Widower to Lead Dementia Mission Following Actress’s Campaign to Improve Care and Research

Scott Mitchell, widower of the beloved actress Dame Barbara Windsor, has been named the People’s Champion of the UK’s dementia mission, a campaign launched to advance dementia care and research in memory of the late star. Mr Mitchell, who married the “EastEnders” and “Carry On” actress in 2000, expressed his honour in taking on the role, aiming to continue his wife’s important work supporting those affected by dementia.

Dame Barbara Windsor, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2014, passed away in 2020. She had been an outspoken advocate for dementia awareness, and her decision to publicly share her diagnosis in 2018 helped raise awareness of the disease. Mr Mitchell stated that he wanted to “keep her story alive” and focus on putting “people at the heart” of the dementia mission. He will attend a summit at Downing Street on Wednesday to help drive forward the mission, which brings together charities, businesses, and people with lived experience to accelerate progress in the fight against dementia.

Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson launched the Dame Barbara Windsor Dementia Mission to advance research and speed up clinical trials. As part of the mission, the UK Government has announced £6 million in funding for 10 projects aimed at boosting innovation in dementia research. These include studies on the use of AI for early diagnosis and more accurate blood tests.

Mr Mitchell spoke of his deep commitment to making a lasting difference: “I want to ensure that the Dementia Mission continues to prioritise the people who are most affected by this devastating illness,” he said.

Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins and Science Secretary Michelle Donelan both praised Dame Barbara’s campaigning efforts and expressed their commitment to accelerating research into treatments and finding new solutions to tackle dementia.