Julie Goodyear, a star of Coronation Street, has dementia, according to her husband.
The 81-year-old actress portrayed the enduring Rovers Return landlady Bet Lynch over the course of multiple ITV soap opera appearances.
In a statement, Julie’s husband Scott Brand revealed the heartbreaking news of her diagnosis, saying: “My darling wife and I have had to come to terms with this diagnosis.”
‘Unfortunately, Julie has been experiencing forgetfulness for a while, and we have been seeking medical advice and assistance, but we now know that there is no hope of a reverse in the situation – and that her condition will get gradually, and perhaps quickly, worse.
We decided to make the diagnosis public because Julie still enjoys going out to eat and seeing her friends.
Fans love to meet her and are inevitably familiar with her, but she can get lost, especially if she is tired. I’m hoping everyone will comprehend.
Julie continues to support the Greater Manchester-based Willow Wood Hospice.
The Coronation Street actress, who played the incomparable Bet Lynch intermittently over four decades, delighted audiences with her memorable performances.
Back in 1966, Bet made her cobbles debut. She first appeared as a recurring character before making a comeback four years later as a regular.
Becoming a Coronation Street icon and one of television’s most recognizable characters, Bet was known for her sense of style and her many iconic hairstyles, including the signature beehive look. She first appeared in the show as a Rovers barmaid and later as a landlady.
After two and a half decades as a regular, Julie left the role in 1995. She would later stage a brief comeback in 2002, which saw Bet return to the eponymous street and rekindle her friendship with Rita (Barbara Knox).
The soap opera star made her final appearances on Coronation Street in 2003, when she met up with her old friend Liz McDonald in Brighton.
After leaving the ITV soap opera, Julie made an appearance in Hollyoaks. She played Mrs Temple in a single episode of the Channel 4 series that aired in 2006.
The television legend famously participated in Celebrity Big Brother as well.
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