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Barbara Windsor quits EastEnders

Actress wants more time with her husband

Barbara Windsor joined EastEnders in 1994

Barbara Windsor has announced she's leaving EastEnders.

The actress, who plays Peggy Mitchell, will bow out of the BBC soap next year.

Barbara, 72, wants to spend more time with her husband Scott Mitchell.

‘I'll be so sad to leave Peggy behind,' she says. ‘EastEnders has been wonderful to me and it's no secret that it changed my life all of those years ago.

‘I'm looking forward to the future and 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.'

Executive producer Diederick Santer has paid tribute to her.

‘Barbara has contributed so much to EastEnders over the last 15 years, plus countless episodes, and countless amazing storylines,' he tells the BBC.

‘All of us at EastEnders - and our audience - are going to miss her hugely.'

But Barbara is not planning to retire from showbusiness altogether.

‘Oh no, absolutely not, can you imagine that?' says agent Barry Burnett. ‘Anyone who knows Barbara knows what she's like.'

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