New photo Dame Barbara Windsor, 81, attends former EastEnders co-star Shane Richie's panto

She's been keeping her public appearances to a minimum recently, amid her battle with Alzheimer's.

But Dame Barbara Windsor wasn't letting that stop her from enjoying a festive night out at the panto on Saturday as she attended former EastEnders co-star Shane Richie's performance of Robin Hood in Milton Keynes. 

The 81-year-old actress received her own standing ovation after she rose from her seat in the audience to joke around with on-stage Shane.

A hell of a Dame! Barbara Windsor enjoyed a festive night out at the panto on Saturday as she attended former EastEnders co-star Shane Richie's performance of Robin Hood

The actor - who plays Alfie Moon in the BBC soap and first joined the show as the new landlord of The Queen Vic, taking the reigns from Barabara's Peggy Mitchell in 2002 - joked with his ex-co star that she had 'been in showbiz for 140 years'.

To which Barbara sharply replied: 'Oh no, I haven’t.'

This was swiftly followed by 'I love you' from the smiling veteran star. 

Shane - who referred to Barbara as 'The Duchess' as he addressed her and the audience - said to the crowd: 'I want to tell you about an old friend of mine. I first met this lovely lady in the 80s when I was a young comic and actor in Jersey and we’ve been mates ever since.

Tribute: Shane - who referred to Barbara as 'The Duchess' as he addressed her and the audience - said to the crowd, 'I want to tell you about an old friend of mine. I first met this lovely lady in the 80s when I was a young comic and actor in Jersey and we’ve been mates ever since'

'I got to work with her in 2002. She kept saying, "look 'ere, sweetheart, you should be in EastEnders with me". That’s not how she talks, that’s my impression of her.

'She’s come all the way today with her lovely husband Scott to support the show, we’re big fans of each other and she must have been in the business for 140 years.'  

A fellow theatregoer told the Sunday People: 'Barbara looked amazing, she was on top of the world to be there.

'She walked perfectly and was fully coherent. She loved the public attention and was every inch a star.'

She reportedly posed for photos with droves of fans for 30 minutes following the performance - in which Shane plays titular hero Robin.

Good spirits: The acting legend blew a kiss at Shane on stage as the enjoyed the panto with her husband Scott 

Old friends: The actor - who plays Alfie Moon in the BBC soap and first joined the show as the new landlord of The Queen Vic, taking the reigns from Barabara's Peggy Mitchell in 2002 - joked with his ex-co star that she had 'been in showbiz for 140 years'

Barbara announced in May that she is suffering from Alziemer's, having left EastEnders in 2016.

Yet she is still sure to keep one foot in the celebrity social circuit, last seen at the Snow White Gala Night at the London Palladium before Christmas, alongside husband Scott Mitchell. 

The star smiled for photographers as she attended the glittering event with her 55-year-old husband, and joined stars including Matt Lucas, Elaine Paige, Jennifer Saunders and Beverley Knight.

Appearance: Barbara announced in May that she is suffering from Alziemer's, having left EastEnders in 2016. Yet she is still sure to keep one foot in the celebrity social circuit, last seen at the Snow White Gala Night at the London Palladium before Christmas, alongside husband Scott Mitchell [pictured]

In October, Scott revealed the actress apologised to him after being diagnosed with the incurable disease.

Scott gave an emotional update on the screen legend's condition while appearing on Loose Women, admitting he has no regrets about going public with her condition as 'it couldn't be hidden anymore'.

Talking about the day the star got her diagnosis, the devoted husband said: 'It wasn’t for maybe 18 months, two years, her neurologist did the final test and called us in. From that day life changed.'

Gala night: The Carry On actress, 81, went public with her diagnosis four years after she was initially diagnosed with the disease and had a pacemaker fitted in August after a fall at home

He added: 'We were sitting down and Dr Kennedy said, "Look I’m really sorry but it is Alzheimer’s that you’ve got". She looked at me and said, "I’m so sorry".'

Speaking to the panel, he said: 'It’s only been a positive experience since [sharing the diagnosis].

'For me, it was four years that we kept this quiet. The relief when I finally did do the interview with Jane [Moore] was just incredible.'

Happy: Scott looked suave in a slate grey suit and polka dot shirt as the couple chatted with their good friend, Little Britain star Matt, 44, earlier this month

Scott said he didn't want his wife to 'come across as if she was being kind of silly or people looking at her thinking, "That’s a very strange thing to say", if she failed to recognise old friends.

He added: 'I noticed as it progressed it was getting more difficult, let’s say if we were in the taxi she’d ask the taxi driver most likely eight times where he lived. Every now and again you’d see someone look up in the mirror. It couldn’t be hidden anymore.'

The devoted husband told viewers that his wife had grown increasingly forgetful and had 'lost her sparkle' once leaving EastEnders in 2010 and so asked her to seek medical advice.

Yet 'deep down' he had no idea that she would receive the devastating diagnosis.  

Close: Barbara held hands with Matt at the gala night 

His appearance comes after Dame Barbara spoke about her diagnosis for the first time – as Scott says that 'there is still so much of her there' despite her illness.

In a poignant appearance, the former EastEnders star was filmed in her home - while Scott said she still had her 'humour, wit and care'.

During the video, Dame Barbara calls on people to run next year's London Marathon in aid of a campaign to raise funds and change attitudes towards the condition.

Wearing a blue Dementia Revolution T-shirt and her blonde hair up in a bun, she says: 'I'm asking you to make a stand against dementia.'

She says taking part will 'support ground-breaking research to find a cure for a condition that affects so many people, like me. With your help we can and will end dementia with research'. 

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News Pictures Dame Barbara Windsor, 81, attends former EastEnders co-star Shane Richie's panto

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