EXCLUSIVE Barbara Windsor’s widower Scott Mitchell steps out with his new girlfriend EastEnders star Tanya Franks – three years after losing his beloved wife

Barbara Windsor’s widower Scott Mitchell is enjoying a busy life with new partner Tanya Franks as Sunday marked three years since her tragic death.

Exclusive photos show the couple enjoying life in a London mews property Scott spent many years living in with the legendary actress.

Dame Barbara died three years ago on December 10 aged 83 after a brave seven-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Scott, 60, and Tanya, 55, who played a drug addict on Eastenders, have been officially together for around six months.

This Christmas will mark the first officially together and the third without Dame Barbara.

Barbara Windsor’s widower Scott Mitchell (left) is enjoying a busy life with new partner Tanya Franks (right) as Sunday marked three years since her tragic death

Exclusive photos show the couple enjoying life in a London mews property Scott spent many years living in with the legendary actress

Tanya has been seen leaving the property this week with a script on the way to rehearsals.

The pair are living at the £4million mews property in Marylebone.

One onlooker said: ‘They are enjoying spending time at the house and are very busy.

‘It’s great Scott has found love again. Him and Barbara spent many happy years at the house and I am sure she will want him to be happy.

‘It looks like Tanya is off to rehearsals quite a bit of the time. It looks like they are really enjoying life together.’

In September Scott revealed the late actress would be ‘so happy’ he has found love again.

Scott appeared on Lorraine where he talked about finding love again with Tanya.

The actor told Lorraine: ‘Barbara will always hold an incredibly special part of my heart and life. It’s half my life I was with her. She was an incredible lady but me being miserable now and alone isn’t going to bring her back and she wouldn’t want that. 

‘I know the one person who would be really happy for me is Barbara Windsor.

Dame Barbara died three years ago on December 10 aged 83 after a brave seven-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease (Scott and Barbara seen in 2011) 

Scott, 60, and Tanya, 55, who played a drug addict on Eastenders, have been officially together for around six months

This Christmas will mark the first officially together and the third without Dame Barbara. The pair are living at the £4million mews property in Marylebone

One onlooker said of the couple: ‘They are enjoying spending time at the house and are very busy’

Tanya has been seen leaving the property this week with a script on the way to rehearsals wearing a red coat and jeans

They added: ‘It’s great Scott has found love again. Him and Barbara spent many happy years at the house and I am sure she will want him to be happy’

The onlooker added: ‘It looks like Tanya is off to rehearsals quite a bit of the time. It looks like they are really enjoying life together’

‘She was a generous lady, a generous spirit. She always used to say, “I’ll go first, be upset, be heartbroken but once you’re through that, please live your best life”.’ 

Scott, who appeared on the show to highlight a new campaign for World Alzheimer’s Day, went on to detail how his relationship with Tanya blossomed.

The couple went public with their relationship in July after they became friends by working together to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s with ‘Bab’s Army’. 

He said: ‘I’m very, very lucky. It started as a nice friendship and developed into something more. We are very happy, she is off on tour… it’s really lovely. 

‘She’s incredibly supportive of the work I do for the campaigning, so there is no fear there or worry of oh, “it’s about my late wife”, because she has had her own personal family experience with this illness.

‘She knows what it’s all about so thank goodness, life feels really good.’ 

Alzheimer’s is close to Tanya’s heart as she also ran in honour of her step-father Derek.

In 2019, Scott ran the London Marathon alongside Tanya and raised thousands Alzheimer’s Research UK in Barbara’s memory.

Alzheimer’s is close to Tanya’s heart as she also ran in honour of her step-father Derek.

Scott and Tanya ran the London Marathon together again this year with fellow EastEnders stars as part of Bab’s Army.

Tanya has appeared in 382 episodes of EastEnders. She made her debut as Rainie back in 2007 and signed a full-time contract in 2018.

Her last appearance on the soap was in June last year.

During her seven-episode guest stint in 2010, the character even had a fling with Phil Mitchell, played by Steve McFadden, who was Barbara’s on-screen son. The duo crossed paths while Rainie sought crack cocaine from a drunken Phil.

The story was widely panned and branded ‘horrid’ and ‘inappropriate’, while former star of the show Natalie Cassidy, who plays Sonia Fowler, described the storyline as ‘shocking’.

Aside from EastEnders, she has a whole host of TV credits to her name including’ Family Affairs, The Bill, Pulling and Broadchurch.

Barbara was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2014 and kept her fight with the illness private for four years.

After her death, Scott said: ‘Her passing was from Alzheimer’s/dementia and Barbara eventually died peacefully and I spent the last seven days by her side.

In September Scott revealed the late actress would be ‘so happy’ he has found love again (Scott and Tanya seen together) 

Tanya had a close bond with Barbara and this year ran the London Marathon as part of Bab’s Army. When Barbara died she shared this photo on Instagram alongside a tribute

Barbara played Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders [pictured with her sons Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp) and Phil (Steve McFadden) in 2016] 

In 2019, Scott ran the London Marathon alongside Tanya and raised thousands Alzheimer’s Research UK in Barbara’s memory

‘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.

‘Barbara’s final weeks were typical of how she lived her life. Full of humour, drama and a fighting spirit until the end.’

After her death, Scott said he thought he would never be able to love again. He heartbreakingly said last year: ‘I was blessed to have crossed paths with Barbara.

‘On paper, it shouldn’t have worked, but it did with us and I am so thankful that she chose me to share her life with because I don’t think I will ever find another.’ 

Source: Read Full Article