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Royal tearjerker as EastEnders Queen Windsor bows out

Updated / Wednesday, 18 May 2016 12:51
Peggy (Barbara Windsor) was visited by the spirit of her late friend and onetime adversary Pat (Pam St Clement)
Peggy (Barbara Windsor) was visited by the spirit of her late friend and onetime adversary Pat (Pam St Clement)

Almost seven million people in the UK tuned in to watch beloved EastEnders character Peggy Mitchell take her own life. Some 6.9 million viewers saw the former Old Vic landlady's last episode, peaking at 8 million.

EastEnders fans bid farewell to Peggy last night who bowed out in a classic Walford tearjerker - and arguably the performance of actress Barbara Windsor's career.

Viewers saw the terminally ill Peggy saying goodbye to her sons Grant (Ross Kemp) and Phil (Steve McFadden) and friends before taking her own life.  

"Just in case you didn't know it, you boys are my world," she told her sons. "And you're ours, mum, you're ours," replied Phil.


Peggy paid a final visit to the Queen Vic

In heart-rending scenes towards the end of the episode, Peggy was visited by the spirit of her old friend and onetime adversary Pat (Pam St Clement), who passed away from cancer in EastEnders on New Year's Day 2012. 

In an exclusive interview on BBC's The One Show ahead of the episode, Windsor said it was difficult not to break down during her final scene. "You've to hold everything in - your stomach, your bottom, everything - so you just don't go spssssh!" she said. The screen veteran added that her stomach was still churning as she talked about her final moments in Albert Square.

When asked what she would write for Peggy's epitaph, she replied: "I would just say she's a good, kind, strong bird."

Alongside racy roles in the classic Carry On films, Mitchell matriarch Peggy is the defining role of Windsor's career.


Barbara Windsor made her debut as Peggy in 1994

As the landlady of the Queen Vic, Peggy was much loved for her feisty temperament and her "Get outta mah pub!" catchphrase.

Initially played by Jo Warne in 1991, Peggy was recast with Windsor walking into Albert Square three years later, becoming a fan favourite.

She played Peggy full-time until 2010, and subsequently revived the Walford stalwart for occasional appearances.

Already acting royalty, the soap star was made a dame by Britain's Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace in March. The cast and crew of EastEnders donned pretend crowns as they welcomed her back to the show the day before her trip to the palace.

Everyone involved in filming her return bowed and curtseyed as the star reprised her role as Peggy for the six-week stint.

EastEnders boss Dominic Treadwell-Collins said Windsor had made her mind up last year to leave the soap for good and wasn't for turning. 

"She rang me last summer and said that she wanted to go out in a blaze of glory. I did ask her to reconsider. Briefly. But you don't get Barbara to change her mind," he said.

Treadwell-Collins, who is also leaving EastEnders, described Windsor as "the guvnor" of the soap.  

"She'll tell actors that they don't realise how lucky they are and to stop complaining. She's a leader," he said.

If you have been affected by issues raised in this EastEnders story, please visit samaritans.org, contact the 24-hour helpline on 116123 or email: jo@samaritans.org.

Windsor's co-stars and fans gave their reaction to the episode on social media:

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