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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Victoria Johns

EastEnders fans in tears over Peggy Mitchell tribute seven years after her death

EastEnders fans were in tears as the soap paid tribute to Peggy Mitchell on the seventh anniversary of her death.

The legendary landlady was played by the late Barbara Windsor, who was a real fan favourite.

In 2016, viewers were devastated when Peggy took a lethal overdose of pills after her battle with cancer, leaving her family bereft.

In last night's episode, the Mitchell clan raised a glass to the matriarch in the Old Vic as Phil told his son Ben: "We're supposed to be celebrating gran".

Seeing their sad faces, barman Alfie Moon asked: "Do you want a cocktail? We could do one to celebrate your gran's anniversary? How about Pegstar Martini or a Peggy Colada?"

But as Kat ordered their drinks, Phil welled up, saying: "It's hard to believe it's been seven years you know?"

EastEnders fans were in tears as the soap paid tribute to Peggy Mitchell on the seventh anniversary of her death (BBC)

Alfie agreed, musing: "Wow, seven years? Well let's raise a glass to Peggy, yeah?"

Peggy left the show four years before Barbara sadly died, aged 83.

Viewers were in tears watching the tribute episode yesterday with many saying they were reminded of how much they missed the Carry On star.

One said: "I can’t believe it’s been 7 years already since Peggy died, 2016 doesn’t even feel like that long ago # EastEnders."

Peggy was a fan favourite on the soap (BBC/Jack Barnes)

Another asked: “How has it been 7 yrs already since Peggy’s been gone damn time flies by #EastEnders."

While a third shared: “Raising a toast to Peggy Mitchell I miss her so much #EastEnders.”

The cast of EastEnders recently raised £50,000 for Alzheimer's Research in memory of their late friend Barbara.

Actors including Heather Peace, Natalie Cassidy, Lacey Turner and Adam Woodyatt all ran in the London Marathon in memory of their late co-star. Barbara's husband Scott Mitchell also took part.

Viewers were heartbroken by her exit stroyline (BBC)

After the marathon, Heather - who plays Eve Unwin in the soap - said fundraising for the charity had gone "beyond our wildest expectations".

"We’re absolutely stoked," she said about the runners, who were affectionately called Babs' Army.

She told the PA News agency: "Considering the state all of us are in – the cost of living and everything else – it’s gone beyond our wildest expectations that people have felt that they’ve been so generous that they can donate.

"It makes it all worthwhile and it raises the awareness.

Phil with Kat and son Ben (BBC)

"Hopefully it’s going to keep trickling in – we’ll keep it open."

Before the race started, mum-of-two Natalie, 39, who plays Sonia Fowler in the soap, was up nice and early as she shared a snap of herself with DJ Chris Evans.

Dressed in her running gear with the London skyline behind her, she captioned the post: "We are all so lucky to be doing this today @babsarmy."

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