Actress Barbara Windsor, who plays Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders, is to leave the soap next year, programme bosses have announced.

The 72-year-old, who has played the Albert Square matriarch since 1994, said she wanted to spend more time with her husband.

The star said: “I’ll be so sad to leave Peggy behind,” and thanked viewers and colleagues for their support.

Windsor won a lifetime achievement gong at the British Soap Awards this year.

The actress said: “EastEnders has been wonderful to me and it’s no secret that it changed my life all of those years ago.”
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.”

EastEnders executive producer Diederick Santer called Windsor’s character “truly iconic”.

“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.

“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.”

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