Julie Goodyear, famed for playing barmaid Bet Lynch in ITV’s Coronation Street for over 25 years, has appeared in a heartwarming snap posted by husband Scott Brand
Julie Goodyear was all smiles in a sweet snap shared by her husband Scott.
The 83-year-old actress is best known for playing landlady Bet Lynch in Coronation Street. Her first appearance as Bet on the ITV soap was in 1966 and she would go on to play her iconic role for over 25 years between 1970 and 2003.
Julie’s husband Scott Brand has shared a heartwarming photo of the actress following her tragic dementia diagnosis. Scott, who married Julie in 2007, first announced she had dementia in June 2023 and has kept fans updated on her health.
He has now shared a photo of the soap star taken at their home on the outskirts of Lancashire. The Corrie legend was seen smiling as she celebrated her 83rd birthday (March 29) with Scott, her husband of nearly 18 years.
“Just got home with my lovely wife and we’ve had a fantastic day together,” Scott wrote in a post on Facebook. “Thank you so much for all your birthday wishes from both of us.”
Last year, Brand shared a heartbreaking update on Julie’s health, telling fans that she was “slowly fading away” because of the dementia. He said Julie was struggling to recognise people and that it was “extremely painful” to watch his wife suffer.
He told the Mirror: “I miss the fun-loving wife that Julie had always been – the larger-than-life personality that brightened up everywhere she went, and the smile that lit up every room. All of this is now slowly fading away and it’s extremely painful for me to watch this deterioration.
He added: “Not being able to spontaneously go out as husband and wife, holding hands as we stroll along, going for meals together and going shopping – all these losses for me symbolise the long goodbye.” Brand married Julie in 2007 and had given up work to become her full-time carer.
Scott first shared details of Julie’s dementia in June 2023. In a statement, he wrote: “Unfortunately, Julie has been suffering forgetfulness for some time and we have been seeking medical advice and assistance, but we now know that there is no hope of a reversal in the situation – and that her condition will get progressively, and perhaps speedily, worse.
“We have taken the decision to publicly announce the diagnosis as Julie still loves visiting friends and eating out. Inevitably she is recognised, and fans love to meet her – and she them – but she can get confused particularly if she is tired. I hope people will understand.”
Scott quit his job in order to care for Julie but soon realise he wasn’t able to cope on his own, and later got help from the Alzheimer’s Society. Speaking about the care they have received from the charity, he said: “For me, the hardest part was accepting and coming to terms with the diagnosis.
“At the beginning I refused to accept any support, thinking I could cope as we have always been quite private people. This, in reality, didn’t last for long. I soon realised I needed to ask for help as I couldn’t do it by myself.”
In 2023, Julie and Scott attended a memory walk at Manchester’s Heaton Park for the Alzheimer’s Society. Scott shared his wife’s dementia story as part of the charity’s The Long Goodbye campaign.
Julie’s Corrie debut came in 1966 and she appeared in nine episodes before before becoming a regular on the soap between 1970 and 1995. She returned to the cobbles in 2002 and for the last time in 2003.
In 1996, the star was made an MBE in the 1996 New Year Honours list for “her services to television drama”. The year before this, she won the Special Recognition Award at at the National Television Awards.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
