Dame Barbara Windsor's widower Scott Mitchell has praised his new partner Tanya Franks as a "wonderful lady" who is "very understanding" - but he will "always have a place in his heart" for his late wife.
Dame Barbara Windsor's widower Scott Mitchell has praised his new partner Tanya Franks as a 'wonderful lady'
The 61-year-old actor went official with former 'EastEnders' star Tanya - who played Rainie Highway in the BBC One soap - on a holiday to Greece last summer, and he has now heaped praise on Tanya.
Scott told the 'How to be 60' podcast: "I got into a new relationship last year. I’m very happy, she’s a wonderful lady who knew Barbara and is very understanding.
"It can’t be easy to be with someone who was the other half of Barbara Windsor, especially the fact that I still put myself out there and talk about her.
"So, it says to me the type of person that Tanya is, that she can deal with that.
"She’s very sure of herself as a person. Just because you’re not with someone for whatever reason, it doesn’t mean to say that you just switch off some valve of love.
"There’s always going to be a place for Barbara in my heart. I might turn the TV on and suddenly she’ll be there and it takes my breath away sometimes, because I’m not expecting it."
Scott was left widowed in 2020 when 'EastEnders' legend Barbara died aged 83, after living with Alzheimer's since 2014.
He and Tanya, 56, were friends at first, after running the 2019 London Marathon to raise Alzheimer’s awareness, before a romance blossomed between the pair.
Scott added: "I think we all have to be very careful when we make judgements. It’s different for everyone.
"As far as I’m concerned, I started losing Barbara many years ago.
"I’ve been grieving her since that day of diagnosis [in 2014].
"It’s like eight years of grieving, how long can I grieve for?
"I know [Barbara] wanted me to be happy, I know I deserve to be happy. It doesn’t take away anything that we shared.
"All of our lives go by very quickly and we can be held back by worrying what others might say. You’ve just got to live your life."
Scott confirmed last June that he and Tanya had been "enjoying some special time together".
He told The Sun newspaper: "Thanks for your kind wishes.
"Life feels really good right now and we are enjoying some special time together."
Tagged in Tanya Franks