Digital Spy honours Barbara Windsor

EastEnders legend Barbara Windsor, who plays Peggy Mitchell in the soap, has been presented with Digital Spy’s first ever Soap Icon award.

The actress found fame throughout the 1960s and 1970s, appearing in a string of movies under the popular Carry On franchise before joining EastEnders in 1994 to play the mother of Phil and Grant and later landlady of the Queen Vic, Peggy Mitchell.

She’s since become a stalwart of the soap, but took a break from filming in 2003 for health reasons, returning to the set of Elstree in 2005. However, in October, after 15 years, she announced she was to once again leave the soap and Peggy behind, much to the shock of fans. 

“When I think of all the great soap icons of the past and present, it is a great honour. To be told you’re considered up there with the likes of Julie Goodyear, Pat Phoenix and of course our own June Brown and Pam St Clements, it’s a wonderful way to be remembered.

 

“It’s a wonderful compliment, but I think it’s because I’ve been around so long and I won’t go away because I love the business I am in so much. I am very proud that the public have taken me to their hearts. In my own opinion, though, our national treasures are the ‘unsung heroes’.”

In EastEnders’ storylines Peggy has battled breast cancer twice and had tumultuous marriages to Frank Butcher (Mike Reid) and Archie Mitchell (Larry Lamb).

Last week EastEnders was crowned DS’s Soap Of The Year for the second year in a row.