Barbara Windsor’s widower Scott Mitchell, 61, details how ‘wonderful’ romance with Tanya Franks is the ‘opposite of what dementia is’ – after soap star died from the disease at 83

Barbara Windsor’s widower Scott Mitchell and his new partner Tanya Franks spoke about their romance on Monday’s episode of Lorraine.

In the wake of the loss of his wife of 20 years in December 2020, aged 83, following a seven-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease, Scott, 61, detailed how his ‘incredible friendship’ with Tanya, 56, became a romance.

Speaking to hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard, he said: ‘We forged an incredible friendship over the four years and something wonderful blossomed out of it…

‘The exact opposite of what dementia is. I’m very fortunate that I have a partner that doesn’t mind me speaking about my late wife.’ 

Scott and Tanya forged a close friendship over the years as they worked together to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s with ‘Bab’s Army’. 

Scott’s wife of 20 years Dame Barbara died in December 2020, aged 83, following a seven-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease (pictured 2011) 

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

Alzheimer’s is close to Tanya’s heart with her running in the London Marathon as part of Bab’s Army for her step-father Derek. 

Tanya, who knew EastEnders star Barbara and played drug addict prostitute Rainie Cross on the soap, admitted she can do ‘nothing but support’ Scott discussing Barbara’s battle and his work in caring for the TV icon. 

Tanya said: ‘I can do nothing but support him in talking about it. You often feel alone in it when you are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s…

‘The communication allowed the support system to grow. Barbara is as much about the legacy of Alzheimer’s as it is me going through it with my step father. It is hundreds of thousands that we’ve raised from doing the three marathons.’

Scott echoed: ‘If for next year’s marathon someone would like to give a million pounds, a big company or sponsor, I will do another marathon and shave my hair off as well, and that is the big one, shaving my hair off.’

‘I don’t want people to go through the latter stages of what I went through with Barbara.’  

Back in January, Scott described Tanya as ‘wonderful’ as she ‘understands’ Barbara ‘will always have a place in my heart’.  

Scott told Kaye Adams on her How To Be 60 podcast he is ‘very happy’ in his new relationship, with someone who is ‘very understanding’. 

Barbara and Scott married in 2000 and their romance was controversial at the time due to their 27-year age gap (pictured in 2000) 

Tanya played crack cocaine addict as Rainie Cross on the BBC soap where her storyline followed her and Barbara’s on-screen son Phil Mitchell

He said: ‘She’s a wonderful lady who knew Barbara. 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.’

Before her relationship with Scott, Tanya was married to fellow actor James Barriscale, with whom she founded the film and theatre production company Stock-pot Productions. 

He played Jonathan Malnet, the adoptive father of Jade Green on the soap. Scott said his love for Barbara will always hold a place in his heart. 

He said: ‘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 said he began grieving for Barbara on the day of her diagnosis and believes the actress would have given him and Tanya her blessing. 

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