EastEnders icon Pam St Clement was overcome with emotion as she paid tribute to her late co-star and dear friend, Dame Barbara Windsor, during a special episode celebrating the soap’s 40th anniversary.
The heartfelt moment took place as Ross Kemp, best known for playing the tough-as-nails Grant Mitchell, hosted EastEnders: 40 Years on the Square, a nostalgic look back at four decades of drama in Albert Square.
The special saw Kemp reunite with beloved cast members, including Adam Woodyatt (Ian Beale), Gillian Taylforth (Kathy Beale), Letitia Dean (Sharon Watts), and Jessie Wallace (Kat Slater), as they reminisced about their time on the iconic soap.
However, it was Kemp’s conversation with St Clement that left viewers particularly emotional.
The 82-year-old actress, famous for her two-decade-long portrayal of the no-nonsense Pat Butcher, reflected on her cherished friendship with Windsor, who passed away in 2020 at the age of 83 after a long-battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
During their discussion, St Clement shared fond memories of playing Pat, recalling how she styled the character with her signature oversized earrings and drew inspiration from a bus conductor she once encountered.
But the mood shifted to a deeply emotional moment when she spoke about her on-screen dynamic with Windsor’s character, the formidable Peggy Mitchell.
As they watched a moving scene from a 2016 episode—one of Windsor’s final appearances—where Pat returns as a ghost to comfort Peggy in her last moments, the weight of their history hit hard.
Visibly emotional, St Clement wiped away tears as she admitted how much she missed her dear friend.
“Well, I miss her,” she said, her voice breaking. “I mean, basically, I miss her tremendously.”
Kemp, also visibly moved, struggled to hold back his own emotions.
Viewers took to social media to express their feelings, with many saying they were left in tears by the touching tribute.
"Peggy’s final episode… eeehhh don’t do this to me! #EastEnders #EastEnders40" commented a viewer on social media.
Another added: “Pam St Clement choking up remembering Barbara Windsor #Eastenders #EastEnders40.”
“Pam St Clement talking about Barbara Windsor just broke my heart #EastEnders #EE40,” a third wrote.
EastEnders: 40 Years on the Square is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.
