Ask Barbara Windsor transcript
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| This event took place Thursday 31st January, 2002 |
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Barbara Windsor
The lovely Barbara Windsor, joined us for a Live Chat and answered your questions about EastEnders, The Carry Ons and lots more ...
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Question from Anne: Hi Barbara, great episodes so far this week. Did you enjoy filming in sunny Spain with Mike Reid?
Barbara Windsor: I did. It was lovely to get back with the old rascal. We had fallen out because when I found out he was leaving, it was a shock and I got really upset. I really like working with him, I've known him 30 odd years. It's been a great relationship as friends and performers together and suddenly he was going to go, so that didn't please me. When it's sunny in England, he wants to play golf and when it rains he says he could be in Spain, as he loves it out there. I got my own back when I had to slap him when he was fooling around with Pat in the show. I did the slap twice as I didn't think I did it hard enough the first time!
Question from Anthony Townsend: Would you like to see Michael Jayston follow you back to the square for some romance?
Barbara Windsor: Yes, he's a bit more sophisticated than the George's, Harry's and Frank's. He's such a joy Michael. He's a great all time actor, he's done it all. I wouldn't mind a bit of classy crumpet, that would be rather nice. Peggy's had a really bad time with the men. She loves the men, she's all over them. She wears her heart on her sleeve.
Question from Lisa Redmond: Do you think the role you play reflects some of your own personality?
Barbara Windsor: I think the only things we have in common is that she wears her heart on her sleeve and the show must go on. Whatever happens to Peggy, she opens the Vic and I'm a bit like that, I try and carry on. Although I come from the East End, I'm not really a cor blimey girl like Peggy. I don't have a lot in common with her, which is what is great because I can leave Peggy in the dressing room.
Question from Jessica Gunter: Hello Barbara, what has been your best time at EastEnders so far?
Barbara Windsor: It's always been my best time because it came at a time in my career where it wasn't really happening for me. From the minute I walked in there it's been brilliant. It's great to be part of a team, it's like a showbiz family. I have great friends in EastEnders, Ross Kemp, Steve McFadden, Lucy Benjamin, they're all superb people, and I love playing Peggy. I'm happy to have a job that's week after week. In my twilight years I think I'm so lucky to have a job like this, it's an actors dream!
Question from Peter Devonn: What do you think of the new Sam Mitchell?
Barbara Windsor: I'm bias because my dear friend is Daniella Westbrook. I bumped into her in Harrods yesterday, she's on fine form. I think Kim has done brilliantly, it's a hard act to follow. I saw her for the first time this week, like the viewers. I just switched on, as I hadn't seen the episodes, and she really works and I hope everyone watching feels the same. Excellent.
Question from Joanne Adkin: When EastEnders first started did you ever think that you would be in it?
Barbara Windsor: I was begging to be in this show, it's something I always wanted to be in. I remember watching the first episode, I remember Wendy Richard doing the Terry Wogan show at the time saying she was in this new soap. I loved Angie and Den, all those wonderful characters and I used to think I wanted to be in it. The day I went in, they were celebrating their 10th anniversary. That was seven years ago now.
Question from Ben Titmarsh: If you weren't an actress could you see yourself doing a similar job, and living a similar lifestyle to Peggy?
Barbara Windsor: Not at all Ben. Most people will know me from Carry On's and EastEnders. I've been in the business now for 52 years, it's the only real job I know - apart from once when I was 18 I worked in a shoe shop. I'm nothing like Peggy at all though, I'm not a bossy type lady. I have a temper but I know how to put that down a bit. I couldn't bear to be like her.
Question from Andrew Christley: How much fan mail do you get every day and how do you cope with it?
Barbara Windsor: I do have masses because of how long I've been in the business. The girls on the desk laugh at me, I have big mail because I sign lots of old pictures of me that they send in. I also get Carry On fanmail, and even envelopes that are addressed to Barbara Windsor, London. I think it's important to reply to the mail. If you don't get a reply it might be because it's been lost, or it might be a time where I'm not in much for a few weeks.
Question from David Bowen: I would just like to say well done Barbara for such a laugh on TV over the last few days, your time in Spain so far is so funny. I think you are the best.
Barbara Windsor: Can I just say, when the bosses decide to do these episodes, they go out and do these when it's all doom and gloom outside. I can't wait to get back to the square though. It's great to have a bit of a laugh, I think the episodes have worked.
Question from Ben Jacobs: Who would you most love to join the cast and why?
Barbara Windsor: Johnny Briggs - Mike Baldwin from Coronation Street. He's a great soap actor. Tony Newley was a great performer and singer and he came in to do a dodgy car dealer part. Unfortunately he died a few weeks later, but that would have been great. He was perfect, but I'm happy with everyone. They all seem to fit in, if they don't they have to go!
Question from Andrew Higgs: Which of Peggy's sons do you think she liked the most, Grant or Phil? And what does she feel about Billy?
Barbara Windsor: It's totally impossible to comment on. I could have kicked Ross Kemp like I could Mike Reid, I didn't know he was leaving either. Steve McFadden I adore, we're very close. They're both great actors, I couldn't choose. As for Billy, I think Peggy should take him under her wing. I've said this to the bosses. She knows he's been given a hard deal. Last week he said "my Aunty Peggy bought me a radio like that", so she's always had this soft spot. The only time she's really shown it was around Christmas. Jamie should be welcomed back too. Let's get all the Mitchell's back together. I want him to come and live in the Vic!
Question from Dominic Wilson: When you were a child did you always dream of being an actress?
Barbara Windsor: Your little bit of happiness was living in a fantasy world when I was young, like at the cinema. You never thought about going on stage in my day. It was a fluke. I was seen at a charity concert by a man who discovered Morcombe and Wise. I was singing at the age of 13, and he put me on stage. I really didn't think that would happen. It came to me really.
Question from Charlie Little: Can you give us any hints of what's going to happen in the near future on our screens?
Barbara Windsor: Earlier on, just before I came on here, I was asked this. Honestly, we don't know. We find out through the newspapers most of the time. It's a little bit like that. They don't like you to know what's going on because you don't know what's going to happen tomorrow in your life. When I did the breast cancer storyline, they gave me a few months notice, but that was also because I had to do my homework. I don't rush up and ask about my storylines!
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