Jake Wood had to withdraw from the London Marathon in memory of his girlfriend Barbara Windsor.
The ex-EastEnders star, who met Barbara on the soap, revealed on social media late on Friday that he was suffering from a “serious chest infection”.
Barbara died of dementia in 2020. And Jake was to walk with her widower Scott Mitchell and other EastEnders stars including Lacey Turner, Natalie Cassidy and Adam Woodyatt.
He confirmed the news in a video message, revealing he was “washed out” but was following doctor’s orders.
He told his followers: “Unfortunately I can’t run the London Marathon [on] Sunday for medical advice”.
Devastated: Jake Wood had to pull out of the London marathon in memory of his girlfriend Barbara Windsor
Tribute: Barbara died of dementia in 2020. And Jake was to walk with her widower Scott Mitchell and other EastEnders stars
“I have a very bad chest infection that I’ve had for the past few weeks. I was told in no uncertain terms not to run away.’
Before I add: “I’m disappointed I don’t have to lead it with the whole Bab army to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research UK.
“I would be very sorry not to be with them that day.”
Barbara’s widower Scott rushed to the comments section and said: “Jake, you were a fighter through the exercise!” We are so sorry to lose you from the team!! Your health comes first, but just the thing for you! Thanks for everything you’ve done so far! I love your partner!’.
In a speech before Sunday, Jake revealed the stars all knew and loved Barbara, and she sees the marathon as a fitting tribute.
He said: “We all knew and loved Barbara. She was a wonderful person. It is my honor to do this in her memory.”
Fundraising: Jake Wood announced he was honored to run the London Marathon in memory of his friend Barbara Windsor (pictured with Barbara’s widower Scott Mitchell)
In his interview with the Mirror, Jake added: “She ruled the set but was just as friendly and welcoming.”
The star also revealed that she was an inspiration to the cast and that she gave him advice and guidance and took him under her wing.
Despite the massive marathon, Jake still plans to join Cheryl for the final night of the current 2:22 A Ghost Story run.
He said: “Originally I took the day off… obviously because the marathon is a big deal. But the rest of the cast were a bit upset that I didn’t do the show with them last night.”
Babs’ Army posted their training runs together on Instagram in the lead up to the marathon.
It comes after Scott shared the poignant words his late wife said to him shortly before her death two years ago.
In an interview with Best magazine, the actor reflected on his grief and said that now is the time to think about his future as Barbara would have wanted.
Scott spoke candidly about his two-year grief, admitting that things are “getting better,” and the sweet words Barbara shared with him before her death.
He told Best: “Before she died, Barbara told me to cry, be sad and then have the best time. Knowing Barbara, she would have married another cute 25-year-old by now!’
Training: Babs’ Army Instagrammed their training runs together before the marathon (Photo: Natalie Cassidy on a training run)
Tribute: Jake is honored to run the London Marathon in memory of his friend Barbara with Babs’ Army (pic This Morning)
Scott went on to say that while Barbara will always be important to him, it’s time to think about his future and said he’s open to what’s next in life.
He said: “Now is the time to think about me and my future. Barbara will always be a big part of my life, but she wishes I could move on.”
His latest comments come after Scott recently claimed people viciously accused him of using the drag legend, who was 26 years his senior, for their money.
Appearing on Good Morning Britain in December, Scott said Barbara was actually £1 million in debt when the couple first met.
Scott, who began his relationship with the soap star when she was 63 and he was 27, said: “She was a million pounds in debt when we met. I must have been the worst gold digger in the world. Am I really wrong?’.
“They all thought who is this man who is this unknown actor. They thought I had ended the marriage [her second]. They called me a gold digger.’
After Barbara’s death, Scott received £4.6 million in her will, and the star also made donations to various charities.
The legendary actress was married three times in her life, first to Ronnie Knight in 1964 and then to Stephen Hollings for nine years before divorcing in 1995.
Scott continued to reflect on Barbara’s death, saying: “It’s unbelievable. It’s been two years tomorrow. I still think she’ll walk through the door.
“There is something deep inside me. I wake up some mornings and I think she’s still fine.”
“After 27 years I am still in the early stages of mourning and coming to terms. I still think about the good times. It’s a very good thing for me to go back.
‘I lost my best friend. my partner I lost it. So now I still feel like she is still with me. Sometimes I feel the loneliness of not being there anymore.
Scott went on to talk about his twenty year marriage through his book titled By Your Side: My Life Loving Barbara Windsor.
‘His [Barbara] predicted it [the book]. She said they will ask you to write a book one day when I am gone. She told you to do it and be completely honest.
“I learned a lot about life and love from Barbara.”
It was revealed last year that she left £4.6 million in her will, but also donated £1,000 each to seven different charities, according to The Sun.
Barbara also left 85-year-old Anna Karen – who played Peggy Mitchell’s sister Aunt Sal in EastEnders – £1,000.
The paper adds that £5,000 has been left to Barbara’s sister-in-law Marsha Alexander and her husband Laurence. £2,000 went to her cousins Leslie Larsen and Julie Elliot.
NSPCC, Breast Cancer Care, Help The Aged, Grand Order Of Lady Ratlings, National Osteoporosis Society, Headley Court (a rehabilitation center for wounded soldiers) and Age UK were the seven charities to which Barbara left £1,000 each.
Life: It comes after Scott shared the poignant words his late wife told him two years ago shortly before her death (pictured together in 2019)
Scott received the remainder of Barbara’s £4.63 million estate.
Barbara was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2014 and kept her battle with the disease a secret for four years.
Barbara’s last TV role was in her own biopic, which chronicled her humble beginnings in Shoreditch until 1993, with Jaime Winstone and Samantha Spiro playing the star at various points in her life.
Source: Daily Mail
Ashley Root is an author and celebrity journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a keen eye for all things celebrity, Ashley is always up-to-date on the latest gossip and trends in the world of entertainment.
