Christopher Biggins revealed his soap legend pal Barbara Windsor will get a huge send off to celebrate her life in 2022.
EastEnders star Barbara died aged 83 in December last year after a battle with Alzheimer’s.
Only 30 of the TV sensation’s closest family and friends were able to attend her funeral in London in January because of the strict coronavirus restrictions in place in the UK.
Christopher, 72, expressed his hopes of celebrating Barbara’s life in a “big way” in 2022 with everyone who would have wanted to have said goodbye to her.
In normal times, he said the streets would have been lined with people saying their farewells.
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He told The Sun : “Sadly I think this is going to go on until 2023 before we go back to complete normality but let’s hope that at the end of this year or the beginning of 2022 we really can send her [Barbara] off in a big way.
“Normally we could have filled Wembley Stadium with people who would have wanted to say goodbye. The streets would have been lined.”
Christopher said it was an “extremely sad day” when he joined her family and friends to lay the star to rest during a 45 minute service at Golders Greene Crematorium.
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He said of the wake: “To play to 29 people who were sad and upset, it was very difficult to get the odd laugh here and there. And of course, you had to have a laugh because Barbara was a funny woman.”
Christopher was among one of Barbara’s best friends and their friendship spanned four decades.
The TV star also had a close friendship with the soap star’s husband of 20 years Scott Mitchell.
Recently, Christopher explained it had been really tough for Scott to organise Barbara’s funeral especially as they were only allowed 30 people.
He told OK! magazine : “It’s been really tough for Scott over the Christmas period and organising the funeral, which has been difficult as you’re only allowed 30 people, partners can’t go and it’s very traumatic.
“But we will give her a good send off and then hopefully in a year’s time, or two year’s time we will be able to give her a proper send off with thousands of people.”
Barbara cemented her status as a TV legend during her showbiz career.
She was best known for her long-serving character as Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders and her appearances in the Carry On films.