Barbara Windsor’s husband Scott Mitchell has revealed that the former EastEnders actress now struggles to recognise him and their own home.
The 81-year-old was diagnosed with dementia in April 2014 and, as her condition deteriorates, Scott has confessed she now struggles to identify him because of her “heartbreaking” illness.
In an emotional interview on Good Morning Britain, Scott, 56, told Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid how much more difficult dealing with her condition has become.
He said: “I think it’s when every memory will go on a constant basis.
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“Maybe, one day, Barbara won’t know who I am – one day she won’t know who I am. I’ve had it twice.
“I was helping her out of the bath and she suddenly looked at me really scared and said, ‘Sorry, who are you?’. It is heartbreaking and there are no words which can describe it.”
When asked about how her condition is progressing Scott revealed that the EastEnders icon, who had a heart operation earlier this year, could put on a brave face for fans, but it wasn’t the whole story.
He said: “Well, let’s put it this way. She gets herself together for moments like that [seeing friends]… when we go to the theatre something happens to Barbara.
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“When she’s out and it’s like her old self comes in and she sees the public and speaks to everyone and you see that part of her comes alive, because it’s what she knows.
“I’d be doing a misjustice to people going through the same thing if I didn’t say, ‘that’s not the reality,’ because it’s not the reality. The last two weeks her confusion is really bad…”
Scott continued: “I spend a lot of time explaining where we are – she has a lot of trouble identifying her house. I would just say, ‘We’re staying here for tonight…’ And she’s ask, ‘Have we got clothes here?'”
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Barbara’s former soap co-stars have also rallied around with actors Jake Wood, Emma Barton and Tanya Franks among the stars running the London Marathon alongside Scott in her honour to raise money for the charity Dementia Revolution.
Barbara revealed her joy at her former co-star’s support for the campaign created by dementia charities Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK.
She told The Sun: “It means so much to me to see some of my closest friend’s coming together to support this cause. And I know it will mean a lot to other people living with dementia.”
Scott also revealed that he sometimes has to show the Carry On legend pictures of their life together as she forgets how long they have been a couple. He also confessed that he worries that her memory loss is now “instant”.
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