EastEnders legend Ross Kemp has shared heartwarming details about his close relationship with the beloved Dame Barbara Windsor, who he worked with on the BBC One soap. Known for her iconic role as Peggy Mitchell, Barbara won hearts in Walford, while Ross became a household name playing her on-screen son Grant. In a touching moment on ITV's This Morning, Ross commemorated his late co-star and discussed their unique connection. Opening up to hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary, Ross reminisced about the early days, saying: "Yeah, we were there for a good five years before Bar started. Tony, Jordan, myself, and Steve we sort of massaged that friendship and she was very much up for being part of it. It's that 'true' matriarchal mother. She was just one of my closest friends." Dermot touched on the intense pressure Barbara faced when joining the show, which led Ross to share a memory of how nervous she was, reports Plymouth Live. Ross recounted: "That's one thing I do remember, her throwing up in a flower pot on the way on to set!" Alison questioned in disbelief: "She was that nervous?!" Ross continued, explaining: "Of course she was! Because, unlike me and Steve turning up for instance, no one knew who we were and no one cared. She had the nation's press on her. She had everyone looking at her, waiting for her to trip up. Thankfully, she got the sicky bit out of the way and just took it!" Barbara, who portrayed Peggy from 1994 to 2010 and then again from 2013 to 2016, sadly had her character killed off after a cancer diagnosis. In real life, Barbara was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2014 and passed away in December 2020. Ross has made a comeback as Grant Mitchell in EastEnders for a short spell as part of the BBC soap's 40th anniversary celebrations, which kicked off on Monday, 17 February. A special live episode of EastEnders is set to air on Thursday, 20 February, featuring public participation through a live vote. This will be part of a love triangle storyline involving Denise (Diane Parish), Ravi (Aaron Thiara) and Jack (Scott Maslen). EastEnders airs Monday - Thursday on BBC One at 7.30pm. Episodes also land on iPlayer at 6am.