DAME Barbara Windsor’s widower Scott Mitchell has spoken out to defend his relationship with her former EastEnders co-star Tanya Franks.

Scott, 60, who was married to the Carry On icon for 20 years until her death from Alzheimer’s disease in 2020, said he “still wakes in terror” without her.

But he insists Barbara would have given her blessing for his new romance with Tanya, 56.

The couple went public with their relationship last year, having grown close while campaigning together for dementia awareness following Barbara’s diagnosis.

Tanya, best known for playing Rainie Cross in the BBC soap, worked with Barbara on EastEnders before her health began to decline.

Speaking to the Sunday Mirror, Scott admitted: “I still wake in terror. I still have moments – this morning I was quite emotional – where I just miss her.

“That doesn’t change. I think it will be with me forever.”

He added: “I would like to believe she would be happy that someone was there by my side and that I wasn’t on my own. She always used to say to me, ‘I never want you to be on your own.’”

Scott also revealed that despite public support, there had been some backlash to his relationship with Tanya – and he felt compelled to respond to those who criticised him for moving on.

He said: “There was a bit of, ‘Oh he’s moved on too fast.’ And you just think, ‘How dare you?’ People don’t know the pain. They don’t know what the grief has been.”

Scott and Tanya initially bonded through their work with the Alzheimer’s Society and were close friends for years before their relationship turned romantic.

Barbara, who played the iconic Peggy Mitchell on EastEnders, was diagnosed in 2014 but kept the news private until 2018.

She died in December 2020 aged 83, with Scott by her side.

He has since become a prominent campaigner for dementia awareness.

Reflecting on his ongoing grief, Scott said: “I don’t think anyone ever gets over a loss of someone they love so deeply.

“I think we find ways of carrying them with us, and that’s what I try to do every day.”

Scott and Tanya previously appeared together on This Morning to raise awareness of dementia and campaign for vital research.

The recruitment consultant told host Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley: “We forged an incredible friendship over the four years and something wonderful blossomed out of it…

“The exact opposite of what dementia is. I’m very fortunate that I have a partner that doesn’t mind me speaking about my late wife.”

Tanya joined Scott in fundraising after her step father Derek went through a similar thing.

She said: “I can do nothing but support him in talking about it. You often feel alone in it when you are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s…

“The communication allowed the support system to grow. Barbara is as much about the legacy of Alzheimer’s as it is me going through it with my step father. It is hundreds of thousands that we’ve raised from doing the three marathons.”

Scott went on to reveal he would take part in another marathon – but there were certain conditions.

He said: “If for next year’s marathon someone would like to give a million pounds, a big company or sponsor, I will do another marathon and shave my hair off as well, and that is the big one, shaving my hair off.”