Jamie Foreman is "heart-broken" for Dame Barbara Windsor following her Alzehimer\'s disease diagnosis.
The 60-year-old actor is a close friend of his fellow former \'EastEnders\' star - whose husband Scott Mitchell revealed she has the "cruel disease" earlier this month - and was devastated when he found out about her illness.
Speaking at the premiere of his new film \'The Bromley Boys\' at Wembley Stadium on Thursday night (24.05.18), he exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "Barbara Windsor is a very, very, very dear friend of mine.
"I spoke to Scott the other week and it\'s terribly sad. She helped me get started in the business.
"She\'s a very close friend of the family, and I\'m heart-broken.
"She\'s a joy, she\'s a treasure, she\'s everything. She\'s a star, always has been. She\'s a legend."
Martine McCutcheon - who appears in \'The Bromley Boys\' alongside Jamie - is also in touch with her former \'EastEnders\' co-star through her husband, and has offered her support to their family.
She added: "I\'ve been speaking to her husband Scott and she\'s just getting all the support she can get.
"We\'re just all there for her and to support her."
Earlier this month, Scott confirmed Barbara was taking medication to help manage the disease - which is the most common cause of dementia and can cause memory loss - and that she broke down in tears when she was given the awful news.
He said: "I hope speaking out will help other families dealing with loved ones who have this cruel disease. Secondly, I want the public to know because they are naturally very drawn to Barbara and she loves talking to them.
"So rather than me living in fear she might get confused or upset, they\'ll know that if her behaviour seems strange, it\'s due to Alzheimer\'s and accept it for what it is.
"When the doctor told us, she began crying then held it back, stretched her hand out to me and mouthed, \'I\'m so sorry.\'
"I squeezed her hand back and said, \'Don\'t worry, we\'ll be OK.\' "
