The BBC is to make a biopic about EastEnders legend Barbara Windsor.
Babs will be broadcast next year in advance of the veteran actress' 80th birthday, with the screenplay written by former EastEnders writer Tony Jordan.
The film will chronicle Windsor's childhood in the East End, her rise to fame in the Carry On films and her first marriage to criminal Ronnie Knight.
Windsor, whose last EastEnders episode as matriarch Peggy Mitchell aired last week, believes it is "the right time" to tell her life story. She said writer Jordan is "the only person" who knows her well enough to tell it.
"Tony knows the real me and what makes me tick and I was particularly taken by the way he wants to tell my tale, which is not in the way people will expect it to be."
"Tony certainly has captured the moments of my life that have made me who I am today," she added.
After her EastEnders farewell, Windsor has defended her controversial exit storyline, saying that the soap's producers approached it with the utmost care.
Windsor's character Peggy had terminal cancer and in the May 17 episode viewers saw her saying goodbye to sons Grant (Ross Kemp) and Phil (Steve McFadden) before taking her own life. There has been both praise and criticism of the storyline since the episode aired.
Windsor - "I believe the producers did everything they could to take care over such a sensitive subject matter"
"I believe that we must respect both sides of the argument, but I believe the producers did everything they could to take care over such a sensitive subject matter," Windsor told The Huffington Post UK.
"Both the Samaritans and health specialist that EastEnders worked with on the storyline have praised them for the way it was handled."
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
Alongside racy roles in the classic Carry On films, Peggy is the defining role of Windsor's career. 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.
On the subject of the show's direction without her, Windsor told The Huffington Post UK that she would like to see onscreen son Grant making regular returns to the soap and "for the Mitchell brothers to put their differences aside and rule the Square as a force together".
Peggy with sons Grant (Ross Kemp, left) and Phil (Steve McFadden)
As to who could replace her as Albert Square's female icon, Windsor replied: "I think one has to look at Sharon played by the wonderful Letitia Dean.
Letitia Dean
"It almost feels like her birthright to take over that mantle in the show. But there are a couple there who most certainly could have comparisons made.
"Time will tell and I will be an eager viewer and fan of the show."
If you were affected by issues raised in the EastEnders storyline, please visit samaritans.org, contact the 24-hour helpline on 116123 or email: jo@samaritans.org.
