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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Actress Windsor quits EastEnders | Actress Windsor quits EastEnders |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Actress Barbara Windsor, who plays Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders, is to leave the BBC One soap next year. | Actress Barbara Windsor, who plays Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders, is to leave the BBC One soap next year. |
| The 72-year-old has played the Albert Square matriarch since 1994. | The 72-year-old has played the Albert Square matriarch since 1994. |
| The star, who won a lifetime achievement gong at this year's British Soap Awards, said she wanted to spend more time with her husband. | The star, who won a lifetime achievement gong at this year's British Soap Awards, said she wanted to spend more time with her husband. |
| "I'll be so sad to leave Peggy behind. EastEnders has been wonderful to me and it's no secret that it changed my life all of those years ago," she said. | "I'll be so sad to leave Peggy behind. EastEnders has been wonderful to me and it's no secret that it changed my life all of those years ago," she said. |
| Windsor has become a stalwart of the soap opera class="" href="/2/hi/in_pictures/8329822.stm">In pictures: Windsor's career | |
| She added that Peggy has been a "wonderful character to play", and singled out showing the Queen around the set of EastEnders as "something that will stay with me forever". | She added that Peggy has been a "wonderful character to play", and singled out showing the Queen around the set of EastEnders as "something that will stay with me forever". |
| "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." | "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." |
| Windsor's agent Barry Burnett told BBC News that the star had no intention of retiring from showbusiness. | Windsor's agent Barry Burnett told BBC News that the star had no intention of retiring from showbusiness. |
| "Oh no, absolutely not, can you imagine that? Anyone who knows Barbara knows what she's like," he said. | "Oh no, absolutely not, can you imagine that? Anyone who knows Barbara knows what she's like," he said. |
| EastEnders executive producer Diederick Santer described Windsor's character as "truly iconic". | EastEnders executive producer Diederick Santer described Windsor's character as "truly iconic". |
| "Barbara has contributed so much to EastEnders over the last 15 years, plus countless episodes, and countless amazing storylines. | "Barbara has contributed so much to EastEnders over the last 15 years, plus countless episodes, and countless amazing storylines. |
| "She has made the Mitchells the premiere family of British soap," he added. | "She has made the Mitchells the premiere family of British soap," he added. |
| "I so much enjoy working with her - catching up with the gossip, listening to her stories, talking about the show, benefiting from her advice, and most importantly revelling in her powerful, funny, passionate performances. | "I so much enjoy working with her - catching up with the gossip, listening to her stories, talking about the show, benefiting from her advice, and most importantly revelling in her powerful, funny, passionate performances. |
| "All of us at EastEnders - and our audience - are going to miss her hugely." | "All of us at EastEnders - and our audience - are going to miss her hugely." |