Coronation Street icon Julie Goodyear's husband shares rare picture (2025)

The husband of the legendary ITV Corrie star, who played no-nonsense landlady Bet Lynch, has issued a heartwarming update

The husband of Coronation Street legend Julie Goodyear has shared a rare picture of the soap star following her dementia diagnosis.

The 83-year-old is best known playing Bet Lynch in the ITV soap. The no-nonsense landlady ran the Rovers Return from 1984 to 1995 before she had to leave the pub behind after Newton and Ridley sold up and she didn't have the funds for first refusal.

She first starred in Coronation Street in 1966, and had an impressively long stint. She left the cobbles and won a Lifetime Achievement Award at the National Television Awards shortly after.

Julie received an MBE for her services to television and drama. She also became a patron of Manchester's Willow Wood Hospice in 2022, where co-star Roy Barraclough died in 2017.

She helped to raise £16,000 for the hospice by donating a collection of iconic memorabilia, including Bet Lynch's famous jewellery and items of clothing.

Although she did return several years later, Julie hasn't been seen on the cobbles since 2002. Speaking about her return, she previously said: "I was asked to go back as a favour. So, yes, I do regret going back."

She added: "What somebody had omitted to tell me, in the transition period, were all the changes that had happened. You know, all the older members of cast that had been there, since it had gone through from three to five episodes, had been eased gently into it, and all the new kids coming in weren't used to working any other way.

"But when I walked in, it was like being on a conveyor belt. We'd always had rehearsal. We'd always had make-up and costume and everything. I had about 27 Rovers scenes and we started at the end. 'sorry, the end?' I was used to beginning at the beginning and building up."

Julie celebrated her 83rd birthday with her husband Scott Brand on March. 29 Sharing a rare photograph of his wife, Scott wrote: "Just got home with my lovely wife and we've had a fantastic day together.

"Thank you so much for all your birthday wishes from both of us." He penned the update on his Facebook, where he and Julie share updates with fans, friends and family, reports the Mirror.

The actress announced her dementia diagnosis last March. Speaking to the Alzheimer's Society, her husband said: "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.

"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."

The pair, who celebrate their 18th wedding anniversary in June, were most recently pictured smiling and cuddling at the starting line of their local Alzheimer's Society in October 2023.

The couple first met 29 years ago when Scott delivered plaster to Julie's house while it was under renovation.