Shane Richie and EastEnders co-star Patsy Palmer fight back tears as they remember Barbara Windsor

Shane Richie emotionally revealed the last message Dame Barbara Windsor left him before she passed away.

The TV icon sadly died on Thursday aged 83 after losing her battle with Alzheimer’s.

And speaking on The One Show on Friday, the actor, 56, recalled memories of the Peggy Mitchell actress as he and fellow EastEnders legend Patsy Palmer, 48, struggled to hold back tears as they spoke fondly of Barbara.

Memories: Shane Richie emotionally revealed the last message Dame Barbara Windsor left him before she passed away.

Joining host Alex Jones, 43, on the show, Shane told how he received a message via Barbara’s husband Scott Mitchell, 57, just before he went on I’m A Celebrity last month.

Speaking of the message from Barbara, who he affectionately called The Duchess, he said: ‘I got a text from Scott and he left a message saying “The Duchess sends her love – just be yourself”.

‘And that was one of the last messages before she sadly passed away, which obviously I’m going to keep forever.

‘To me, she will always be the Duchess.’

Emotional: Speaking on The One Show on Friday, the actor recalled memories of the Peggy Mitchell actress as he and fellow EastEnders legend Patsy Palmer struggled to hold back tears as they spoke fondly of Barbara

Emotional: Speaking on The One Show on Friday, the actor recalled memories of the Peggy Mitchell actress as he and fellow EastEnders legend Patsy Palmer struggled to hold back tears as they spoke fondly of Barbara

Sadly missed: The TV icon sadly died on Thursday aged 83 after losing her battle with Alzheimer's

Sadly missed: The TV icon sadly died on Thursday aged 83 after losing her battle with Alzheimer’s

He also spoke told how the Carry On star helped him secure his role as Alfie Moon on EastEnders as she pushed bosses to give him the part.

After bagging the job, Shane recalled that she sent him a celebratory bottle of champagne and had never let him forget what she’d done for him.

He said: ‘Without her I probably wouldn’t be sitting here. She was loved up and down the country.’

Meanwhile, former EastEnders appeared on the show via video link, where she shared her memories with Barbara.

Touching: Joining host Alex Jones on the show, Shane told how he received a message via Barbara's husband Scott Mitchell, 57, just before he went on I'm A Celebrity last month

Touching: Joining host Alex Jones on the show, Shane told how he received a message via Barbara’s husband Scott Mitchell, 57, just before he went on I’m A Celebrity last month

The Bianca Jackson star broke down in tears as she watched a montage of Barbara’s best moments.

Speaking of the late actress, Patsy said: ‘She was very funny. Obviously we were great friends, off screen I was close with Scott. So many years of so many memories.’

She went on: ‘She just is the ultimate professional and she knew that we all knew what we were supposed to be behaving like.’

Last message: Speaking of the message from Barbara, who he affectionately called The Duchess, he said: 'I got a text from Scott and he left a message saying "The Duchess sends her love - just be yourself"

Last message: Speaking of the message from Barbara, who he affectionately called The Duchess, he said: ‘I got a text from Scott and he left a message saying “The Duchess sends her love – just be yourself”

Close friend: 'And that was one of the last messages before she sadly passed away, which obviously I'm going to keep forever'

Close friend: ‘And that was one of the last messages before she sadly passed away, which obviously I’m going to keep forever’

Shane also battled with his emotions as he read messages from fans recalling their meetings with Barbara.  

Barbara is survived by her third husband Scott, who announced early on Friday morning that his ‘best friend and soul mate’ passed away peacefully in a London care home at 8.35pm on Thursday. 

He had moved into her home a few days earlier to be by her side when she died. 

He said in a statement: ‘Her passing was from Alzheimer’s/Dementia and Barbara eventually died peacefully and I spent the last seven days by her side.

So sad: The Bianca Jackson star broke down in tears as she watched a montage of Barbara's best moments

So sad: The Bianca Jackson star broke down in tears as she watched a montage of Barbara’s best moments

‘Myself, her family and friends will remember Barbara with love, a smile and affection for the many years of her love, fun, friendship and brightness she brought to all our lives and the entertainment she gave to so many thousands of others during her career.’

He added: ‘It was not the ending that Barbara or anyone else living with this very cruel disease deserve. I will always be immensely proud of Barbara’s courage, dignity and generosity dealing with her own illness and still trying to help others by raising awareness for as long as she could.’

At the end of his moving tribute, Mr Mitchell said: ‘May you rest in peace now my precious Bar. I’ve lost my wife, my best friend and soul mate and my heart or life will never feel the same without you.’

Remembering: Speaking of the late actress, Patsy said: 'She was very funny. Obviously we were great friends, off screen I was close with Scott. So many years of so many memories'

Remembering: Speaking of the late actress, Patsy said: ‘She was very funny. Obviously we were great friends, off screen I was close with Scott. So many years of so many memories’

Dame Barbara became one of the most famous faces on British screens for her fun-filled saucy roles in the Carry On comedies of the 1960s and 70s before before becoming the no-nonsense Queen Vic landlady Peggy Mitchell. 

As she bravely fought Alzheimer’s in the final years of her life, she turned her energies to campaigning to protect those with dementia, the vulnerable and the lonely as well her passionate support of the Armed Forces through the Poppy Appeal.

The actress – who was made a Dame by the Queen in 2016 – announced she was suffering from Alzheimer’s in 2018, having been diagnosed four years earlier. She moved to a care home in July, five months before she died.

Tough: Shane also battled with his emotions as he read messages from fans recalling their meetings with Barbara

Tough: Shane also battled with his emotions as he read messages from fans recalling their meetings with Barbara

An icon: Barbara is survived by her third husband Scott, who announced early on Friday morning that his 'best friend and soul mate' passed away peacefully in a London care home at 8.35pm on Thursday

An icon: Barbara is survived by her third husband Scott, who announced early on Friday morning that his ‘best friend and soul mate’ passed away peacefully in a London care home at 8.35pm on Thursday