Babs is bubbling back

A few months ago Barbara Windsor had to hold on to her husband for support as she walked along the street.

Looking frail and exhausted, the actress was suffering from Epstein-Barr virus, a glandular fever-type illness which forced her to quit EastEnders for a year.

Now it looks like the 65-year-old blonde bombshell is on her way to a recovery after making her first - and typically bubbly - public appearance in four months.

At Tuesday's London launch party for Cilla Black's autobiography, Miss Windsor - in curly hair extensions and a striking white suit - said: 'I'm feeling much better.

'I'm still not all the way there yet but there is a definite improvement.

'This is my first appearance at a showbusiness party for a long time and I was quite nervous. But I knew I had to support my good friend Cilla.'

Of her new hairstyle, she said: 'I fancied a bit of a change and, as soon as I started feeling better, I decided to update my hair.

'I'm very pleased with it, although I don't think you'll see Peggy Mitchell having hair like this in the Queen Vic.

'I still don't know when I'm going to go back to EastEnders - probably in a year from now.'

Launching her book What's It All About?, former Blind Date presenter Miss Black, 60, announced she was taking a 'gap year' and travelling the world.

She said: 'I want some "me" time and to visit as many hot, exotic countries as possible.'

The trip will also help her overcome the trauma of the recent break-in at her Buckinghamshire home when her youngest son was attacked.