Barbara Windsor will have to be moved to a care home as her Alzheimer's has worsened, according to husband Scott Mitchell.
The former EastEnders star was diagnosed with the chronic neurodegenerative disease in 2014, and retired in 2018 after revealing her diagnosis publicly.
Scott has now explained in a TV interview with Barbara's former EastEnders co-star Ross Kemp – to be broadcast on ITV this evening (June 18) – that the care home advice from a specialist has since created some "dark moments".
Related: EastEnders to pay tribute to Barbara Windsor with baby name
"It's the thing I've always feared," he said (via The Sun). "He's basically telling me I need to prepare myself that at some point it may not be sustainable to give her the kind of care she needs at the house.
"I've had some fairly dark moments since he said that because there's a part of me that knows that most likely is the truth and that’s what needs to happen."
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Scott added: "There's another part of me which can't imagine letting her go. I can't imagine leaving that lady when she talks to me the way she does and putting her somewhere and her thinking, 'Why has he done this to me?'"
Related: EastEnders legend Barbara Windsor makes rare public appearance following Alzheimer's diagnosis
Barbara's husband also spoke about how her condition has worsened, revealing: "I have seen a real progression. The thing that has started to happen with her is her speech.
"She can't find the words and you just see that frustration building up within her. And what I hate is that eventually she gives up and she looks at me and she just goes (shakes his head). She can't get it.
"The other thing is she has started to have falls more regularly. What will happen is she will get up, say, two or three times in the night because she needs to go to the bathroom. But her legs will give way and I'll find her on the floor."
Ross Kemp: Living with Dementia will air tonight at 7.30pm on ITV.
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