Julie Goodyear, 81, is ‘residing life’ amid Dementia battle

Coronation Street icon Julie Goodyear is ‘living a good life’ amid her ‘brave’ battle with dementia a friend has claimed. 

The actress, 81, who announced her devastating diagnosis in June last year, is said to still love leopard print just like her iconic character Bet Lynch and regularly enjoys afternoon tea with visitors. 

Julie is famed for playing the leopard-print loving Rovers Return landlady for over 25 years, starting in the role in 1966. 

Her friend Mark Llewellin, who was the partner of Julie’s late co-star Roy Barraclough, spoke about his regular visits to see her on the Conversation Street podcast.

Saying: ‘Julie is living a good life, really. She still loves leopard print, I’m pleased to say’.

‘I see her at least once a week, sometimes twice a week, and spend a few hours with her and have afternoon tea at her house, which I call leopard print boulevard’. 

He went on to describe her as ‘quite happy’ and said how she goes out of the house regularly. 

He quipped: ‘I take her chocolate cake on a Sunday and we tuck into that, well she doesn’t let me have any to be honest’.

‘She’s good, obviously she has dementia as everybody knows, but it’s wrong to say you suffer from dementia, you live with dementia

Before adding: ‘It changes what you can do and how you look at life, I think Julie has been very brave and strong about that’.

However earlier this year husband Scott Brand, 55, said Julie had abandoned her trademark leopard print outfits and colourful lipsticks when he opened up on the pain of watching her deteriorate.

Speaking to The Mirror, 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.’

He added: ‘Julie has always been extremely glamorous, going nowhere without her makeup. But now the lipsticks and make-up go unworn, and clothes are no longer of interest, especially the leopard print.’

Scott said that he misses the activities they used to enjoy, such as romantic meals and long walks, with the hardest being unable to go on holidays together anymore.

He got candid about the hardships he faced as Julie’s sole carer at the beginning, admitting it was ‘killing me’.

Scott, who gave up his career to be Julie’s full time carer, explained that he has now become aware of the small freedoms he used to take for granted.

He said that going to watch the football with friends or having a drink were no longer options, as everything has to be planned far in advance and he needs to always be sober in case there’s an emergency and he has to drive. 

He 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.’

However, Scott soon realised that he needed help and admitted he was ‘not coping’, while taking over the household affairs and finances from Julie for the first time.

He said: ‘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.’

He said that he would advise anyone going through a similar situation to accept help straight away, calling the Alzheimer’s Society, a ‘lifeline’.

Scott explained the charity provided a Dementia Advisor, Julie Mann, who helped them sort their affairs and get the right care package and financial entitlements, saying she helped ‘take such a burden off our shoulders’.

Scott and Julie tied the knot in 2007, having first met in 1996 when he delivered plaster to a house she was renovating.

Scott announced the news Julie had been diagnosed with dementia last summer, releasing a statement that read: ‘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. I hope people will understand.’

Julie remains a patron of Willow Wood Hospice in Greater Manchester and has said she wishes to highlight the wonderful work of the hospices who do so much to support patients and families with dementia.

Julie first joined Corrie in 1966 as barmaid Bet, but left after being advised by senior cast member Pat Phoenix – who played Elsie Tanner – to get some more acting training.

After joining Oldham’s Repertory Theatre, she returned in 1970 and was a permanent fixture on the cobbles for 25 years until she left in 1995, when 22 million viewers tuned in to watch her last episode.

Julie made three returns as Bet, 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 and her husband Jim, who had recently escaped from prison.

In 2012, she appeared on Celebrity Big Brother alongside the likes of Julian Clary, MC Harvey, Martin Kemp and Coleen Nolan and came in seventh place. 

Please get in touch with Alzheimer’s Society if you need support on 0333 150 3456 or visit alzheimers.org.uk