MX23RW : Thursday, March 28 13:17:49| >> :600:116732290:116732290:

Ross Kemp opens up on Barbara Windsor's "shocking" battle with Alzheimer's

Ross Kemp says that it is "deeply upsetting" to see close friend and former EastEnders costar Dame Barbara Windsor battling with Alzheimer's disease.

Ross Kemp has revealed that the deterioration of Dame Barbara Windsor's condition in her ongoing battle with Alzheimer's disease has been "shocking" to witness.

The 82-year-old was diagnosed with the condition in 2014 and then took the decision to quit her long-running role as Peggy Mitchell on EastEnders, with her character being killed off in 2016.

Kemp, who played Peggy's son Grant Mitchell in the soap, is a close friend of Windsor in real life and speaks to her husband Scott about her illness for new documentary Ross Kemp: Living With Dementia.

"I've been friends with Barbara and Scott for 25 years. Seeing how Barbara has suffered, and the effect it has had on Scott, drove me to take a look into the issue," Kemp wrote in a piece for The Sun.

"I found it is fast becoming central to Britain's social care crisis. Due to her condition, Barbara didn't take part in the film.

"I see her as often as I can - every couple of months before the lockdown - and the deterioration in her condition has been shocking and to those of us close to her, deeply upsetting.

"Scott spoke candidly, to give people an insight into this horrendous disease and the human cost and financial burden it places on sufferers and their families."

Ross Kemp: Living With Dementia starts tonight at 7.30pm on ITV.

ID:402107: cacheID:402107:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2147:

Follow us on X/Twitter and like us on Facebook for the latest entertainment news alerts.

Media Mole Limited-Time Offer: Get Sky Cinema, Sky Stream & Netflix for just £27 a month + £0 upfront fee for 18 months!
Prices may change during this period. Ends 21st March 2024

Restore Data
Share this article now:
Barbara Windsor pictured in April 2009
Read Next:
Biggins reveals Dame Barbara Windsor struggling with isolation
>
rhs 2.0
New TV Picks header

Thursday, March 28


The Hotel Inspector: Channel 5, 9pm
She's back! Alex kicks off a new series by aiding a struggling tearoom in Somerset

The Apprentice: BBC One, 9pm
The remaining candidates must pick and sell items live on a TV shopping channel

EastEnders: BBC One, 7.30pm and iPlayer, from 6am
Callum tries to do what he can as the fallout from Ben's arrest continues...