We still get a Christmas card from Barbara Windsor.

My wife used to be her agent and says that she was either absolutely lovely or absolutely vile. I was reminded of Saucy Babs last night when she bowed out of EastEnders for the very last time. I’ve worked with her many times and have only ever seen the lovely side. At 78, she’s one of a dwindling number of people old enough to call me a “smashing boy”. So I’ve always refrained from mentioning the first time I ever saw her. I was about 13, waiting for a bus home from Hendon when she came tottering down Brent Street with a big white poodle. She let the dog defecate on the pavement and when a passer-by politely objected, she rounded on him. “Mind your own f*cking business, you f*cking c*nt!”, etc, etc. It was a truly shocking tirade. So although that Babs can swear, she can’t sing. Fortunately, this Babs can.