Coronation Street legend Julie Goodyear has celebrated her 83rd birthday, with her husband Scott Brand sharing a rare photograph of the soap icon amid her ongoing battle with dementia.
The beloved actress, best known for playing the formidable Rovers Return landlady Bet Lynch for over 25 years, marked the special occasion on March 29.
Brand, 55, posted the heartwarming image on Facebook, offering fans a glimpse of Goodyear smiling from their Lancashire home.
Brand wrote alongside the photo: “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.”
The update was shared on his Facebook page, where he regularly posts updates about Goodyear for her loyal fans, friends and family.
The rare glimpse into their private life showed Goodyear appearing happy and content as she celebrated her special day.
Dozens of well-wishers were quick to comment, noting how happy the TV icon looked in the photograph.
Goodyear first appeared on Coronation Street in 1966, featuring in nine episodes before becoming a series regular from 1970 to 1995.
She made brief returns to the cobbles in 2002 and 2003, delighting fans with her comeback appearances.
In 1995, Goodyear received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the National Television Awards for her iconic portrayal of Bet Lynch.
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The following year, she was made an MBE for her services to television and drama.
After Corrie, Goodyear appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2012 and made a guest appearance in Hollyoaks in 2006.
Goodyear announced her dementia diagnosis in June 2023, with Scott releasing a heartfelt statement about their “heart-breaking diagnosis”.
Since then, the soap star and her husband have sold their £1.3 million home and have been receiving support from the Alzheimer’s Society.
Brand has taken on the role of Goodyear’s full-time carer at their Lancashire residence.
The couple have been open about their journey with the condition to raise awareness and help others facing similar challenges.
Opening up about Goodyear’s condition last year, Brand told the Mirror: “Julie has always been extremely glamorous, going nowhere without her make-up.”
“But now the lipsticks and make-up go unworn, and clothes are no longer of interest, especially the leopard print.”
He added: “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.”
Speaking about the support they’ve received from the Alzheimer’s Society, Brand 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.”
Brand described the charity as a “lifeline” and admitted that caring for Goodyear alone was “killing me” before he sought assistance.
The couple first met 29 years ago when Brand delivered plaster to Goodyear’s house during renovations.
Brand was immediately taken with the actress, proposing to her every day for 11 years before she finally accepted.
The pair tied the knot in 2007 and will celebrate their 18th wedding anniversary in June.
Despite the challenges they now face with Goodyear’s condition, Brand remains devoted to his wife, describing their recent birthday celebration as “fantastic”.
The couple were most recently pictured smiling and embracing at the starting line of their local Alzheimer’s Society event in October 2023.
Despite her diagnosis, Goodyear remains a patron of Manchester’s Willow Wood Hospice, which she joined in 2022 where her former co-star Roy Barraclough passed away in 2017.
The Queen of the Rovers helped raise £16,000 for the hospice by donating a collection of iconic memorabilia.
This included Bet Lynch’s famous jewellery and items of clothing that had become synonymous with her character.
