Julie Goodyear’s husband Scott Brand gave a heartbreaking update on her dementia battle on Wednesday as he spoke about being her full-time carer.
The Coronation Street icon, 81, went public with her diagnosis last year, with Scott, 55, revealing how painful it is to watch her ‘slowly fade away’.
The couple have been married since 2007 after Scott proposed every day for 11 years.
As Julie’s devoted husband talks about giving up his career to become her full-time carer, MailOnline takes a look at their marriage.
Julie Goodyear’s husband Scott Brand gave a heartbreaking update on her dementia battle on Wednesday, as he spoke about being a full-time carer
Julie first met Scott in 1996 when he delivered plaster to a house she was renovating. They tied the knot in 2007 after Scott proposed every day for 11 years (pictured together in 2004)
How did they meet?
Julie first met Scott, who is 26 years her junior, in 1996 when he delivered plaster to a house she was renovating.
They tied the knot in 2007 after Scott, who has stayed out of the spotlight, proposed every day for 11 years.
Appearing on Piers Morgan’s Life Stories back in 2013, Julie revealed that he proposed to her every day for 11 years before she accepted.
Asking what made her change her mind, Julie joked: ‘Emotional blackmail. He said, “You do realise, if you don’t marry me, I’ll never be married. Because I’ll never meet anybody who would ever match up to you”.
‘I said, “Oh, go on then.” Don’t try to turn it into a love story.’
She added: ‘I might renew his contract. He’s been the best of a bad bunch, he really has.’ Asked if she was happily married, she responded: ‘Very.’
Asking about her sexuality, Piers said: ‘You’ve had relationships with men and women.’
Julie replied: ‘A relationship can be a friendship. A soul mate, whatever. You don’t have to have sex all the time.’
The actress first joined Corrie in 1966 as barmaid Bet and was a permanent fixture on the cobbles for 25 years until she left in 1995
Dementia diagnosis
Scott announced the news Julie had been diagnosed with dementia last June, with a statement that read: ‘My darling wife and I have had to come to terms with this heart-breaking diagnosis’
In June 2023, Scott announced the soap star had been diagnosed with dementia.
He said in a statement: ‘My darling wife and I have had to come to terms with this heartbreaking 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.’
Giving up his career to become her full-time carer
Scott gave up his career to become Julie’s full-time carer after her diagnosis.
In a heartbreaking update, he spoke about the toll caring for the actress has had on his health before reaching out for help.
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 explained he has now become aware of the small freedoms he used to take for granted.
He said 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.
Scott gave up his career to become Julie’s full-time carer after her diagnosis (pictured last year)
He told The Mirror: ‘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’.
Heartbreaking update
On Wednesday, Scott revealed his heartbreak at watching his wife ‘slowly fade away’ during her battle against dementia.
He told The Mirror: ‘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.’
Does Julie have any children?
The former Coronation Street star has one child, Gary, from her first marriage Ray Sutcliffe.
She gave birth to Gary when she was just 17.
She has three grandchildren, Emily, Elliot and Jack.
How many times has Julie been married?
Julie married her first husband, Ray Sutcliffe in 1960, while pregnant with her son, Gary, who she gave birth to when she was just 17.
However, the marriage ended just three years later when her husband walked out.
The actress’ second husband, Tony Rudman, left her for his best man on their wedding day after she discovered he was gay. Their marriage was subsequently annulled.
Her third marriage in 1985 was after a long-distance relationship with American Richard Skrob but it ended two years later.
What is Julie famous for?
Julie is famed for playing leopard-print loving Rovers Return landlady Bet Lynch in Coronation Street for over 25 years
In 2012, the soap star appeared on Celebrity Big Brother alongside the likes of Julian Clary, MC Harvey, Martin Kemp and Coleen Nolan and came in seventh place (pictured)
Julie is famed for playing leopard-print loving Rovers Return landlady Bet Lynch in Coronation Street for over 25 years.
The actress 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
