61-420: Deeks is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: Barbara Ann Deeks (1937–2020), birth name of British actress Barbara Windsor Don Deeks (1923–1995), American footballer Florence Deeks (1864–1959), Canadian teacher and author John Deeks (born 1951), Australian television presenter Fictional characters [ edit ] Marty Deeks ,
122-464: A "good-time girl" in nine Carry On films . Her first was Carry On Spying in 1964 and her final one was Carry On Dick in 1974. She also appeared in several Carry On... television and compilation specials between 1964 and 1977. One of her best known scenes was in Carry On Camping (1969), where her bikini top flew off during outdoor aerobic exercises. In typical Carry On style, exposure
183-574: A BAFTA nomination for Best British Film Actress . She also appeared in the comedy films Crooks in Cloisters (1964) and San Ferry Ann (1965), the thriller film A Study in Terror (1965), the fantasy film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) and Ken Russell 's musical film The Boy Friend (1971), and the TV sitcoms The Rag Trade and Wild, Wild Women . Windsor came to prominence with her portrayals of
244-570: A Lovely War! . In 1972, she starred opposite Vanessa Redgrave in the West End production of The Threepenny Opera . Between 1964 and 1974, she appeared in nine Carry On films, including Carry On Spying (1964), Carry On Doctor (1967), Carry On Camping (1969), Carry On Henry (1971), and Carry On Abroad (1972). She also co-presented the 1977 Carry On compilation That's Carry On! . Windsor also starred in all four " Carry On Christmas " Thames TV specials, and appeared in both series of
305-408: A Musical . She also appeared in several stage productions including Lionel Bart 's musical flop Twang!! (1965) (directed by Joan Littlewood ), The Beggar's Opera (1967), Come Spy with Me (1966–67) with Danny La Rue and in 30 pantomimes between 1950 and 2011. In 1970, she landed the role of music hall legend Marie Lloyd in the musical-biopic Sing A Rude Song . In 1972, she appeared in
366-517: A bomb during an air raid . Aged six, Windsor was evacuated to Blackpool to live with a couple, but they attempted to sexually abuse her. A neighbour heard Windsor's screams and alerted the authorities. The couple were arrested and were found to not be married, but to be brother and sister. Windsor moved in with a schoolfriend and her parents, although they struggled to cope with her loud behaviour. They sent Windsor to dancing school, which sparked her interest in performing, although one night after
427-581: A character in the television series NCIS: Los Angeles See also [ edit ] Nick Simpson-Deeks (born 1980), Australian actor Robert de Castella (born 1957), Australian marathon runner, nicknamed "Deeks" References [ edit ] ^ Browne, W.A.F.; Reaney, P.H.; Wilson, R.M.; Scull, A. (1991). A Dictionary of English Surnames . Tavistock classics in the history of psychiatry. Routledge. p. 883. ISBN 978-0-415-05737-0 . Retrieved 26 August 2018 . [REDACTED] Surname list This page lists people with
488-422: A class, Windsor found her friend's father kissing another woman in a bus shelter. Humiliated by this, Windsor was sent back to London in 1944 along with a note from her dance teacher which read: "Barbara is a born show-off who loves to perform." Impressed by this, Windsor's mother sent her to Madame Behenna's Juvenile Jollities, a drama school at which she appeared in several charity concerts and pantomimes. After
549-513: A giant of the entertainment world" – and Charles, Prince of Wales with his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall . Windsor's funeral took place on 8 January 2021. Her body was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium . The service was attended by Anna Karen , Christopher Biggins , Ross Kemp , David Walliams and Matt Lucas , amongst others, although numbers were limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic . Floral decorations on Windsor's coffin spelled out
610-533: A moving display (what Littlewood called her "electronic newspaper" from having seen one in East Berlin on a railway bridge ) across the full stage width with statistics, such as "Sept 25 . . . Loos . . . British loss 8,236 men in 3 hours . . . German loss nil" and "Average life of a machine gunner under attack on the Western Front : 4 minutes". Separating the performers from the actual events in this way would stop
671-427: A musical, and won numerous awards. It was Attenborough's debut as a film director. Several Australian World War I movies and miniseries (e.g. The Lighthorsemen and Gallipoli ) have used these songs to give a stronger sense of period to them. The 1985 series Anzacs used "Oh, it's a lovely war" as one of the numbers while the credits rolled, had "I wore a tunic" performed as part of an entertainment piece while
