Barbara on my mind the whole time, says EastEnders star’s husband after marathon

Dame Barbara Windsor’s husband said the EastEnders star was on his mind “the whole time” after he finished the London Marathon with a team of cast members from the soap.

Scott Mitchell, who turned 56 on Sunday, led a team of EastEnders stars raising money for Dementia Revolution after Dame Barbara, 81, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2014.

“Barbara, I love you, I’ve trained and run this marathon for you and the 850,000 people living with the condition,” said an emotional Mr Mitchell after the marathon.

“You were in my mind the whole time, otherwise why on earth would I be running this on my 56th birthday?”

He teamed up with cast members including Jake Wood, who plays Max Branning, Tania Franks, who plays Rainie Cross, and Natalie Cassidy, who plays Sonia Fowler.

Adam Woodyatt, who plays Ian Beale, also ran with the team, nicknamed Barbara’s Revolutionaries.

Mr Mitchell, who finished in five hours, 41 minutes and 40 seconds, said Dame Barbara watched the event at home.

“She’s just been really proud and, of course, you have to keep reminding her what you’re doing,” he added.

“That’s the nature of this illness. They will forget the whole time. It’s a conversation you will have over and over again. That is a nightly routine.”

Dementia Revolution – a partnership between the Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK – is the Virgin Money London Marathon charity of the year.

Wood said: “Barbara is fully behind everyone. I know that she’s incredibly touched by all of us and everyone getting behind her.

“She’s incredibly proud that the money will go to research that will help maybe not Barbara, but certainly, hopefully, people in the future.”

Cassidy added: “The support we have had today has just been unbelievable and that’s shown in our donation page as well.

“It’s just everything we wanted and more, and for Barbara and everyone living with dementia it’s just unbelievable.”

Donate to Barbara’s Revolutionaries at www.virginmoneygiving.com/Barbarasrevolutionaries