Barbara Windsor has 'good and bad days'

16 May 2018

Barbara Windsor has "good days and bad days".

Barbara Windsor

Jake Wood has revealed his former 'EastEnders' co-star - who played Peggy Mitchell in the BBC One soap - has "ups and downs" after it was revealed last week that she has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

When asked how Barbara is, Jake replied: "Ups and downs. I think good days and bad days."

Barbara's husband Scott Mitchell revealed last week that his wife of 18 years is taking medication to help manage the "cruel disease", and Jake has praised the pair as an "incredible couple", and "fully supports" their decision to go public with the news.

Speaking on 'Good Morning Britain', he added: "I've been in touch with Scott this week. He's incredible, they're an incredible couple. Scott has a lot of support around him.

"Obviously I wish them both really well.

"Someone told me that donations to the Alzheimer's society have rocketed.

"I fully support their decision and totally understand it. I know they had the diagnosis in 2014.

"They've worked incredibly hard together to keep it as quiet and as private as they can. You're never sure how far it's going to develop and how quickly."

Barbara's pal Christopher Biggins also paid tribute to the pair on 'GMB'.

He said: "We've known about four years. It's been happening very slightly, and I think it got to a point where I think Scott felt that he wanted to come out about it, because when he went out with her in the street people were coming up and she was getting confused.

"So I think he wanted the public to know, so that the confusion wouldn't be there."

Scott revealed last week that Barbara has been in a "definite continual confusion" since she turned 80 last August, and she feels "a kind of shame" about the diagnosis.

He said: "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.

"I don't want it to come across that she's sitting there unable to communicate, because she's not.

"We're still going out for walks or dinner with friends and we still laugh together a lot. She loves going out and it's good for her - she comes alive. And of course, the public are naturally very drawn to her, which I don't want to stop.

"Unfortunately, I notice she feels a kind of shame about it. There's a vulnerability there and I keep telling her, 'Bar, no one will think you're silly for having this'.

"I explain that if someone has cancer, no one looks at them and thinks 'How ridiculous'. We sympathise and it's the same with this."