Scott Mitchell Struggles With Panic After Barbara Windsor’s Death

Scott Mitchell struggles with panic-filled nights following the death of his wife, Barbara Windsor, who passed away from Alzheimer’s in December 2020. Despite his ongoing grief, he champions dementia causes in her honour and has found new love with Tanya Franks, stating he carries Barbara’s legacy forward with pride while rediscovering happiness.

Scott Mitchell, the widower of the late Dame Barbara Windsor, is bravely navigating life after his wife’s passing from Alzheimer’s disease in December 2020. The iconic actress, beloved for her roles in both Carry On films and EastEnders, left a lasting impression that still resonates four years later. However, Scott’s been wrestling with some not-so-fun aftereffects of that experience. He still finds himself waking up in panic at night, a habit sparked by years spent caring for Barbara.

In an interview with The Mirror ahead of Dementia Action Week, Scott shared how his sleep patterns have never truly returned to normal post-caregiving. “I was so aware of when she used to get up in the night because she used to have falls in the night. So I never really used to sleep,” he confesses. Talk about a rough night’s rest! It’s a testament to just how deeply he dedicated himself to her care, something that understandably still haunts him on sleepless nights.

Despite the heaviness of his loss, Scott is determined to celebrate Barbara’s legacy by advocating for dementia research and care. His devotion has blossomed into the Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Goals initiative, which has backing from the government. He proudly maintains, “She’d be incredibly proud now to know that her name is still helping people,” from their shared home base in London.

Scott’s perseverance parallels Barbara’s own fiery spirit; she was a force of nature, famously known as Queen Vic’s formidable landlady, Peggy Mitchell. Although Alzheimer’s struck Barbara in 2014 and gradually faded her brilliance, her impact on hearts and minds endures. Mitchell reflects on the feelings of helplessness that come with watching a loved one decline, saying, “You’re powerless against it. It’s a much bigger force and presence than we are. You watch someone you love slowly being taken away.”

Their marriage, which lasted two decades, was marked by an age gap that raised some eyebrows, but the couple’s love defied those odds. Scott quoted Barbara’s heartfelt wish that he be broken-hearted and cry after her passing, but also to live his best life moving forward. She wanted him to rediscover happiness — a wish that, coincidentally, he found two years later in ex-EastEnders actress Tanya Franks.

“I’m incredibly happy,” Scott expressed, redefining what joy looks like after loss. “I don’t compare the two ladies. They’re very different, and I have love for both of them.” Quite a nice perspective on juggling love and memories, if you ask me! Overall, he’s doing his best to ensure Barbara’s indomitable spirit remains lively in the fight against dementia.

Scott Mitchell, though still grappling with grief and sleepless nights, is as dedicated to preserving his beloved Barbara Windsor’s legacy as he ever was. The resilient widower is now helping to promote dementia research while discovering new happiness in his life. Barbara’s spirit continues to shine as they work together to combat this cruel disease, living out her wish for him to lead a fulfilling life.

Original Source: www.express.co.uk