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#1732869137009732-604: A patron of the Amy Winehouse Foundation . In 2014, Windsor unveiled a statue of Winehouse in Camden Market . In April 2014, Windsor was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease . She chose not to make news of the condition public, but it was known to her friends and colleagues. On 10 May 2018, Windsor's husband, Scott Mitchell, publicly revealed her condition. In January 2019, Mitchell and some of Windsor's former co-stars from EastEnders announced that they would be running
793-438: A performance, she was ridiculed by the others as her father had begun working as a trolley bus conductor and had come in his uniform. Enraged, Windsor covered the girls in theatrical face powder, throwing more over the chaperone who tried to stop her. Despite this, Windsor was chosen to appear in the chorus of the successful musical Love From Judy in the West End in 1952, which ran for two years. Her stage name of "Windsor"
854-558: A regular cabaret act at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in Soho, and went on to do the same at the Winston's club alongside Danny La Rue and Amanda Barrie . After joining Joan Littlewood 's Theatre Workshop at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East, she came to prominence in their 1959 stage production Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be and Littlewood's film Sparrows Can't Sing (1963), achieving
915-565: A return to EastEnders , which was shown in January 2016. After this, the character was confirmed to be killed off later in the year. This was Windsor's decision, as she said that she would always be open to a return to the show unless bosses decided to kill the character off. Her last appearance aired on BBC One on 17 May 2016. On 25 January 2022, by which time Windsor had died, an episode aired in which Peggy's son Phil Mitchell ( Steve McFadden ) hears his mother's voice giving him advice. The scene
976-842: A schoolgirl in The Belles of St. Trinians ; she followed this with several other uncredited roles until she appeared in Too Hot to Handle (1960) with Jayne Mansfield . According to Windsor, Mansfield demanded that she appear at the back of the scene they shared, as she was worried Windsor's blonde hair and large chest would overshadow her own. After this, Windsor made her television debut when Johnny Brandon , with whom Windsor had starred in Love from Judy , asked her to appear in his television series Dreamer's Highway . Windsor later appeared in musical shows Variety Parade , The Jack Jackson Show , and Six-Five Special , regularly singing with bands. She then became
1037-400: A two-year absence from the role between 2003 and 2005, although Windsor was able to make a two-episode guest appearance in 2004. She rejoined the cast full-time in the summer of 2005. In October 2009, Windsor announced she was to leave her role as Peggy Mitchell, saying she wanted to spend more time with her husband. On 10 September 2010, her character left Albert Square after a fire destroyed
1098-581: Is a satire on World War I , and by extension on war in general. The title is derived from the "somewhat satirical" music hall song "Oh! It's a Lovely War!", which is one of the major numbers in the production. The idea for the production started on Armistice Day 1962 when Gerry Raffles heard the repeat of the second version of Charles Chilton 's radio musical for the BBC Home Service , called The Long Long Trail about World War I . Written and produced by Chilton in memory of his father whose name
1159-556: Is different from Wikidata All set index articles Barbara Windsor Dame Barbara Windsor DBE (born Barbara Ann Deeks ; 6 August 1937 – 10 December 2020) was an English actress, known for her roles in the Carry On films and for playing Peggy Mitchell in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders . She joined the cast of EastEnders in 1994 and won the 1999 British Soap Award for Best Actress , before leaving
1220-408: Is gone We feel just as heavy as lead, But we never get up till the sergeant brings Our breakfast up to bed Oh! Oh! Oh! it's a lovely war, What do we want with eggs and ham When we've got plum and apple jam? Form fours! Right turn! How shall we spend the money we earn? Oh! Oh! Oh! it's a lovely war. Richard Attenborough 's film adaptation was released in 1969, also as
