Scott Mitchell, the widower of late EastEnders actress Barbara Windsor, has confirmed that he and actress Tanya Franks have ended their relationship after three years together.
Mitchell, 62, began dating Franks, 59, who played Rainie Cross in the BBC soap, following Windsor’s death from Alzheimer’s disease in December 2020.
Speaking to The Sun, Mitchell said the pair had shared several happy years before deciding to change the nature of their relationship.
“I can confirm Tanya and I had a couple of wonderful years together. In true respect of each other, we felt in April our relationship should evolve into a now incredible and kind friendship,” he said.
He added that Franks values her privacy and said he would not make further comments about their separation.
Couple Remain Friends After Ending Romance
Sources close to the pair said they had decided to separate earlier this year after their romantic relationship changed.
“Scott and Tanya have chosen to end their relationship but remain committed friends,” an insider said.
The source added that Franks had been a significant source of support for Mitchell following Windsor’s death, describing her as a rock during the difficult years after his wife passed away.
However, the couple eventually concluded that they were better suited to being friends.
Mitchell Previously Spoke About Caring for Barbara Windsor
The separation comes after Mitchell spoke publicly about the emotional challenges of caring for Windsor during her battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Windsor, best known for playing Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders between 1994 and 2016, was diagnosed with the condition in 2014. She kept the diagnosis private until 2018 and died on 10 December 2020, aged 83.
Mitchell, who was married to Windsor for 20 years, became her carer after her diagnosis and looked after her for four years as her condition progressed.
He previously described the pain of having to move her into a care home and the difficulties of learning how dementia affected her daily life.
Scott Reveals How Dementia Changed Their Relationship
Mitchell said he initially knew very little about dementia and had not realised how significantly it could affect Windsor’s mobility and their relationship.
“I knew hardly anything that was about to come with dementia. I had no idea that dementia was going to affect her mobility,” he said.
He explained that caring for his wife required him to learn how to respond to changes in her behaviour and understanding.
Mitchell recalled initially correcting Windsor when she said things that did not make sense to him. Over time, he realised that challenging her could cause distress and that he needed to understand her experience of the illness.
He said his frustration had often been driven by fear about what was happening to his wife.
One memory that stayed with him was the first time Windsor called him upstairs in tears because she could no longer work out what outfit to wear, despite having made such decisions throughout her life.
Mitchell Faced Criticism Over Relationship with Tanya
Last year, Mitchell revealed that he had been hurt by criticism over his relationship with Franks, particularly comments suggesting that he had moved on from Windsor too quickly.
Speaking to The Mirror, he said people often made judgements without understanding the circumstances behind a relationship.
“There’s always that person that says, ‘That was quick’. It’s easy to sit on the sidelines and cast judgement — especially with social media. These people forget that their words can really hurt,” he said.
Franks had worked with Windsor on EastEnders before the older actress’s health deteriorated.
Tanya Franks Supported Mitchell’s Memories of Barbara
Mitchell previously said Franks understood his need to talk about Windsor and never made him feel that discussing his late wife was inappropriate.
Franks also experienced a personal loss connected to Alzheimer’s disease. Her stepfather, Derek, died in 2024 after an 11-year battle with the condition.
Mitchell said their relationship allowed both of them to speak openly about their experiences and losses.
He also said Windsor had liked Franks herself and believed his late wife would have approved of their relationship.
The couple have now ended their romance but, according to statements and sources close to them, intend to maintain their friendship.
