Christopher Biggins and Barbara Windsor still 'talk about the old days' despite her Alzheimer's

Veteran actor Christopher Biggins has revealed his old friend Dame Barbara Windsor is still full of zest, despite her battle with Alzheimer's.

The actor, 70, revealed her long-term memory is in fact still good and that they have enjoyed lunches together recently, where they have 'laughed a lot'.

Speaking to The Mirror, he said: 'When I’m with Barbara, I don’t have sadness or tears because she would see that and I don’t want her to. So I’m always upbeat with her. The last time I had lunch with her was three weeks ago.

'Tremendous energy!' Veteran actor Christopher Biggins has revealed his old friend Dame Barbara Windsor is still full of zest, despite her battle with Alzheimers

'She looked wonderful, she had tremendous energy and we laughed a lot. But she asked me "what are you doing?" eight or nine times because she’d forgotten my answer. Forgetting my answers each time was very sad. But I’d only show that sadness after I’d left her.'

He added: 'I’m so lucky, because being such a strong character, she always knows who I am. Although her short-term memory is not so good and she might forget what she did earlier in the day, her long-time memory is fantastic. So she’s really entertaining when we talk about the old days. She can remember what I’d forgotten a long time ago.'

Old friends: The actor, 70, revealed her long-term memory is in fact still good and that they have enjoyed lunches together recently, where they have 'laughed a lot [pictured in 1988]

Biggins - who lost his mother, who also had dementia, last year - and Barbara, who turned 82 last week, have been pals for 40 years.

The pair toured the country in musical Guys & Dolls together and have remained close for the length of their careers. 

Biggins also previously spoke about his friend, revealing that she was 'tap dancing, singing and entertaining' guests at the wake of her husband Scott's late father.

'Scott told me a sweet story', Biggins recalled. 'When his father died she went down there to support Scott and at the Shiva, which they have at the Jewish faith, she was tap dancing and singing and entertaining the women.

'It was just like she came to, for a couple of hours, to give her bit to her husband’s father. It was just wonderful. She got wonderful applause.' 

Husband Scott previously admitted he finds it 'heartbreaking' watching EastEnders during a candid interview on the Chris Evans Breakfast Show. 

He explained: 'It's a really cruel, horrible condition. For anyone who has seen a loved one go through it, it's a horrible thing to witness.

'You see that person slowly disappearing before your eyes, being stripped of who they were. Anyone who has been through it would tell you it's the most heartbreaking thing to watch.'

Scott and Barbara celebrated 19 years of marriage earlier this year, following the Carry On star's divorces from former husbands Ronnie Knight and Stephen Hollings.

Barbara made a rare public appearance last weekend as she celebrated her 82nd birthday with close friend David Walliams.

Accompanied by husband Scott Mitchell, 56, the legendary Carry On actress joined the Britain's Got Talent judge and his mother Kathleen for a get together to mark her big day on August 6.

Taking to Instagram on Sunday, Walliams, 47, shared a series of images with followers after presenting Windsor with a birthday cake decorated with iced flowers, hundreds and thousands and the words ‘Dame Barbara,’ written in pink icing.

Special: Dame Barbara Windsor made a rare public appearance over the weekend as she celebrated her imminent 82nd birthday with close friend David Walliams and his mother Kathleen

The actress, diagnosed with the degenerative condition in 2014, appeared to be in high spirits as she posed with her cake before joining for photos Walliams and his mother for a photo. 

Captioning the images, Walliams wrote: 'Afternoon tea with a legend. Dame Barbara Windsor.' 

All mine: The legendary Carry On actress was presented with a cake ahead of her 82nd birthday on August 6

Say cheese: Dame Barbara was joined by husband Scott Mitchell as they posed alongside Walliams' mother on Sunday

Treat: The actress was given a birthday cake decorated with iced flowers, hundreds and thousands and the words ‘Dame Barbara,’ written in pink icing

Daily Mail UK