Ever since Barbara Windsor announced that she would be leaving Eastenders, the nation has wondered if the Beeb will take the leap and kill off Peggy Micthell. However sources close to Windsor have suggested that Barbara intends to return to the show at a later date and has asked producers to consider this when writing her exit plot.

A source close to the star told The Sun: “Barbara has such a fondness for Peggy that she genuinely wants to play her again.

“She doesn’t want the character killed off. Producers understand that.”

The source said that Barbara may return full-time, but was more likely to come back for “special storylines”.