EastEnders actress bags new show after finding love with Barbara Windsor’s widower

EASTENDERS actress Tanya Franks has bagged a new show after finding love with Barbara Windsor’s widower.

Last week, The Celeb Report exclusively revealed how Tanya – who played Rainie Cross in EastEnders – had found love with Scott Mitchell three years after the death of Carry On icon Barbara.



EastEnders actress bags new show after finding love with Barbara Windsor’s widower
EastEnders actress Tanya Franks has bagged a new show after finding love with Barbara Windsor’s widower

EastEnders actress bags new show after finding love with Barbara Windsor’s widower
Tanya is joining Calendar Girls The Musical

And seems things are going just as well in Tanya’s professional life as they are in her personal one, as she’s landed a leading role in Calendar Girls The Musical.

The cast – which also includes Maureen Nolan and Honeysuckle Weeks – will bare all as the group of ordinary women in a small Yorkshire town who set about creating a nude calendar to raise money for charity.

Tanya will play Annie Clarke, the witty compassionate sidekick, and who’s husband’s illness is the catalyst for the story.

The musical is co-written by Take That’s Gary Barlow and Tim Firth, with Gary revealing: “I am delighted to be working on this new production of Calendar Girls and getting ready for the joy, the laughter, and the nostalgia to take the stage again.

“It’s been 20 years this year since the film was released, and around 10 years since I first saw Tim’s play with my mum Marjorie.

“We’ve already had a fantastic time in the rehearsal room workshopping the show and weaving in new music, reworked songs and reimagining the book.

“We cannot wait to see the way these incredible leading ladies bring the story to bloom as we head out on tour later this year.”

The tour will begin at the Theatre Royal Windsor on August 30 and will then head to other parts of the UK including Birmingham, Cheltenham, Liverpool and Leeds before concluding in Hull on December 2.

Last week Scott, 60, went official with Tanya on Instagram while on holiday in Greece together.

When The Celeb Report approached Scott for a comment on the relationship and to wish them well, he said: “Thanks for your kind wishes.

“Life feels really good right now and we are enjoying some special time together”.

Actor Scott and Tanya first bonded while training for the London Marathon, which he ran in 2019, 2021 and 2023 alongside a team of EastEnders stars.

His “Babs’ Army” has raised thousands of pounds for Alzheimer’s Research UK in the Carry On legend’s name.

He is an active ambassador for the charity alongside his work for the Government-funded Dame Barbara Dementia Mission.



EastEnders actress bags new show after finding love with Barbara Windsor’s widower
Tanya and Scott first bonded while training for the London Marathon, which he ran in 2019, 2021 and 2023 alongside a team of EastEnders stars

EastEnders actress bags new show after finding love with Barbara Windsor’s widower
The couple are enjoying their time together