So now we know. The Radio Times has today revealed which actors will be playing Dame Barbara Windsor in the BBC biopic, due to be screened as part of Windsor's 80th birthday celebrations next year.
Entitled "Babs" the drama will tell the story of Windsor's life both in front of and behind the camera. It will be written by former EastEnders scriptwriter Tony Jordan, someone Barbara knows well. Barbara has said she is thrilled the BBC are telling her story. It seems that while Dame Babs is interested in what the production will bring and what slant it will take, she is taking care to stay back from the decision making and let the production team get on with it.
Well we know that at least two actors will portray the famous star of Carry On and EastEnders. First of all, actress Jaime Winstone, daughter of actor Ray, will play Barbara in her 20s and 30s. Taking over the role as Barbara reaches middle age will be the terrific actress Samantha Spiro. Spiro has of course played Barbara in the 1998 National Theatre play, Cleo, Camping, Emmannuelle and Dick which told the story of Barbara's relationship with the late actor Sid James as well as her friendship with Kenneth Williams. The story was turned into an ITV drama, Cor Blimey! which was transmitted in 2000, again with Spiro in the part.
As with Cor Blimey! Barbara herself will have a cameo in the new BBC drama. There will also be a couple of child actors portraying Barbara in her early years. The Radio Times reports that the 90 minute drama will focus on Barbara's story from 1943 until 1993. This time period will take in her childhood during the war, her rise to fame on stage and through the Carry Ons right up until she was about to taste new levels of fame and success as part of the EastEnders cast as legendary matriarch Peggy Mitchell.
You can read the full article here on The Radio Times Website
So what do you think of these casting announcements?
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