Dame Barbara Windsor was one of Britain’s most beloved entertainers, known for her unforgettable roles in the Carry On films and as Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders.
While millions knew her as a performer, her personal life also attracted plenty of public interest. Barbara Windsor was married three times during her life, but it was her third husband, Scott Mitchell, who remained by her side for the final two decades of her life.
The couple married in 2000 and stayed together until Windsor’s death in December 2020. Their relationship became especially significant after Windsor was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2014. Mitchell became her main caregiver and spent years supporting her through the illness.
Their marriage is remembered as an important and deeply personal part of Windsor’s later life.
Who Was Barbara Windsor’s Husband?
Scott Mitchell was Barbara Windsor’s third and final husband.
The couple married in 2000 after developing a relationship that would eventually become Windsor’s longest marriage.
Mitchell had previously worked as an actor and later became a consultant. Although he was not as famous as Windsor, he became increasingly well known through his role in caring for her during the later years of her life.
Their marriage lasted around 20 years, from 2000 until Windsor’s death in December 2020.
For Barbara, the relationship represented a period of stability after two previous marriages had ended in divorce.
When Did Barbara Windsor and Scott Mitchell Get Married?
Barbara Windsor and Scott Mitchell married in 2000.
At the time, Windsor was already an established household name in Britain. She had enjoyed decades of success in entertainment and had become particularly famous for her role as Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders.
Her marriage to Mitchell was very different from the relationships that had come before it.
The couple remained together for two decades, sharing both happy moments and extremely difficult periods.
Their relationship became even stronger after Windsor’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, when Mitchell took on an increasingly important role in her day-to-day life.
Barbara Windsor’s First Husband Ronnie Knight
Before Scott Mitchell, Barbara Windsor was married to Ronnie Knight.
The couple married in 1964, when Windsor was still building her reputation in the entertainment industry.
Knight was an East End nightclub owner who later became associated with criminal activity. His life was very different from Windsor’s world of acting and show business.
Their marriage lasted more than 20 years but eventually came to an end.
Knight fled to Spain after becoming involved in criminal matters, and the couple later divorced in 1985.
Their relationship remains one of the more dramatic chapters in Windsor’s personal history.
Despite the difficult circumstances surrounding the end of the marriage, Windsor continued to build her career and eventually moved on to another relationship.
Barbara Windsor’s Second Husband Stephen Hollings
Barbara Windsor’s second husband was Stephen Hollings, a chef who was considerably younger than the actress.
The couple married in 1986, not long after Windsor’s divorce from Ronnie Knight.
Their relationship represented a fresh start for Windsor, but the marriage eventually ended after several years.
Windsor and Hollings divorced in 1995.
One of the difficulties during their marriage involved a business venture that collapsed and reportedly created significant financial problems.
The end of her second marriage left Windsor single again before she eventually met Scott Mitchell.
Meeting Scott Mitchell
Scott Mitchell entered Windsor’s life during a period when she had already experienced two marriages and divorces.
Their relationship developed into something considerably more lasting.
Rather than being defined by the glamour surrounding Windsor’s celebrity status, their partnership became known for its companionship and stability.
The couple eventually married in 2000, beginning what would become the longest marriage of Windsor’s life.
Mitchell was considerably younger than Windsor, but their age difference did not prevent them from building a strong relationship.
Over time, he became one of the most important people in her personal life.
Scott Mitchell and Barbara Windsor’s Life Together
For much of their marriage, Barbara Windsor continued working in entertainment.
Her role as Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders made her one of the most recognisable characters on British television. She became closely associated with the famous Mitchell family and remained an important part of the soap for many years.
Scott Mitchell supported her throughout this period.
The couple were frequently seen together at public events, but they also maintained aspects of their private life away from the cameras.
Their marriage provided Windsor with companionship while she continued dealing with the pressures of being one of Britain’s most famous actresses.
Barbara Windsor’s Alzheimer’s Diagnosis
One of the most difficult chapters in their marriage began in 2014, when Barbara Windsor was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
The diagnosis eventually led to major changes in her life.
As the condition progressed, Scott Mitchell became her primary caregiver. He supported Windsor through the later stages of the disease and became a prominent advocate for greater awareness of Alzheimer’s.
For Mitchell, caring for his wife was not simply a public role. It became a central part of their life together.
He later spoke openly about the challenges of Alzheimer’s and the impact the disease had on Windsor and their family.
His willingness to discuss the condition also helped draw greater attention to dementia and the importance of research.
Scott Mitchell’s Alzheimer’s Advocacy
After Barbara’s diagnosis, Scott Mitchell became increasingly involved in Alzheimer’s advocacy.
He has worked as an ambassador for Alzheimer’s Research UK, helping raise awareness and support for research into the disease.
Windsor’s experience gave him a personal understanding of the impact Alzheimer’s can have on individuals and their loved ones.
His public work has helped keep attention on the disease while also preserving Barbara’s legacy.
For many people, Mitchell became associated not only with being Barbara Windsor’s husband but also with his commitment to supporting Alzheimer’s research.
Barbara Windsor’s Final Years
Barbara Windsor continued to receive love and support from Scott Mitchell during the final years of her life.
Her Alzheimer’s disease eventually progressed significantly, and she stepped away from the public side of her career.
Despite the difficulties, Mitchell remained by her side.
The couple’s long marriage became particularly meaningful during this period because Windsor needed increasing levels of care and support.
Mitchell continued to speak about her condition and helped the public understand the realities of living with Alzheimer’s.
Barbara Windsor died in December 2020 at the age of 83.
Her death marked the end of a remarkable career and also the conclusion of a 20-year marriage to Scott Mitchell.
Barbara Windsor’s Three Marriages
Barbara Windsor’s romantic life included three marriages, each representing a different period in her life.
Her first marriage was to Ronnie Knight, whom she married in 1964. They remained together until their divorce in 1985.
She then married Stephen Hollings in 1986. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1995.
Five years later, Windsor married Scott Mitchell in 2000.
Of the three marriages, her relationship with Mitchell was by far the longest. They remained married for approximately two decades, until her death in 2020.
Why Scott Mitchell Was So Important to Barbara Windsor
Scott Mitchell’s importance in Barbara Windsor’s life became particularly clear during her battle with Alzheimer’s.
While Windsor was famous for her career and larger-than-life personality, Mitchell was the person who remained closest to her during the most challenging period.
He helped care for her, spoke publicly about her condition and worked to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s.
Their relationship therefore became about much more than celebrity or public appearances.
It was a partnership that lasted through illness and significant personal challenges.
Barbara Windsor’s Legacy
Barbara Windsor left behind a remarkable legacy in British entertainment.
From her work in the Carry On films to her iconic role as Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders, she remained a familiar face to generations of viewers.
Her personal story was equally varied. She experienced three marriages, career highs, financial difficulties, personal challenges and eventually a long battle with Alzheimer’s.
Her marriage to Scott Mitchell stands out because of its longevity and the devotion he showed during her illness.
Although Windsor is remembered primarily for her work on screen, her final years also highlighted the importance of love, companionship and care.
For those searching for Barbara Windsor’s husband, Scott Mitchell was her final husband and the man who remained beside her until the end of her life. Their marriage began in 2000 and lasted until her death in December 2020, making it the longest and arguably the most significant of her three marriages.