Scott Mitchell finds love with Tanya Franks and the couple were spotted enjoying a day out in London

Barbara Windsor’s widower Scott Mitchell and EastEnders actress Tanya Franks were photographed enjoying a walk together days after their relationship was revealed.

Scott’s wife of 27 years, Dame Barbara, died in December 2020, aged 83, after a seven-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

And Scott, 60, and Tanya, 55, who played drug-addicted prostitute Rainie Cross on the soap opera, made their relationship official earlier this month while on vacation in Greece.

The happy couple was seen strolling the streets of London over the weekend.

Scott donned a fun blue and white floral shirt along with a pair of blue jeans for the casual day.

She also opted for a pair of Dr Marten style cream shoes and carried a large bouquet of flowers.

Meanwhile, Tanya looked the epitome of chic as she donned a floral top and a pair of skinny blue jean jeans to match Scott.

Scott and Tanya are in the early stages of their relationship, having forged a close friendship over the years while working together to raise Alzheimer’s awareness with ‘Bab’s Army’.

In 2019, Scott ran the London Marathon alongside Tanya and raised thousands of dollars from Alzheimer’s Research UK in memory of Barbara.

Alzheimer’s is close to Tanya’s heart as she also ran in honor of her stepfather Derek.

Scott and Tanya ran the London Marathon together again this year with other EastEnders stars as part of the Army of the Bab.

said a source Sun, Scott is ‘truly happy’. They said: ‘Scott has found love again with Tanya and he is truly happy. His friends and Barbara’s are delighted that he has found someone with whom he can share his life.

‘It’s quite early, but Scott is now looking cautiously into the future. They decided to update their wider circles while on vacation in Greece and everyone was delighted.

“There is so much friendship and respect between the two and they are taking it easy.”

Happy: Scott, 60, and Tanya, 55, who played drug-addicted prostitute Rainie Cross on the soap opera, made their relationship official earlier this month while on vacation in Greece

Romance: The happy couple was recently seen roaming the streets of London over the weekend

Scott and Tanya were photographed in each other’s company late last month while attending Ashley Brodin’s summer garden party luncheon.

Tanya has appeared in 382 episodes of EastEnders. She made her debut as Rainie in 2007 and signed a full-time contract in 2018.

His last appearance on the soap opera was in June of last year.

During her seven-episode guest run in 2010, the character even had an affair with Phil Mitchell, played by Steve McFadden, who was Barbara’s on-screen son. The duo crossed paths while Rainie was looking for crack from a drunken Phil.

The storyline was widely criticized as “horrifying” and “inappropriate”, while former show star Natalie Cassidy, who plays Sonia Fowler, described the story as “shocking”.

In addition to EastEnders, he has a host of television credits to his name, including Family Affairs, The Bill, Pulling, and Broadchurch.

Matchy: Scott donned a fun blue and white floral shirt. Meanwhile, Tanya looked the epitome of chic as she donned a floral top and a pair of skinny blue jean jeans to match Scott.

Barbara was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2014 and kept her fight against the disease private for four years.

After her death, Scott said: “Her passing was from Alzheimer’s/dementia and Barbara finally died peacefully and I spent the last seven days by her side.”

“I, her family and friends will remember Barbara with love, a smile and affection for the many years of her love, fun, friendship and brilliance that she brought to all of our lives and the entertainment she provided to so many thousands of people during her career. .

‘Barbara’s last weeks were typical of how she lived her life. Full of humor, drama and fighting spirit to the end.’

After her death, Scott said he thought he could never love again. He said heartbreakingly last year: ‘I was lucky to have crossed paths with Barbara.

Well Beloved: Dame Barbara died in December 2020, aged 83, following a seven-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. [pictured 2011]

“On paper, it shouldn’t have worked, but it worked for us and I’m so grateful that she chose me to share her life because I don’t think I’ll ever find another.”

Before her relationship with Scott, Tanya was married to fellow actor James Barriscale, with whom she founded the film and stage production company Stock-pot Productions. She played Jonathan Malnet, Jade Green’s adoptive father on the soap opera.

James also starred in The Bill. It is not known when the couple separated.

Barbara and Scott married in 2000, and their romance was controversial at the time due to their 27-year age difference.

While little is known of his love life before meeting the iconic star, Scott has shed light on the complexities of their romance, amid rumors that they were “in an open marriage.”

Kind: Tanya had a close bond with Barbara and ran the London marathon this year as part of Bab’s army. When Barbara died she shared this photo on Instagram along with a tribute

Get out of my pub! Barbara played Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders [pictured with her sons Grant Mitchell (Ross Kemp) and Phil (Steve McFadden) in 2016]

On-screen: Tanya played the cocaine and crack addict Rainie Cross on the BBC soap, where her story followed her and Barbara’s on-screen son, Phil Mitchell.

She explained that their relationship was not a “closed book” as Barbara did not want her husband to “stop living his life to the fullest.” In the book, she wrote: ‘Ours wasn’t an open relationship, but it wasn’t a closed book either…

“She had always said that sex was sex and love was love, and she was not a double standard, so she kept her reservations to herself and never asked me directly.”

Former cocaine addict Scott relied on Barbara’s support throughout his battle, as she revealed in her autobiography: “I think I might have stopped Scott’s spiral of self-destruction had it not been for another longing that transformed him from the wonderful man he I loved into a sad, pathetic creature I barely recognized.

“I looked at him and thought: I have done nothing wrong, and yet I have managed to ruin this man’s life. Scott would see the tears in my eyes and promise to get on the bandwagon. But it never lasted more than three or four days and then he’d go on a spree.

Eventually, Scott received treatment for his addiction with the guidance of Elton John’s manager John Reid and treatment from therapist Beechy Colclough.

Happiness: In 2019, Scott ran the London Marathon alongside Tanya and raised thousands of dollars Alzheimer’s Research UK in memory of Barbara