Barbara Windsor to return to EastEnders It will no doubt get a "duff-duff" moment: three years after leaving Albert Square, Barbara Windsor is to make a comeback as the feisty Peggy Mitchell for a one-off special. Windsor's character left Albert Square after her son Phil (Steve McFadden) set fire to the Queen Vic pub. Her storyline saw her character leave Walford for Portugal, after deciding that the only way Phil would ever sort out his life was if she cut the apron strings. Later this autumn, Peggy will return to the Square from Portugal to come to Phil's aid once again, after he gets himself into trouble... once again. Her return to the soap will coincide with Samantha Womack reprising her role as Ronnie Mitchell and Michael French returning as David Wicks. Since leaving EastEnders Windsor, 75, has appeared in pantomime and presented a Radio 2 series on female comics. Speaking about her comeback to the BBC, she said: "It may only be a short visit, but it's a family matter and as Peggy always said 'it's all about family'." The BBC soap is hoping that Windsor's return will give its ratings a boost; the show is currently, on average, two million viewers behind Coronation Street.