Scott Mitchell, widower of the late EastEnders legend Dame Barbara Windsor, has spoken out about his relationship with actress Tanya Franks — and the criticism that followed.
Barbara passed away in 2020 at the age of 83 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Two years later, Scott, 62, went public with his relationship with Tanya, 57, who played Rainie Cross on the BBC soap where Barbara once starred.
Their connection reportedly began while training together for the London Marathon, but when the news broke, some online critics accused Scott of moving on too soon.
Now, Scott is addressing the backlash head-on. Speaking to The Mirror, he said: “My being unhappy and alone is not going to bring Barbara back. Life is for the living, and we only get one shot.”
He added: “Of course, there’s always someone on the internet saying, ‘Oh, that didn’t take long.’ But Barbara’s illness lasted for a decade — you lose someone while they’re still alive. I didn’t feel guilty, because I know I had Barbara’s blessing.”
Scott reiterated his stance during an appearance on White Wine Question Time with Kate Thornton, saying: “People don’t know the pain or the grief. How dare they judge?”
Despite public interest in his new relationship, Scott acknowledged the differences between Barbara and Tanya. On This Morning in 2023, he said: “They’re polar opposites. Tanya is incredibly private and chooses not to speak publicly about her personal life — and I completely respect that.”
