EastEnders star Ross Kemp reveals poignant message from ‘best friend’ Barbara Windsor after her death

Ross Kemp has revealed a poignant message he received from EastEnders co-star Barbara Windsor following her death.

Ross played Grant Mitchell, son of Barbara’s Peggy Mitchell, from 1990 until 1999, as well as making several appearances throughout the 2000s.

His final appearance came during Barbara’s last episodes as iconic landlady Queen Vic Peggy, during which the character was killed off on her request.

During their time working together, Ross and Barbara formed a close bond, with Ross describing their relationship as ‘very special’ in a recent interview on Loose Women.

‘She was my best friend and I loved her dearly and I miss her,’ he told the panel.

Barbara died in 2020, aged 83, after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2014, and Ross was asked to write a eulogy for her funeral.

While trying to look for a pen, he instead found a letter from the actress.

‘It took me two days to write it because I was crying, sobbing through it,’ he revealed.

‘I reached up for the pen and I got this card stuck under my nail. I pulled the card down and it was a card from her to me, from flowers.

‘Now, I’m not into all that stuff about ghosts and dolls and all that stuff, but that was a weird moment.’

Barbara was a hugely loved member of the EastEnders family, and following her death a number of the stars have continued to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research UK in her memory.

EastEnders stars including Jake Wood, Adam Woodyatt, Natalie Cassidy and Tanya Franks all teamed up with Barbara’s husband, Scott, to form Babs’ Army, and ran the London Marathon together in a bid to raise funds and awareness for the condition.