1281-661: Is implied, but little is, in fact, seen. From 1973 to 1975, she appeared with several of the Carry On team in the West End revue Carry On London! . She was strongly identified with the Carry On films for many years, which restricted the roles she was offered later in her career. Windsor starred on Broadway in the Theatre Workshop 's Oh, What a Lovely War! and received a 1965 Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in
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#17328691370091342-759: The British Soap Award for Outstanding Achievement in 2010, as well as the Freedom of the City of London in 2010. Windsor was born in Shoreditch , London, in 1937 (though her birth was registered in Stepney ), the only child of John Deeks, a bus driver, and his wife, Rose ( née Ellis), a dressmaker. The family lived on Angela Street. Her maternal great-grandmother was the daughter of Irish immigrants who fled to Great Britain from Ireland between 1846 and 1851 in order to escape
1403-521: The Great Famine . In 1939, at the start of World War II , Windsor's father was called up for the war, so Windsor and her mother went to live with her mother's family in Yoakley Road, Stoke Newington , where Windsor attended St Mary's Infants' School in nearby Lordship Road. Windsor's mother initially refused to let her be evacuated, but conceded after one of Windsor's school friends was killed by
1464-612: The London Marathon in aid of a dementia campaign. Mitchell said that Windsor's health and mental state had been deteriorating, and she had moments when she no longer recognised him. On Windsor's 82nd birthday in August 2019, she and Mitchell became ambassadors for the Alzheimer's Society . On the same day, Mitchell and Windsor appeared in a video for the charity, in which Windsor said, "Unite with me, against dementia". Mitchell highlighted
1525-549: The Lord Chamberlain , Lord Cobbold , that "What you've said here tonight should have been said long ago, don't you agree, Lord Cobbold?"; at this point the transfer was more or less assured despite the objections of the family of Field Marshal Haig . It was an ensemble production featuring members of the theatre's regular company, which included Brian Murphy , Victor Spinetti , Glynn Edwards and Larry Dann , all of whom played several roles. In 2023, Dann shared his memories of
1586-505: The Theatre World Award . From September 2023 until May 2024, a 60th Anniversary production by Blackeyed Theatre toured the UK. The original production was performed with the cast in pierrot costumes and metal helmets due to Littlewood's abhorrence of the colour khaki and anti-war feelings. Behind them projected slides (operated by projectionist Tom Carr) showed images from the war and
1647-440: The surname Deeks . If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name (s) to the link. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Deeks&oldid=1214901338 " Categories : Surnames English-language surnames Hidden categories: Articles with short description Short description
1708-615: The 1975 ATV sitcom " Carry On Laughing ". Outside of Carry On, her other film roles included A Study in Terror (1965), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), and as the voice of Mallymkun, the Dormouse in Alice in Wonderland (2010) and Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016). Windsor was made a Dame (DBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to charity and entertainment. She was awarded
1769-433: The 1990s as she prepared to go on stage, and recalled events from her life, including her childhood, marriage to gangster Ronnie Knight , and her roles in the Carry On films. Windsor was married three times, and had no children. She was married to: Prior to her marriage to Knight, Windsor had a one-night stand with East End criminal Reggie Kray , and a longer relationship with his older brother Charlie Kray . During
1830-585: The Dormouse in the film Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016). In 2016, Windsor was invited to switch on the Blackpool Illuminations 57 years after her co-star in the film Too Hot to Handle , Jayne Mansfield , had performed the task during a break in filming. In May 2017, Windsor appeared in a cameo role as herself in BBC Television 's biopic about her life, Babs , written by EastEnders scriptwriter Tony Jordan . It showed Windsor in
1891-711: The Queen Victoria pub, of which she was the owner. In July 2013, it was announced that Windsor was to return for one episode, which aired on 20 September 2013. She again returned for a single episode on 25 September 2014, and made a further appearance for EastEnders 30th anniversary on 17 February 2015. In February 2015, Windsor, along with Pam St Clement ( Pat Evans ), took part in EastEnders: Back to Ours to celebrate 30 years of EastEnders . Windsor and St. Clement looked back on some of their characters' most dramatic moments. In November 2015, Windsor secretly filmed
