EastEnders' Barbara Windsor quits Vic

Oct 28, 2009, 13:01 GMT

EastEnders star - British actresses Barbara Windsor arrives at the 2009 British Academy Television Awards at the Royal Festival Hall in South London, England, 26 April 2009. The awards honour the best talent and best programmes on British Television in twenty categories. EPA/DANIEL DEME

Barbara Windsor has quit 'EastEnders'.

The legendary British actress - who has played loveable landylady Peggy Mitchell in the BBC soap since 1994 - will leave the fictional London suburb of Walford for good next year.

Barbara, 72, said: "'EastEnders' has been wonderful to me and it's no secret that it changed my life all of those years ago.

"I'll be so sad to leave Peggy behind; she's such a wonderful character to play. I have had the pleasure of working with a marvellous cast and crew and have made many lasting good friends.

"To have had the honour of showing the Queen around the set is something that will stay with me forever.

"I'm looking forward to the future and I suppose when all's said and done, I should spend a bit more time with my old man, as he's not getting any younger."

The exact reasons for Barbara's departure and how her character will exit the soap are unclear.

'EastEnders' bosses recently announced Peggy's estranged husband Archie Mitchell (Larry Lamb) will be killed off on Christmas day, with his killer revealed later in February - thought to be Peggy's last major storyline.

Barbara rose to fame as an actress in the series of 'Carry On' films in the 1970s and has also enjoyed a distinguished theatre career. She also received an MBE in 1999 and was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Soap Awards in May this year.