It’s not every day you find yourself having a natter with a national treasure.

As someone who grew up watching Carry On films – I’ve even got a CD of the theme tunes – I was chuffed when it was announced that Barbara Windsor was to receive a Lifetime Achievement award from Bradford International Film Festival.

She’s best-known as the bubbly blonde who set Sid James’s pulse racing, and as EastEnders’ Peggy Mitchell, but the festival also honoured her early achievements in cinema.

Babs was in Bradford on Friday and a photo-call was arranged at the National Media Museum, ahead of her award presentation. I’d been told she wasn’t doing print press interviews, but I went along anyway, to try and grab a chat.

I joined a gaggle of photographers filing into a room where a familiar-looking blonde beehive was bobbing about.

With pale pink cashmere hugging her famous curves, the petite star trotted over, setting cameras clicking with her trademark wiggle, and made a point of shaking everyone’s hand.

As she approached me, I seized the moment and asked for a quick interview. “’Course, darlin’,” came the reply, and suddenly she was linking my arm and leading me to some chairs across the room. “Let’s talk ’ere, I can’t ’ear myself think over there,” she smiled, nodding to the cameras.

I knew the assembled photographers probably wouldn’t thank me for keeping them waiting, but hey, this was my moment with a Carry On legend and I wasn’t going to let it go.

As she nattered ten-to-the-dozen about everything from her Alhambra panto days to being a jobbing actress – “No-one wanted me because they just saw the Carry On girl” – it felt like being with an old friend.

With two press officers and someone with a clipboard hovering behind me, and our photographer crouched at my side filming for our website, it wasn’t a particularly comfortable interview setting, but Babs was delightful.

I could have talked to her all afternoon but, after several minutes, we were being asked to wind it up. It was over before it had barely begun, but it made my day.

Later, Babs mingled with fans and even signed a photo of her famous Carry On Camping bra-snapping scene. “You’ve made a septuagenarian very happy,” she giggled as one fan moved in for a peck on the cheek.

I’ve come across reality show Z-listers, wannabe pop starlets and amateur hoofers who think a bit of Press attention gives them the right to behave like divas.

With good manners and a friendly smile, Babs oozed class and put them all to shame.