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1952-594: The Theatre Workshop was tasked with learning about a particular topic, such as Ypres or gas . As the production developed, it also used scenes from The Donkeys by military historian (and future Conservative politician) Alan Clark , initially without acknowledgement: Clark took Littlewood to court to get credited. Some scenes in the production, notably one on the first time the trenches were gassed, were worked on for many days only for Littlewood to conclude they were too horrific for an audience, and delete them. This
2013-755: The West End in Tony Richardson 's The Threepenny Opera with Vanessa Redgrave. In 1975, she toured the UK, New Zealand , and South Africa in her own show, Carry On Barbara! , and followed this with the role of Maria in Twelfth Night at the Chichester Festival Theatre . In 1981, she played sex-mad landlady Kath in Joe Orton 's black comedy Entertaining Mr Sloane at the Lyric Hammersmith , directed by her friend Kenneth Williams . She reprised
2074-546: The affair began damaging Windsor's mental health, she ended it. Devastated by her decision, James became depressed and started to drink whisky ; he died soon afterwards from a heart attack. Another of Windsor's Carry On co-stars, Kenneth Williams , accompanied Windsor and Knight on their honeymoon, also bringing his mother and sister with him. Windsor also dated Gary Crosby in the 1960s and had brief sexual encounters with Victor Mature , Anthony Newley , Ronnie Scott , James Booth , George Best and Maurice Gibb ,
2135-484: The audience collapsing in tears, and the production features such World War I-era songs as " It's a Long Way to Tipperary ", " Pack up Your Troubles " and " Keep the Home Fires Burning ". Harsh images of war and shocking statistics are projected onto the backdrop, providing a contrast with the comedy of the action taking place before it. The audience were also invited to join in with singing the songs. The first act
2196-651: The extent that during the Carry On London! stage show, he shouted at Bernard Bresslaw because he had helped Windsor off the stage, the only reason being that Bresslaw had touched Windsor. James, who, like Windsor, was also already married, would send her a dozen red roses with a note attached with the words "Love Romeo", and even arranged to see her in Australia during her Carry On Barbara one-woman show, as he could not bear to be without her. He would also state his love for her in public and to Windsor's friends, but after
2257-424: The first verse and the chorus are as follows: Up to your waist in water, Up to your eyes in slush – Using the kind of language, That makes the sergeant blush; Who wouldn't join the army? That's what we all inquire, Don't we pity the poor civilians sitting beside the fire. Chorus: Oh! Oh! Oh! it's a lovely war, Who wouldn't be a soldier eh? Oh! It's a shame to take the pay. As soon as reveille
2318-466: The last at the age of 42. She said that she never wanted children as a result of her father rejecting her after her parents' divorce. Windsor was best friends with fellow actress Anna Karen , whom she met while filming Carry On Camping and who later went on to play Peggy Mitchell 's sister Aunt Sal in EastEnders on and off for 20 years. Windsor was friends with Amy Winehouse , and in 2012 became
2379-637: The latter two while she was still married. In the late 1950s, Windsor became engaged to singer Cliff Lawrence, but he physically beat her. In her autobiography, All of Me , Windsor stated that she often turned up at Winston's, the club where she sang, with a black eye, and detailed one occasion when Lawrence dragged her down the street by her hair. Windsor ended the relationship, and then started dating Knight. Windsor said that Lawrence would spy on her and Knight from telephone boxes , only leaving them alone after Knight threatened him. In her autobiography, Windsor discussed her five abortions : three in her 20s, and
2440-552: The problems many face with the disease, and urged viewers to sign a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson , saying he "urgently needs to address these challenges." In August 2020, BBC News reported that Windsor had been moved into a care home in London. Windsor died at Anita Dorfman House, a Jewish Care home in Stanmore , north London, on 10 December 2020, aged 83. The next episode of EastEnders , broadcast on 11 December 2020,
