Barbara Windsor - Peggy Mitchell

[Abigail]

Boris Johnson has admitted that he is dismayed by Barbara Windsor's decision to quit EastEnders.

The Mayor of London, who featured in a cameo scene with Windsor's character Peggy Mitchell this month, spoke out on his Twitter page after hearing the news yesterday.

Addressing his followers, he commented: "Tragic news about Barbara Windsor leaving EastEnders!"

Windsor has announced that she is to leave Albert Square next year because she wants to spend more time with her husband. However, she is not planning to retire from showbiz completely.

Johnson's recent appearance on the soap saw him meeting Peggy in the Queen Vic while on a trip to Walford.

[Chloe O'brien]

I was at work yesterday when I heard the news, and I thought yipee!!!! all we need now is for her to take her beetroot son with her.

[Perdita]

BARBARA Windsor quit EastEnders after a mysterious run-in with producers, her screen ex-husband told TV Biz.

Larry Lamb, who plays Archie Mitchell, revealed something "really upset her" - forcing her to leave the show after 15 years.

He said Babs would never have wanted to walk away from the BBC soap, describing it as her "life and soul".

Larry told The Sun: "Something has happened that really upset her and I'm going to talk to her about it."

He added: "I was really shocked that she is going. She loves that show and we are all like her family."

The actor, whose character is killed off this Christmas, also rubbished suggestions the show's hectic schedule had taken its toll on the 72-year-old.

Babs, who plays pub landlady Peggy Mitchell, has suffered from the debilitating Epstein-Barr virus.

He said: "She is as fit as a fiddle - there's nothing wrong with her. Yes, the hours are long and there are more episodes, but the truth of it is there is rarely a day that you put in 14 hours without getting two days off."

Babs, who joined the show in 1994, announced on Wednesday that she is quitting next year.

She said she wants to spend more time with her third husband Scott Mitchell, 46.

The Carry On legend joked: "I'll be sad to leave Peggy behind. But when all's said and done, I should spend a bit more time with my old man as he's not getting any younger."

Last night Barbara admitted she had been "upset" by bosses - but only when they told her Larry, 66, was departing Walford. And she insisted that had nothing to do with her decision.

She said: "It is a well known fact that I was upset when I was told that the lovely Larry was leaving the show.

"But that is absolutely not the reason I am going."

She added: "I would never give up my job for any man - except my husband and that is exactly why I am leaving!"

Insiders at the soap also say Babs was NOT asked to take a pay cut - unlike other top stars. Chiefs have slashed the screen time of some of the serial's top earners, so that they don't have to pay them so much.

One source said: "The BBC has been saying for months that they need to cut stars' salaries - and the EastEnders mob are far from immune."

One of those hit is June Brown (Dot Branning), who earns £370,000 a year pro rata.

The veteran, 82, took a long break in the spring, saying: "It's to do with the recession. They could afford ten kids and five dogs for the price of me."

Barbara is thought to pocket up to £360,000 a year on the soap.

It is not known if her screen time was set to be cut.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...#ixzz0VUlWbASU

[Hannelene]

I read this morning that the reason she had quite was because she would take a 54% pay cut

[Ross Poldark]

Hi.

New to the board.

I am really pleased that she is leaving, the Mitchell's have been a bad smell over the soap for many years. Shame Phil does not go too and then the soap would have saved over £650,000 per year on people that the viewers no longer like.

Completely over the moon.

[Perdita]

Hi Ross, nice to meet you, welcome to SoapBoards. What other shows do you watch on tv?

[Ross Poldark]

Hi Ross, nice to meet you, welcome to SoapBoards. What other shows do you watch on tv?

Lots of Show's Really, best not comment in this thread. Will make a comment in the newby thread

[Perdita]

EastEnders matriarch Barbara Windsor denied this afternoon that there was any truth in claims surrounding her decision to quit the BBC soap.

The Carry On legend today insisted that she made the choice to leave for one reason only - to spend more time with her husband Scott Mitchell.

On Wednesday, the 72-year-old announced her intention to step down from her role as Queen Vic landlady Peggy Mitchell next year, much to the shock of many of the soap's fans.

This weekend, however, her desire to take a step back from the world of soap has been shrouded in tabloid theories over an alleged pay cut, supposed frustration at "changes to the programme", arguments with the drama's management and her screen husband Larry Lamb's (Archie Mitchell) departure from the Walford serial at Christmas.

Speaking to Digital Spy this afternoon, Windsor insisted: "I am upset at suggestions made that I have chosen to leave EastEnders because of money, changes that are being made to the show or a supposed bust up with producers, as there is absolutely no truth in them.

"I made the tough decision to leave for purely one reason - after 15 years in the show, I want to spend more time with my husband Scott."

An EastEnders insider commented: "It's a shame that after the love and dedication Barbara has given to EastEnders for 15 years, people have to find an ulterior motive as to why she's leaving and that they cannot simply accept that she wants to take a step back and have more time for herself."

A BBC spokesperson confirmed to DS: "Barbara's decision to leave EastEnders has absolutely nothing to do with money, contracts or supposed changes at EastEnders."

They added: "Barbara made the difficult decision as after 15 years of playing Peggy Mitchell, she felt it was time to pull her last pint and spend more time with her husband Scott."

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/s2...t-rumours.html

[parkerman]

I do have a shameful confession, I'm afraid. Barbara Windsor is a distant relation of mine....sorry, alan.

[Chloe O'brien]

I do have a shameful confession, I'm afraid. Barbara Windsor is a distant relation of mine....sorry, alan.

OMFG You're Mr Beetroot aren't you.

Joke on the side look on the brightside with Babs leaving EE writers can afford 6 wooden Chelsea's.