Barbara Windsor - Peggy Mitchell

[Dazzle]

Does she put herself forward to accept the awards, though, or do the rest of EE encourage her to do so. I'm not so sure that she thinks of herself as the Queen Bee. She doesn't come across that way to me, from what I've seen of her in interviews.

[tammyy2j]

EastEnders actress Barbara Windsor has said that she is not yet thinking about her forthcoming departure from the soap.

The 72-year-old announced that she had decided to quit her role as Peggy Mitchell last October. She will be seen on screen for the final time later this year.

Speaking about her exit, Windsor told Holy Soap: "I'm not even thinking about it. I get my scripts and I do them, and I've got about five, six, months yet, so it's quite a time really."

The soap star went on to dismiss suggestions that she is already arranging to return to the programme in 2012.

She commented: "Oh, I don't know about that. I mean these stories come out. No, I shall be leaving in July, but I don't know."

Windsor also said that she does not know how Peggy will bow out, insisting that the drama's producers are keeping her final storyline under wraps for the time being.

[alan45]

Eastenders legend Barbara Windsor has told how she is dreading filming her final scenes as Queen Vic landlady Peggy Mitchell.

In her first interview since breaking the news of her departure, Barbara told The People: "It is going to be emotional on my last day. I go in July and it will be hard.

"I'll be so sad to leave Peggy behind. She's such a wonderful character to play. But at least I'm still being called an ageing sex symbol and a national treasure. I love that." The hit BBC1 soap marked its 25th anniversary last month with a live episode which revealed Stacey Slater (actress Lacey Turner) as the killer of Barbara's on-screen husband Archie (Larry Lamb). But although Barbara has played the head of the Mitchell clan for 16 years, she says producers are still keeping her guessing whether unlucky-in-love Peggy will be killed off or ride into the sunset with a new fella.

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Barbara, 72, said: "We are a close-knit family on EastEnders but they have not told me how my character will be leaving.

"You know what soaps are like. They never tell you. So I guess you will have to wait and see. They ain't told me!" Party What is certain is that Barbara will have a traditional cockney knees-up on set to mark her farewell. She said: "You know me, I will have a big party."

Barbara joined the show in 1994 and picked up a lifetime achievement award at the British Soap Awards last year.

The star, who has done everything from West End musicals to Carry On films, began acting at just 13. She said: "I have had a fantastic career. I have been in the business 60 years this year and I love it now the same as when I started. I was at the Laurence Olivier Awards in London last week and it inspired me. Theatre is the best training you can get."

Now one of the best known faces on TV, she will hold fond memories of playing mum to hardmen Grant and Phil (Ross Kemp and Steve McFadden).

She said: "EastEnders has been wonderful to me. I've had the pleasure of working with a marvellous cast and crew. I have made many lasting good friends."

Barbara, who was made an MBE in 1999, even got to show the Queen around the Albert Square set in November 2001. She said: "That honour is something that will stay with me forever."

As for the near future, she will be spending more time with hubby Scott Mitchell, 46.

Ignoring the 26-year age gap, the irrepressible Babs giggled: "I suppose, when all's said and done, I should spend a bit more time with my old man - as he's not getting any younger!"

[parkerman]

Ignoring the 26-year age gap, the irrepressible Babs giggled: "I suppose, when all's said and done, I should spend a bit more time with my old man - as he's not getting any younger!"

Nor are you, dear!

[alan45]

should spend a bit more time with my old man -

Nor are you, dear!

FFS she has the cheek to call her toyboy an old man

[Dazzle]

She was joking about him being so much younger than her

[Perdita]

Barbara Windsor is readying herself for the day that she has to film her last scene as Queen Vic landlady Peggy Mitchell.

The British legend, who announced last October that she is leaving the BBC One soap, told The People that her last day will be an emotional experience that she is not looking forward to.

Windsor, 72, said: "I'll be so sad to leave Peggy behind. She's such a wonderful character to play. But at least I'm still being called an ageing sex symbol and a national treasure. I love that."

As to whether the head of the Mitchell clan will be killed off, Windsor said she remains in the dark. "You know what soaps are like. They never tell you. So I guess you will have to wait and see. They ain't told me!" she said.

Windsor, who joined the show in 1994, said the only thing that she knows for certain is that she will throw a "big party" to mark the event.

"EastEnders has been wonderful to me. I've had the pleasure of working with a marvellous cast and crew. I have made many lasting good friends," she said.

[Chris_2k11]

Nor are you, dear!

[alan45]

EastEnders' series story producer Dominic Treadwell-Collins has revealed that Peggy Mitchell's final storyline will be "epic and moving".

The Albert Square icon will make her final Walford appearance later this year following Barbara Windsor's decision to quit the role.

Plans for Peggy's exit plot have now been finalised and her swan song episodes are expected to be penned by the BBC soap's lead writer and series consultant Simon Ashdown.

Speaking to Walford Web, Treadwell-Collins confirmed: "We've storylined Barbara's exit and that's going to be epic and moving - Simon's already chomping at the bit to write those episodes."

Meanwhile, on the impact that Peggy's departure will have, he commented: "It's a huge loss, but the show - and the Mitchells - will keep going. We've actually got an amazing story for the Mitchells over the next year or so. And maybe even some joy for Ronnie! It's time to give the girl a break."

Windsor admitted last month that she will be "so sad" to leave Peggy behind.

Epic and moving indeed. Still it makes a change from Sensation, Explosive and sure to Rock the Square

[Siobhan]

epic and moving sound like my bowels first thing in the morning