BBCActor Dame Barbara Windsor has started to forget her husband as she suffers with disease, Alzheimer’s.
Barbara, who’s known for playing Peggy Mitchell on BBC soap, EastEnders, was diagnosed with the disease back in 2014. Her husband, Scott Mitchell, appeared on ITV‘s Loose Women to talk about his wife and their lives since they found out she had Alzheimer’s.
The couple have been married for 18 years, and Scott is 26 years younger than 81-year-old Barbara.
Take a look at his appearance on Loose Women here:
Speaking on the show, Scott revealed how his wife has changed over the years since her diagnosis:
I’ve always said, something happened to her personality. It was almost as if, I’ve always felt some veil came over her. You think to yourself, ‘Well maybe she’s getting a bit older, she’s 81 now.’ She was in her early 70s then. So, I accepted that as part of the course.
Obviously, the thing I think that most people who have a loved one with this illness will get is the testing, challenging thing of the repetitive nature of it.
For instance, when you’re sitting there of an evening and maybe the same question comes at you, however many times, let’s say eight to 20 times in one evening, sometimes it’s hard to keep that calmness in your voice, to not show that you’re slightly irritated.
As much as you love someone, you’re human and you get to that point where you yourself may have had a day – I’ve got my own work to do, I’m thinking about Barbara – occasionally I show it.
GettyScott also spoke of the heartbreaking moment when his wife didn’t recognise him for the first time.
He explained:
It happened the other week, I helped her out of the bath and she looked at me and said, ‘I don’t know who you are’.
Barbara’s husband is planning to run the 2019 London Marathon to raise money for all those who suffer from Dementia.
GettyAccording to Sky News he spoke about his plan to take part in the marathon, saying:
The last few years have been really hard for both Barbara and me as we got used to the profound effect dementia has had on our lives.
I have seen many changes in Barbara since her diagnosis and at times its effects can be stronger than others.
Despite all the changes in Barbara, there is still so much of her there. Her humour, wit and care for others, for example. It is her humour I love the most – we have always laughed a lot.
If you’re looking for information, support or advice about dementia, call the National Dementia Helpline, on 0300 222 11 22.
Emily Brown first began delivering important news stories aged just 13, when she launched her career with a paper round. She graduated with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University, and went on to become a freelance writer and blogger. Emily contributed to The Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Student Problems before becoming a journalist at UNILAD, where she works on breaking news as well as longer form features.