Peggy Mitchell

Matriarch Peggy Mitchell (Barbara Windsor) puts family first but isn't prepared to take any nonsense from her kids. Is in her element behind the bar at the Queen Vic and will tell anyone she doesn't like the look of to 'get outta my pub'!

Marriages Eric Mitchell (deceased), Frank Butcher (divorced), Archie Mitchell

Children Phil, Grant, Sam

1991 Visits teen tearaway daughter Sam when she gets engaged to car mechanic Ricky Butcher.

1994 Moves to Albert Square after splitting up from her mini-cab driver boyfriend, Kevin. Sorts out Grant, who put Phil in hospital after his affair with Grant's wife, Sharon.

1995 Installs herself behind the bar in the Queen Vic and clashes with daughter-in-law Sharon, who signs over her share of the pub to the Mitchells.

1996 Hooks up with flashy criminal George Palmer. Boycotts Mark Fowler's fruit & veg stall when she finds out he's HIV positive. Discovers a lump in her breast just before Christmas and has radiotherapy for breast cancer. Then appreciates the difficulties Mark has faced.

1997 George proposes at New Year but they split up when she has enough of his dodgy dealings.

1998 Gets together with car dealer Frank Butcher, much to the disapproval of Phil and Grant.

1999 Marries Frank in April. Cancer returns and undergoes a mastectomy. Grant moves to Rio with her granddaughter Courtney. Grant gives Phil his share of the Vic and he sells it to Dan Sullivan for just a fiver out of spite, saying Peggy never loved him as much as Grant.

2000 Considers leaving Walford for a new start in Portugal with Frank but can't bear leaving the Vic to Dan. Has breast reconstruction. Is reconciled with Phil and they force Dan out. Frank has an affair with Pat Evans and does a runner when Pat calls it off. Depressed, Peggy smashes up the Vic with a baseball bat.

2001 Dates Harry Slater but later finds out he's a child molester. Sells the Vic to pay Frank's debts but furious that new landlady is ex-daughter-in-law Sharon.

2002 Is told Frank is dead and heads to Spain for the funeral but it turns out Frank faked his death for a scam. Returns to Walford without Frank but with Sam, who she discovers working in a strip club.

2003 Phil goes missing after a botched robbery. Peggy leaves to spend time in Brazil with Grant.

2004 Returns briefly for Sam's wedding to Andy Hunter.

2005 Back for good, Peggy finds Sam has been framed by Chrissie Watts for Den Watts' murder. Bids for the Queen Vic against vicious gangster Johnny Allen. She's rescued by Phil and Grant, who also expose Chrissie as the killer. Peggy get the Queen Vic.

2006 Has a brief romance with Honey Edwards' dad Jack, which ends when Peggy can't accept Janet, Billy Mitchell's daughter who has Down's syndrome.

2007 Phil goes off the rails and she's left trying to run the pub on her lonesome. Nieces Roxy and Ronnie Mitchell move into the Vic to help out when Peggy reveals she's £40,000 in debt.

2008 Makes contact with her brother-in-law Archie Mitchell and is flattered by his attention. They get engaged. Attends the funeral of her ex-husband, Frank Butcher.

2009 Marries Archie then discovers what a vicious, manipulative bully he is. Asks Phil to kill him but Phil just scares him off. Alcoholic Phil starts drinking again and says she's the cause. Peggy shocked to see Archie return and declare he's the new owner of 27 Albert Square. Thrilled when daughter Sam reappears and turns to Archie for help in raising the money for Sam's bail.

Sept 2010 Watches helplessly as the Queen Vic is destroyed by fire, set alight by son Phil after a blazing row. It's the last straw for Peggy and her dysfunctional family and she decides to leave the square and start a new life away from Walford.

Played by Barbara Windsor

Born Barbara Ann Deaks in Shoreditch, east London on August 6 1937, Barbara's dad, John, drove a bus and her mum, Rose, was a dressmaker. Her parents split up when she was a teenager and she lost touch with her dad.

Best known as... Read More