Scott Mitchell, the widower of Dame Barbara Windsor, has split from EastEnders star Tanya Franks after three years together. Mitchell, 62, began dating Franks, 59, who played Rainie Cross in the soap, following the death of his wife, who passed away from Alzheimer's aged 83 in 2020.
A 'wonderful' relationship that evolved into friendship
Mitchell told The Mirror they called it a day in April after deciding they were better off as friends. He said: "Tanya and I had a couple of wonderful years together and, 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 and out of respect for her, I will not be commenting any further on this matter."
The couple went public with their relationship in the summer of 2023 during a holiday to Greece, with family and friends said to be happy for them both.
How they met and Barbara's legacy
Franks, best known for her role as Rainie Cross in EastEnders, also appeared in Pulling, Mum and Broadchurch. She bonded with Mitchell while training for the London Marathon, which he ran in 2019, 2021 and 2023 alongside a team of EastEnders stars in support of Alzheimer's Research UK.
As leader of Babs' Army, Mitchell has run several marathons in memory of his late wife alongside EastEnders stars Jake Wood, Lacey Turner, Tanya, Heather Peace, Natalie Cassidy and Adam Woodyatt. Barbara, who played the iconic Peggy Mitchell, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2014, with Mitchell revealing the news publicly four years later.
Speaking about his grief four years ago, Mitchell said: "I talk about her and remember her with such joy. Two years is not a long time out of 27 years. I'm still in the early stages of grief and processing everything, but what I'm really trying to do is think of the really good times. Especially the early times when we first met. That's been a really good thing for me, to go back. I lost my best friend. My other half. I think that's why I still feel that sense now of being in the house and feeling sometimes that she is there with me. Other times I feel the loneliness of her not being there anymore."
