A Barbara Windsor look-alike has told how the late star joked about her good looks.
The EastEnders actress did a double-take when she saw professional look-alike Claudia Keston at a charity dinner.
Claudia, 55, has worked as Babs since 2000 after years of people commenting on her likeness with the star.
Barbara died at 83 last week following a six-year battle with Alzheimer’s.
Former cruise ship singer Claudia said: “It’s so sad she’s gone, I met her a few times and she was a wonderful woman, so full of life.
“The first time I met her at an event in London she literally stopped and did a double-take.
Barbara Windsor with her look-alike Claudia Keston
“She looked me up and down and then she said, ‘You’re very nice looking aren’t you darling?’ I said, ‘Well you’re not half bad yourself’.
“Then we both fell about laughing.
“It was a lovely moment and how I’ll always remember her.”
Barbara Windsor’s look-alike Claudia behind the bar
Claudia said she is often tasked with working the bar at many of her bookings – so she can utter Barbara’s infamous phrase, ‘Get out of my pub!’
She said: “That’s the one everyone wants the most and I love doing it. It’s so iconic, so her.
“I’ll keep doing it and keep it alive for her. It’s an honour really.”
Barbara Windsor turned into a beer by Carry On bosses
Barbara as Peggy Mitchell behind the bar at the Queen Vic
Carry On bosses are set to create a new beer in honour of Dame Barbara Windsor.
The tipple is going to be released as part of a push to revive the iconic franchise in 2021.
There are plans to offer punters a whole range of beers inspired by the films and one called Carry On Blonde will be in honour of Babs, who died earlier this month.
Boss Brian Baker said: “We are working with a brewery about making the beers. It is quite exciting. We think it is going to be fantastic for fans of the films to be able to buy a Carry On beer.
“We want to have a whole range. One of them will be called Carry On Blonde, which will be in honour of Barbara. There will then be others like one called Carry On Matron.
“There are various beers to be done. This idea is the perfect fit for Carry On.”
The move will also be a nod to Barbara’s time as TV landlady Peggy Mitchell on EastEnders when she famously shouted: “Get outta my pub!”
A brewery in Preston is set to make the ales in time for a launch next autumn.
Babs in her heyday will adorn the bottle
Other branded Carry On products are also in the pipeline.
Brian said: “We intend to capitalise on the brand with lots of merchandise. We have been approached by so many companies. We are looking at doing a cleaning fluid. It would be called Carry On Cleaning.”
Brian is determined to honour the legacy of the Carry On franchise and its producer Peter Rogers, who died in 1999.
He said: “Taking this on is a huge responsibility. But I know this is what Peter wanted to happen. It is all about doing it the way he would have wanted. Carry On was his passion, so we intend to honour that.
“In these dark times, we want to use his legacy to bring us out of this terrible situation. What better way of doing that than with comedy?”
Bosses plan to donate some of the profits to dog charities.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
