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Coronation Street legend Julie Goodyear, who first appeared in the street as brassy barmaid Bet Lynch in 1966, is suffering from dementia, her husband Scott Brand has revealed in a statement.
Writing on his wife’s behalf, the 55-year-old said: “My darling wife and I have had to come to terms with this heart-breaking diagnosis.
“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,” the short statement ended.
Julie and Scott first met in 1996 when he delivered plaster to a house she was renovating.
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They have been married since 2007 however she didn’t accept his first proposal.
When she appeared on Piers Morgan’s Life Stories in 2013, she revealed that he proposed to her every day for 11 years before she said yes.
She said: “I might renew his contract. He’s been the best of a bad bunch, he really has.”
Asked if she was happily married, she responded: “Very.”
The 81-year-old created an iconic character in Bet whose love of leopard print was only overshadowed by her love for the Rovers Return.
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After her initial 1966 appearance in a few episodes, she returned as a full time cast member in 1970.
From then she was a permanent and much-loved fixture on the cobbles for 25 years until she left in 1995.
An astonishing 22 million viewers tuned in to watch her last episode.
She would return to the role three times, firstly in 1999 for the home video spin-off The Rover Returns and then again in 2002 and in 2003 for scenes shot in Blackpool as part of a storyline focusing on Liz McDonald (Beverley Callard) and her husband Jim (Charles Lawson), who had recently escaped from prison.
In December 2020, Julie paid tribute to EastEnders star Dame Barbara Windsor, following her death aged 83 after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Taking to her Facebook, she wrote: “Last night was so devastating for everyone in the industry who was ever lucky enough to meet Barbara let alone work alongside her.
“She was a national treasure. That word is thrown around too casually nowadays. But with Barbara it was well and truly meant. Thoughts are with her family and friends.
“From one former landlady to another I raise a glass to the one and only and truly irreplaceable Barbara Windsor.
“The laughs your gave over the years and the stellar performance you executed week in week out in your pub in the East End of London lives on.”
