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Babs

Heartwarming dramatised story of actress Dame Barbara Windsor, recounting the people and events that shaped her life and career over 50 years from 1943 to 1993.

Written by Tony Jordan, this is the heartwarming story of Dame Barbara Windsor, the Cockney kid with a dazzling smile and talent to match. Preparing to perform in the theatre one cold evening in 1993, the cheeky, chirpy blonde Babs recounts the people and events that have shaped her life and career over 50 years from 1943 to 1993.

She contemplates her lonely childhood and Second World War evacuation, her decision to go from Barbara Ann Deeks to Barbara Windsor - inspired by the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, her complicated relationship with her father, her doomed marriage to Ronnie Knight, capturing the attention of Joan Littlewood and becoming the blonde bombshell in the Carry On films. Babs, ever the consummate professional, never let her fans down whatever her personal anguish and steps on the stage to rapturous applause.

Available now

1 hour, 27 minutes

Last on

Wed 12 Jul 2023 01:45
±«Óãtv Four

Clips

See all clips from Babs (3)

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:08

    Louis Armstrong & His Orchestra

    On The Sunny Side of The Street

  • 01:09

    Ray Charles

    One Mint Julep

  • 01:10

    The Dave Brubeck Quartet

    Heigh-Ho

Credits

Babs Samantha Spiro
Barbara Jaime Winstone
John Deeks Nick Moran
Rose Deeks Leanne Best
Ronnie Knight Luke Allen-Gale
Peter Charlesworth Alex Macqueen
Teen Barbara Honor Kneafsey
Scott Mitchell Charlie Archer
Joan Littlewood Zoe Wanamaker
Herself Barbara Windsor
Child Barbara Florence Keen
Brian Mickey Nathan Harmer
Aida Foster Marty Cruickshank
Producer Peter Hamilton Dyer
Rosie's Lawyer Matthew Bates
Divorce Judge Robert East
Johnny Brandon Lewis Kirk
Wardrobe Mistress Cally Lawrence
Shoe Shop Manageress Sue Elliott-Nicholls
Woman in Shoe Shop Hannah Hutch
Man in Shoe Shop Tom Machell
Peter Noble Jonathan Rhodes
Monsieur Vincent Laurent Maurel
Ronnie Scott Ross Green
Slim Cattan Jacob Krichefski
Cliff (Saxophonist) James Atherton
Neil Todd Von Joel
Stan Dean Roberts
Jayne Mansfield Jerry-Jane Pears
Jayne's Assistant Rebecca Lee
Young Actress Nicola Munns
Lionel Bart Daniel Zenou
Chuck Lewis Maiella
Charlie Kray Toby Wharton
Ronnie and Reggie Kray Rob Compton
Gerald Thomas Nicholas Asbury
Kenneth Williams Robin Sebastian
Bernard Cribbins Rob Hughes
Hat Girl Rose Robinson
Warren Beatty Tom Forbes
Shepard Coleman Joe Stilgoe
Julie Deeks Julia Ford
Writer Tony Jordan
Producer Jules Hussey
Director Dominic Leclerc

Broadcasts

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