Julie Goodyear’s husband has shared a rare snap of the Corrie icon amid her heartbreaking dementia battle.
The soap star, 81, who famously played Bet Lynch between 1966 and 1995, confirmed last year via her husband Scott Brand that she was suffering from dementia. At the time, it was reported she had been suffering forgetfulness for “some time.”
Scott admitted he was “heartbroken” with his wife’s diagnosis. He also revealed that Julie’s condition will get “progressively” worse.
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Since then, Julie has rarely been seen in public – with her last public outing back in October 2023. But this week, the telly legend headed out to enjoy a spot of lunch with her husband.
(Image: Facebook)
Taking to his social media, Scott uploaded a photo of Julie beaming to the camera. He captioned the sweet picture: “My Julie at her best today.”
It comes after Julie’s friend Mark Llewellin has shared an update, saying on the Conversation Street podcast that he still sees Julie, 81, regularly.
“Julie is living a good life, really,” said the Corrie expert. He also shared that she was still a fan of her Weatherfield alter ego’s style. “She still loves leopard print, I’m pleased to say!” he said.
(Image: ExpressStar)
“I see her at least once a week, sometimes twice a week, and spend a few hours with her,” he went on. “We still enjoy what we have been doing for years now, we have afternoon tea at her house, which I call leopard print boulevard.”
Mark said the TV star was “quite happy” and that she still got out and about all the time. “I take her chocolate cake every time I go on a Sunday and we tuck into that, well actually she doesn’t let me have any to be honest!” he joked.
He continued: “She’s good, obviously she has dementia as everybody knows… but it’s wrong to say you suffer with dementia, you live with dementia. It changes what you can do and how you look at life. I think Julie has been very brave and very strong about that.”
(Image: Alzheimer’s Society)
Julie starred as Bet on and off from 1966 to 2003, and the outspoken Rovers Return landlady was one of the most loved characters to ever grace the cobbles.
Earlier this year Julie’s hubby Scott, who the actress has been married to for 17 years, told of his heartache over her illness. “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,” he told the Mirror.
“All of this is now slowly fading away and it’s extremely painful for me to watch this deterioration.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
