The soap opera matriarch who was cast to 'save' a show

Cultures · Published 11 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: When EastEnders hit a creative slump in the 1990s, producers turned to a comedy icon to stabilize the ratings. Barbara Windsor’s transition from 'Carry On' films to a gritty soap drama remains one of television's most complex casting maneuvers, balancing massive celebrity status against the need for believable, grounded acting.

Peggy Mitchell first appeared in 1991, played by Jo Warne, but the character was fundamentally reimagined in 1994 when Barbara Windsor took over the role. This transition was so distinct that critics described it as 'inexplicable,' noting that Windsor was physically and stylistically different from her predecessor. The move was a strategic response to low ratings; producers hoped Windsor's 'lighter touch' and celebrity status would inject life into a period branded as the show's 'worst creative period.'

The casting was fraught with tension. Windsor was initially considered 'too well-known,' and there were concerns that the audience wouldn't be able to identify with a character burdened by an actor's 'baggage.' Windsor herself admitted to being 'terrified,' struggling to adapt her comedic style to the 'brassiness and vulnerability' required for soap acting. She initially felt the scripts made Peggy too 'sad' and 'vulnerable,' leading to a creative tug-of-war with the producers over the character's personality.

The character's identity was eventually solidified by executive producer Corinne Hollingworth, who moved Peggy into the role of landlady at The Queen Victoria. This shift allowed Windsor to create a 'flash' and 'upmarket' persona that balanced her own mother's 'East End snob' influences with the toughness of a matriarch. While some speculated the character was modeled after the infamous Violet Kray, Windsor maintained the role was a composite of real women she observed in East End pubs and her own family life.

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