Slaughter: 'I'll miss Barbara Windsor'

EastEnders star Jane Slaughter has admitted that the departure of Walford legend Barbara Windsor will leave "a very big hole" in the soap.

The actress told DS that Windsor has a "lovely" nature and supported her before the memorable 2008 scene which saw her background character Tracey The Barmaid launching into a rant at Sean Slater (Rob Kazinsky) about the Mitchells.

Windsor announced last October that she is to leave her role as Peggy Mitchell this year. She made the decision because she wants to spend more time with her husband Scott Mitchell.

Asked how she felt when Windsor revealed her news, Slaughter replied: "Very sad because I shall miss her. She looked out for me. On the day I had the scenes with Rob Kazinsky, she was running my lines with me. She's an icon - very professional and a lovely lady. I shall miss her very much.

"Having said that, it's her decision [to leave]. She works so hard and has a lot of storylines to carry, so I respect her decision. I think she'll leave a very big hole, although I have confidence in the programme [to go on beyond her exit]. She'll be missed from the second she leaves the building."

Windsor recently paid tribute to EastEnders for turning her career around in the '90s.

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