2501-670: The production for his autobiography, "Oh, What A Lovely Memoir" . The sets were designed by John Bury . The production subsequently transferred to Wyndham's Theatre in June of the same year. The production was a surprise hit, and the musical was adapted by the BBC for radio several times. The musical premiered in the United States on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre on 30 September 1964 and closed on 16 January 1965 after 125 performances. It
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2562-520: The role for a national tour with the National Theatre in 1993 co-starring John Challis of Only Fools and Horses fame. When EastEnders was launched in 1985, the producers said they would not cast well-known actors (although Wendy Richard was a rare exception). Windsor has said that she would have liked to have been part of the original cast. By 1994, this policy was relaxed, and Windsor accepted an offer to join EastEnders . She took over
2623-535: The role of Peggy Mitchell (who was previously a minor character played by Jo Warne in 1991). Peggy was the widowed mother of established key characters Phil and Grant Mitchell, and younger sister Samantha. For this role, she received the Best Actress award at the 1999 British Soap Awards , and a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2009 British Soap Awards . A debilitating case of the Epstein–Barr virus forced
2684-505: The role of Windsor in the touring production of the play in 2001. Spiro reprised the role in the subsequent TV film adaptation, Cor, Blimey! (2000). The latter also featured a cameo appearance from Windsor, playing herself. In the 2006 BBC television film Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa! , Windsor was again played by Rachel Clarke. Spiro reprised her role as Windsor in the TV biopic Babs in 2017, with Jaime Winstone and Honor Kneafsey playing younger versions of Windsor. Windsor
2745-423: The show in 2016 when her character was killed off . Windsor began her career on stage in 1950 at the age of 13, and made her film debut as a schoolgirl in The Belles of St. Trinian's (1954) while studying shipping management at Bow Technical College. She received a BAFTA Award nomination for the film Sparrows Can't Sing (1963), and a Tony Award nomination for the 1964 Broadway production of Oh, What
2806-437: The theatre and they played through the songs. Eventually Littlewood considered it might work, but refused any military uniforms, deciding on pierrot costumes from Commedia dell'arte very early on as a "soft, fluffy entertainment mode" providing an ironic contrast to the tin hats which they also wore. Littlewood said, in 1995, that "Nobody died on my stage, they died in the film – that they ruined". She wanted audiences to leave
2867-440: The theatre laughing at the "vulgarity of war". The idea was to portray how groups of people could lose their sense of individuality by conforming to those of a higher authority, which Littlewood despised. The Theatre Workshop developed productions through improvisation and initially the cast would learn the original script but then have that taken away and have to retell the story in their own words for performance. Each member of
2928-478: The time of making her later Carry On films, she had a well-publicised affair with her fellow actor and co-star Sid James , which lasted three years, until 1976. Windsor was initially uninterested in James, 24 years her senior, but later stated that she thought she would have sex with him once, and then he would leave her alone; however, James reportedly became obsessed with Windsor and suffocatingly possessive of her, to
2989-441: The voice of the "ordinary soldier". The title came from the popular music hall song " There's a Long Long Trail A-Winding " published in 1913, mentioned in the introduction of Tommy's Tunes . Raffles proposed the idea of using it as the basis of a production to his partner, Joan Littlewood , but she detested the idea, hating World War I , military uniforms, and everything they stood for. Gerry though, brought Chilton along to
3050-568: The war, she passed her 11-plus exams, gaining the top mark in North London, and earned a scholarship for a place at Our Lady's Catholic High School, Stamford Hill , although she was expelled because she argued with the reverend mother after the latter refused to let Barbara have time off to appear in a pantomime. Windsor moved to the Aida Foster School , Golders Green , and took elocution lessons . When Windsor's father came to watch
