Julie Goodyear, best known for playing Bet Lynch in Coronation Street, has been diagnosed with dementia, ITV has confirmed.
In a statement, the channel wrote: “Scott Brand, husband of Coronation Street legend Julie Goodyear MBE, has revealed that his wife is suffering from dementia.”
Brand is quoted as having said: “My darling wife and I have had to come to terms with this heart-breaking diagnosis.
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“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.”
The statement concludes: “Julie remains a patron of Willow Wood Hospice in Greater Manchester.”
The 81-year-old actor started out on the hugely successful ITV soap back in 1966, playing the role for nine episodes.
She then became a series regular and spent 25 years on the show between 1970 and 1995, before returning again in 2002 for a few episodes, and a further seven in 2003.
She was made an MBE in the 1996 New Year Honours.
Born in Bury, she has been married four times, marrying Brand in 2007.
She was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 1979, keeping her diagnosis out of the news until she had recovered, before forming the Julie Goodyear Cancer Screening Centre.
Outside of Coronation Street, Goodyear has taken part in a number of reality TV shows, appearing on Celebrity Fit Club in 2005, as well as shows including a Coronation Street special of Come Dine With Me, Road Raja, Age Swap, Celebrity Stars in Their Eyes – performing as Marlene Dietrich – and Celebrity Big Brother.
Goodyear has also performed on the West End stage in Calendar Girls.
But, her performance as barmaid Lynch gave her the greatest recognition in her career, and at the first ever National Television Awards in 1995 she was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award.
A return for the character has been rumoured on several occasions, but has never come to fruition.
Topics: Celebrity, Coronation Street, ITV, TV And Film, Health
Tom Wood