The woman who once ruled Weatherfield now needs round-the-clock care — and the man who loves her has finally admitted the truth about how close he came to breaking.
Julie Goodyear, forever etched into British hearts as Coronation Street’s legendary Bet Lynch, revealed last year that she is living with dementia. At 81, the star who once dazzled in leopard print and red lipstick now faces a daily struggle far from the spotlight.
And now, her husband Scott Brand has shared the devastating reality behind closed doors.
“I THOUGHT I COULD DO IT ALL ALONE…”
When Julie was first diagnosed, Scott made a promise to himself: he would manage everything. No carers. No outside help. He even gave up work to look after her full-time.
But that decision nearly cost him his health.
“I wasn’t coping,” Scott admitted.
“Caring for Julie is my priority — but as a lone carer it was killing me.”
The strain was relentless. Julie had always handled the finances, but dementia has taken that from her too.
“Suddenly I was thrown into a new world of managing everything on my own,” he said.
“Julie did it all with ease. Now she can’t even recognise the value of money.”
THE MOMENT HE REALISED HE NEEDED HELP
Eventually, the pressure became impossible to ignore.
“I would advise anyone on this journey to accept help straight away,” Scott confessed.
Through Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Advisers, he finally found support — something he now describes as a lifeline.
“Without that support, I honestly don’t know how I would have coped.”
“I MISS THE WOMAN SHE WAS”
Scott shared his story as part of Alzheimer’s Society’s campaign The Long Goodbye — which captures the cruel reality of loving someone who fades bit by bit.
“I miss the fun-loving wife Julie always was,” he said softly.
“Her big personality… the way she lit up every room. Watching that slowly fade is incredibly painful.”
A LOVE STORY TESTED BY TIME
Julie and Scott married in 2007 after meeting when he delivered plaster to her home near Rochdale. She had joined Coronation Street in 1966 and became one of its most beloved stars until her exit in 2003.
Now, the glitz of Weatherfield feels like another lifetime.
What remains is love — quieter, heavier, and harder than anything they imagined.
And in speaking out, Scott has given voice to thousands of carers across the country who are fighting the same silent battle every day.
Source: Adapted from reporting by https://www.dailymail.co.uk/
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