3111-538: The words "The Dame", "Saucy" (Windsor's catchphrase in the Carry On films) and "The Queen Peggy". Windsor's funeral programme featured the famous photo of her in Carry On Camping , a photo that she said "will follow me right to the end". Windsor was played by Samantha Spiro in Terry Johnson 's play Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick , which premiered at the National Theatre in 1998. Rachel Clarke took over
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#17328691370093172-473: Was announced that Windsor would be fronting a TV campaign for online bingo site Jackpotjoy as the Queen of Bingo. She appeared as herself in one episode of Come Fly with Me in January 2011. From 2011 onwards, she regularly did presenting work for BBC Radio 2 music and showbusiness history programmes, and also was a regular stand in for Elaine Paige on Elaine Paige on Sunday . She reprised her voice role of
3233-527: Was another reason why uniforms were not worn in the production. The musical premiered at the Theatre Royal Stratford East on 19 March 1963 to rave audience reaction. Kenneth Tynan 's review in The Observer was titled "Littlewood returns in triumph". The official censor did not grant permission for a transfer to the West End until Princess Margaret attended a performance and commented to
3294-572: Was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to charity and entertainment. In November 2014, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of East London . Oh, What a Lovely War! Oh, What a Lovely War! is an epic musical developed by Joan Littlewood and her ensemble at the Theatre Workshop in 1963. It
3355-618: Was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2000 New Year Honours , and in the same year she was the first person to be inducted into the newly created BBC Hall of Fame. In August 2010 she was given the Freedom of the City of London , and in November 2010 she was honoured by the City of Westminster at a tree-planting and plaque ceremony. She was inducted into the Hackney Empire Walk of Fame on 25 May 2017. Windsor
3416-571: Was dedicated to Windsor's memory. As well as this, the 2017 biopic Babs , which documented Windsor's life, was also broadcast. Among those who paid tributes to her were her EastEnders co-stars, entertainers, politicians including Boris Johnson, former Prime Minister David Cameron , Leader of the Opposition Keir Starmer and members of the Royal family , Prince William, Duke of Cambridge – who described Windsor as "a true national treasure ...
3477-413: Was designed to draw the audience in with the sentimentality of the songs, and the first explosion does not take place until the end of Act 1 during Goodbye...ee . Act 2 then brings the horror of war to the production. The song "Oh! It's a Lovely War" was written by J. P. Long and Maurice Scott in 1917 and was part of the repertoire of music hall star and male impersonator Ella Shields . The lyrics of
3538-441: Was inscribed on the memorial at Arras , the piece was a radio documentary that used facts and statistics, juxtaposed with reminiscences and versions of songs of the time, as an ironic critique of the reality of the war. The songs were found in a book published in 1917 called Tommy's Tunes which had new lyrics written in the trenches to well-known songs of the era, many from hymns or from West End shows. Bud Flanagan provided
3599-473: Was inspired by the Coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953. By the time she was 16, Windsor's parents divorced, and she was unwillingly made to testify against her father in court. Awarded to her mother, following the divorce, Windsor's father ceased all contact with Barbara, and would ignore her if he saw her in the street for many years afterwards. Windsor made her film debut as an uncredited extra in 1954 playing
3660-669: Was made using archived audio from previous episodes. Windsor hosted two series of the BBC documentary Disaster Masters in 2005. She provided the voice of the Dormouse in Walt Disney's live-action adaptation of Lewis Carroll 's Alice in Wonderland (2010), directed by Tim Burton . Windsor appeared in the pantomime Dick Whittington at the Bristol Hippodrome over the Christmas/New Year period of 2010/2011. In September 2010, it
3721-406: Was seen there by actor and former subaltern Basil Rathbone , who wrote to Charles Chilton that "we were duped, it was a disgusting war". Directed by Littlewood, the cast featured Spinetti and Murphy, plus Barbara Windsor . It received four Tony Award nominations: for Best Musical , Best Direction , Best Featured Actress , and Best Featured Actor , winning Best Featured Actor. Spinetti also won
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