when Barbara’s death was announced, Ross wrote: ‘Dame Barbara Windsor, the woman who always had time for everybody, has sadly left us.
‘I will miss Bar always. My thoughts are with her husband Scott, who could have done no more and who stayed strong for her to the very end.’
Back in June, Ross, who was close friends with Barbara and her husband Scott, said there had been a ‘marked decline in her health’ ahead of her move to a care home.
Ross made a film with Dame Barbara’s husband Scott and other families living with dementia
Lovely words: Ross and Barbara were close pals in real life – he even made a film with Dame Barbara’s husband Scott Mitchell and other families living with dementia
The Carry On actress was cared for round-the-clock by her husband Scott until she was moved into a care home earlier this year when her health declined further.
Ross appeared on Good Morning Britain in the summer and said that Barbara no longer recognised herself.
He explained: ‘She looks at the pictures of her in her heyday and career and goes ‘who is that lady’?’
Speaking about his programme titled Ross Kemp: Living with Dementia, Ross explained that Barbara’s battle had a severe effect on jher husband Scott too, as the star’s primary carer.
He explained: ‘If you look at Scott from the episode that went out last week to this week, that covers Mid-Feb to the present day, you look at the impact it’s had on him.
‘The moment dementia is diagnosed not only does it have an affect on that person it’s like dropping a pebble in a pool, it goes across family. The onus is sadly on those loved ones to care for that individual.’
By her side: Carry On actress Barbara died at 8.35pm on Thursday at a London care home, her husband Scott Mitchell, 57, confirmed – pictured together in April 2019
Ross said he last saw Barbara in February, shortly before the coronavirus lockdown.
Meanwhile, Steve McFadden, 61, who plays Peggy’s other son, Phil Mitchell, also paid tribute to the iconic actress.
His representative said he was ‘devastated’ by her death as he led tributes for the beloved actress.
And Steve said: ‘I truly loved Barbara and, like everyone, I am going to miss her terribly.
‘When anyone ever asked what she was like, I would always say she was everything you would hope she would be, and more.’
Danniella Westbrook, 47, who played Peggy’s daughter Sam, appeared on BBC Breakfast on Friday:
Memorial: Meanwhile, it’s been reported that Barbara’s Cockney roots will be remembered next year with a memorial celebration
She said: ‘She was the most feisty, hardworking woman I’ve ever met in my life.
‘I learned everything I know from her work-wise. She taught me how to listen. The woman was phenomenal.
‘She did pages and pages of learning and walked into the Queen Vic and it was like she was always meant to have been there. She raised the game of the whole show.’
Meanwhile, it’s been reported that Barbara’s Cockney roots will be remembered next year with a memorial celebration.
It is said that the event will mark the star’s legacy on stage and screen, with famous faces set to take part.
A source told The Sun: ‘The memorial that will hopefully take place later next year will be a real celebration of Barbara’s life so that everyone can enjoy it together.’
Barbara’s funeral is expected to take place later this month, but with Covid-19 restrictions in place, only 30 people would be allowed to attend.
Iconic: Dame Barbara became one of the most famous faces on British screens for her fun-filled saucy roles in the Carry On comedies of the 1960s and 70s before before becoming the no-nonsense Queen Vic landlady Peggy Mitchell
The memorial, in which fans can pay their respects, will no doubt be a larger public event, should restrictions be eased.
Elsewhere, it’s been reported that Barbara will ‘star’ in three Carry On films, with producers hoping to use a hologram of old footage from the star.
Barbara starred in nine Carry On films between 1964 and 1974.
The news movies, made by Carry On Films Ltd, are set to be released 30 years after the last installment the screens.
Speaking to Daily Star Sunday, company boss Brian Baker said of the new idea: ‘
‘We have got two new stories and we are looking to do one of the old ones again to bring it up to modern day quality – probably Carry On Sergeant.
‘Barbara will be making an appearance. It will be a tilt of the head to say, “Well done”. That’s the best way to do it. We are looking at using a hologram from old footage to put her in a situation like a queue for the Royal Albert Hall or serving in a shop.’
He added: ‘People loved her because she was down to earth. She saw the funny side. She didn’t take offence. She had the old fashioned British seaside humour.’
Sad: A representative for Steve McFadden, who plays Dame Barbara’s on-screen son Phil Mitchell, said he was ‘devastated’ by her death as he led tributes for the beloved actress (pictured together at the NTAs in 2007)
Carry On legends Sid James and Kenneth Williams are also set to make an appearance.
The films are set to begin production next Spring for a 2022 release, with the idea of them being available on a streaming service such as Netflix or Amazon Prime.
Dame Barbara became one of the most famous faces on British screens for her fun-filled saucy roles in the Carry On comedies of the 1960s and 70s before before becoming the no-nonsense Queen Vic landlady Peggy Mitchell.
As she bravely fought Alzheimer’s in the final years of her life, she turned her energies to campaigning to protect those with dementia, the vulnerable and the lonely as well her passionate support of the Armed Forces through the Poppy Appeal.
The actress – who was made a Dame by the Queen in 2016 – announced she was suffering from Alzheimer’s in 2018, having been diagnosed four years earlier. She moved to a care home in July, five months before she died.
Awareness: Both Dame Barbara and her husband campaigned to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s following her diagnosis (pictured in December 2017)