EASTENDERS fans were left heartbroken tonight as the soap paid tribute to Dame Barbara Windsor yet again in their end-of-year credits.
This evening’s episode of the show concluded with all of the cast and crew for the entire year thanked in the credits.
And as the lengthy list drew to a close, “in loving memory of Dame Barbara Windsor MBE” flashed up on viewers’ screens over the show’s famous London backdrop.
Fans at home were deeply touched by the tribute, with Barbara passing away earlier this month at the age of 83.
Flocking to Twitter to share their reaction, one fan wrote: “My heart is broken all over again” alongside a crying emoji.
Another added: “Nice to see them pay regards to dame Barbara.”
A third agreed: “Loving the end of credits tribute to Dame Barbara Windsor”.
One more said: “What a fantastic way to show appreciation to your amazing team and pay tribute to Barbara Windsor, in your credits. #EastEnders you have been truly phenomenal this year.”
This is not the first time that EastEnders has remembered the actress, who played beloved character Peggy Mitchell in the programme.
They previously paid tribute to the star following the episode that aired the day after Barbara’s death was announced.
After the credits rolled and famous theme tune played out, the words: “In loving memory of Dame Barbara Windsor MBE 1937 – 2020” appeared on a black screen.
And on Christmas Eve, a photo of Barbara as Peggy flashed up in the episode as Walford residents remembered their lost loved ones.
The screen icon played the landlady in the BBC One soap between 1994 and 2016, with the character one of Walford’s most iconic roles.
The star’s husband Scott confirmed that the 83-year-old actress had “peacefully” passed away on the 10 December following her battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Barbara was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2014 and made the news public in 2018.
In a moving tribute, he called her his “precious Bar” and said: “I’ve lost my wife, my best friend and soul mate.”
Barbara’s former co-stars also paid touching tribute to the TV favourite, with Patsy Palmer and Shane Richie breaking down in tears on The One Show the day after her death.
