Barbara Windsor's Widower Scott Mitchell Ends Relationship with Tanya Franks

Scott Mitchell, the widower of iconic EastEnders actress Barbara Windsor, has ended his three-year relationship with Tanya Franks, who also starred in the BBC soap. Mitchell, 62, confirmed the split in a statement to The Sun, stating that he and Franks, 59, decided in April to evolve their relationship into a friendship.

"I can confirm Tanya and I had a couple of wonderful years together," Mitchell said. "In true respect of each other, we felt in April our relationship should evolve into a now incredible and kind friendship... Tanya is also a highly private person. Out of respect for her, I will not be commenting any further on this matter."

Insiders close to the couple told The Sun that the pair remain committed friends, with one source stating, "She was a rock to Scott in the years that passed after Barbara’s death. Sadly they decided earlier this year that the spark had gone and they were better as friends."

Mitchell began dating Franks following Windsor's death from Alzheimer's disease in December 2020. Windsor, who played Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders from 1994 to 2016, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2014. Mitchell became her carer and was married to her for 20 years before her passing at the age of 83.

In June, Mitchell spoke about the challenges of being a carer for Windsor, describing the moment he had to send her to a care home as a "dagger through his heart." He reflected on his lack of knowledge about dementia's progression, noting its impact on Windsor's mobility and their relationship. He learned to adapt to her reality, understanding that arguing or contradicting her when she said something that didn't make sense was counterproductive and stemmed from his fear.

Last year, Mitchell addressed the criticism he faced for starting a relationship with Franks so soon after Windsor's death. "There’s always that person that says, ‘That was quick,’" he told The Mirror. "It’s easy to sit on the sidelines and cast judgement – especially with social media. These people forget that their words can really hurt."

He also noted that Franks was understanding about his need to talk about Barbara, as Franks herself had lost her stepfather to the disease. Mitchell added that he believed Windsor would have approved of his relationship with Franks, whom she had met and "liked."