‘Fading away’ – Husband’s heartbreaking update on Coronation Street legend Julie Goodyear

The husband of legendary Coronation Street actress Julie Goodyear has spoken out about her battle with dementia ahead of a new Alzheimer’s Society campaign.

Julie appeared as feisty Rovers Return barmaid (and later landlady) Bet Lynch in the ITV soap for over 25 years, last stepping into her shoes in 2003.

She married her fourth husband Scott Brand in 2007, and following that continued to appear on our screens, coming seventh in Celebrity Big Brother and a contributing to a number of Corrie retrospectives.

Last July, Scott announced that she had been given a heartbreaking dementia 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.’

Dementia is the name given to a group of symptoms relating to the ongoing decline of brain function, and can cause adverse affects to memory, thinking skills and other mental abilities.

A new TV ad campaign from the Alzheimer’s Society, The Long Goodbye, focuses on the anticipatory grief of knowing someone living with the condition, and has prompted Scott to give an update on his wife’s health.

‘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’ he 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,’

‘All of this is now slowly fading away and it’s extremely painful for me to watch this deterioration. Julie now struggles recognising people and everyone she meets is called ‘Scott’.’

Julie’s bold appearance as Bet, complete with leopard print costume and blonde beehive hairdo, became a trademark of the much-loved character.

Scott added: ‘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 took the decision to give up work to care for his wife, but has since sought further help from Dementia Advisors provided through the society: ‘Caring for Julie is my priority, but my health was being affected and as a lone carer I felt it was ‘killing me’,

‘It was like being thrown into a new world of having to do everything by myself and I would advise anyone going through this journey to accept help straight away, without this support I really don’t know how I would have coped – it was a lifeline when we both needed one and continues to be so.’

Speaking of The Long Goodbye, Alzheimer’s Society CEO Kate Lee said: ‘This campaign seeks to tell the unvarnished truth about the devastation caused by dementia and it is very much informed by people affected by the condition,’

‘The loved ones of people with dementia often describe it as a ‘living grief’ as, bit by bit, the disease’s relentless progression causes part of the person to die…again and again and again – but there is hope.’

‘Alzheimer’s Society, through its support services, is there for people affected again and again as they face the grim reality of the long goodbye.’

The advertisement shows a son delivering a eulogy at his mother’s wake, recalling the moments in her life where part of her died, including when she forgot his name.

Julie was last seen publicly amongst family and close friends and thousands of the charity’s supporters at a Memory Walk at Manchester’s Heaton Park in October, with Scott adding at the time: ‘Julie is now living with Alzheimer’s, not suffering with it – and that’s a big difference,’

‘Calling these events ‘memory walks’ is most appropriate; of course, memory is one of the things most affected by this cruel disease, but Julie and I are also trying to make more memories together.’