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Scott Mitchell, widower to EastEnders star Barbara Windsor, has shared details of how he began dating girlfriend Tanya Franks.<\/p>\n
The couple\u2019s relationship was confirmed earlier this year, with the pair stepping out together during the summer, four years after they ran a marathon to raise money for Alzheimer\u2019s Research UK in Dame Barbara\u2019s name after she died from the disease in 2020.<\/p>\n
Tanya, 55, is best known for playing Rainie Cross in the same BBC One soap that Windsor starred on.<\/p>\n
Now Scott, 60, has spoken more about how their relationship developed over the years.<\/p>\n
Appearing on Lorraine on Thursday, Scott shared that before her death, his late wife had told him to find love and happiness again after she died.<\/p>\n
\u2018She was such a generous lady and had such a generous spirit. She always used to say I\u2019ll go first and be upset and be heartbroken but once you\u2019ve done that, please live the best life you can\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n
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\u2018And that\u2019s what I\u2019m doing.\u2019<\/p>\n
He went on to explain details of his romance with Tanya, saying that it had \u2018started off as an incredible friendship\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u2018It\u2019s developed into more and we are very happy.\u2019<\/p>\n
He added: \u2018It\u2019s been really lovely and she is incredibly supportive of the work I do for and I have no fears or worries that she is [worried about me campaigning for the disease that took his late wife].<\/p>\n
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\u2018She has her own family experience of his horrible illness and knows what it is all about.<\/p>\n
\u2018Thank goodness life feels good.\u2019<\/p>\n
Scott went on to explain that after spending 27 years with Windsor, she would \u2018always hold a special place in my heart\u2019, but that him \u2018being miserable or alone wouldn\u2019t bring her back and she wouldn\u2019t want that\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u2018I know the one person who would be really happy for me is Barbara Windsor.\u2019<\/p>\n
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In the interview Scott also spoke about how the grieving process for his late wife began all the way back in 2014 when she was first diagnosed with Alzheimer\u2019s.<\/p>\n
\u2018My grieving for her started back in 2014 and slowly you have to watch the deterioration of the person you love and they are still there,\u2019 he explained.<\/p>\n
\u2018I grieved for her again when I had to let her go into a care home, and then when she passed and then the following years after that.\u2019<\/p>\n
Scott was married to the late Peggy Mitchell icon from 2000 until her death in 2020.<\/p>\n
Last year Tanya left her role as Rainie on EastEnders after she reunited with husband Stuart Highway (Ricky Champ) and decided to start a new life elsewhere with their son, Roland.<\/p>\n