Dame Barbara Windsor was hiding a heartbreaking secret when she said goodbye to Peggy Mitchell in 2016. After 22 years in her iconic role, Barbara, 82, decided it was time to quit the BBC soap and walk away from Albert Square for good.
In November 2015, the Carry On star secretly filmed her tear-jerking final scenes, which broke viewers' hearts when they aired in May 2016.
Peggy, who had a terminal cancer diagnosis, visited her beloved Queen Vic pub for the last time, reunited with sons Phil and Grant, then spoke to the ghost of best pal Pat Butcher before taking her own life.
Before her final scenes aired, Barbara explained to fans why it was finally time for her to quit the soap - but hid a major part of the reason behind her last exit. "
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