Boris Johnson has paid tribute to Dame Barbara Windsor, admitting she "cheered the world up with her own British brand of harmless sauciness and innocent scandal".
Boris Johnson and Dame Barbara Windsor
The UK's Prime Minister made a cameo on 'EastEnders' in 2009 alongside the Peggy Mitchell actress, who sadly passed away on Thursday (10.12.20) following a six-year battle with Alzheimer's disease, and the politician has told how the acting legend was "so much more than a great pub landlady" - in reference to her soap character - and "'Carry On' star".
He wrote on Twitter: "So sad about Barbara Windsor, so much more than a great pub landlady & Carry On star. She campaigned for the lonely and the vulnerable - and cheered the world up with her own British brand of harmless sauciness & innocent scandal. Thoughts with Scott and all her family & friends. (sic)"
It comes after Boris had tea with Barbara in the garden of No.10 Downing Street in September 2019, during which she, on behalf of the Alzheimer's Society, urged him to give money to improve dementia care.
She said at the time: "We're lucky to have amazing support but my heart goes out to the many, many people who are really struggling to get the care they so desperately need. Please join us - let's do everything we can to sort this out."
Their meeting came 10 years after Boris' appearance in Albert Square, when he was Mayor of London.
In the 2009 scene, Peggy stormed into the Queen Vic fuming that she had been waiting for "over an hour" to speak to Boris but hadn't been able to, and said she would give him a "piece of my mind" if she ever got the chance to chat to him.
But Peggy soon changed her tune when Boris ended up in the pub after his bike got a puncture, telling him: "It's such an honour to have you here Mr Mayor. Lucky for me your bike got a puncture.
"I do so admire a man who devotes his entire life to serving society.
"I nearly went into politics myself."
Boris said: "If you have any idea of how I can help Walford, here's my card."
Peggy replied: "I wouldn't dream of telling the Mayor of London what to do. Thank you so much."
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