BBC viewers were in tears as Barbara Windsor featured in Babs, a biopic about her life and career, to sing a ‘poignant’ song about being happy.
On Tuesday (August 18) evening, the BBC reaired its docudrama about the former EastEnders actress, who is living with Alzheimer’s.
And the closing scenes of the programme, which starred Samantha Spiro and others in the titular role, left those watching at home with tears in their eyes.
What happened at the end of Babs on BBC One?
At the very end, the camera faded to a dark room with a single spotlight shining down, before Dame Barbara Windsor herself walked into view.
Looking glamorous in a sparkling gown, she sang, “Grab your coat and get your hat, leave your worry on the doorstep…” as she proceeded to perform a moving rendition of On The Sunny Side Of The Street by Billie Holiday.
“I used to walk in the shade with those blues on parade,” the TV legend warbled. “But I’m not afraid, ‘cos I’m a rover – crossed over.”
Read more: Craig Phillips reveals how a piece of advice from Barbara Windsor helped shape his career
It left viewers feeling emotional.
One said on Twitter, with a crying emoji: “So poignant when Barbara Windsor came on at the end to sing #Babs.”
Another wrote: “Ah man. Just watched #Babs on BBC One. When real Babs came on at the end. Right in the feels. Bless her.”
A third put: “Very emotional watching #Babs just now on @BBC. The performance of lovely Babs by @Samanthaspiro was amazing, it took me all my time to realise it wasn’t her. Love you Babs xx.”
Ah man. Just watched #Babs on BBC One. When real Babs came on at the end. Right in the feels. Bless her.
— Ollie Hand (@OllieHand) August 18, 2020
Very emotional watching #Babs just now on @BBC The performance of lovely Babs by @Samanthaspiro was amazing, it took me all my time to realise it wasn't her. (Can't stand Jaime Winston sorry) Samantha should have played both parts. Love you Babs xx
— Bev (@BDabell) August 18, 2020
A ‘national treasure’
Others on the social media site were reminded of how much they love Barbara, who is now living in a care home.
Many on Twitter hailed her a ‘national treasure’.
Very emotional watching Babs.
“Just watched #babs for the first time,” said one. “Beautiful insight into her life and career! Great woman, great actress and of course a national treasure.”
“Just watched that Babs BBC programme about Barbara Windsor,” someone else tweeted. “Never seen it before. The actresses playing her throughout her life were fantastic. Brilliant. National treasure #Babs.”
Read more: Eamonn Holmes melts fans’ hearts with unseen picture of pal Barbara Windsor
“What a wonderful thing to remind ourselves what a national treasure Barbara Windsor is,” another wrote.
Just watched #babs for the first time – beautiful insight into her life and career! Great woman, great actress and of course a national treasure #BarbaraWindsor #bbc #sunnysideofthestreet 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
— Eve Compton (@eve_stockley) August 18, 2020
Just watched that Babs BBC programme about Barbara Windsor. Never seen it before. The actresses playing her throughout her life were fantastic. Brilliant. National treasure ❤️ #Babs
— Stewart Gordon (@GORDY1987) August 18, 2020
What a wonderful thing to remind ourselves what a national treasure Barbara Windsor is : #babs #JaimieWinston @Samanthaspiro #ScottMitchell #SunnySideOfTheStreet
— BETTY REDONDO (@bettyredondo) August 18, 2020
– Babs is available to stream now on BBC iPlayer
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