Coronation Street icon Julie Goodyear's husband has given fans a touching update on her 83rd birthday, amid her ongoing battle with dementia. The actress, best known for her role as the formidable Bet Lynch, landlady of the Rovers Return, celebrated her special day with husband Scott Brand on March 29. Scott, 55, shared a rare photo of Julie from their home in Lancashire, writing: "Just got home with my lovely wife and we've had a fantastic day together. Thank you so much for all your birthday wishes from both of us."

He posted the message on his Facebook page, where he and Julie keep their loyal fans, friends and family updated. Julie, who graced the cobbles for over 25 years, revealed her dementia diagnosis last March. Since then, the soap star and her husband have sold their £1.3m home and have been receiving support from the Alzheimer's Society. The couple, set to celebrate their 18th wedding anniversary in June, were last seen beaming and embracing at the starting line of their local Alzheimer's Society event in October 2023, reports the Mirror.

Their love story began 29 years ago when Scott delivered plaster to Julie's house during renovations.

Reflecting on Julie's diagnosis last year, Scott told the Mirror: "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."

Scott expressed his deep sense of loss as he reflected on Julie's vibrant personality, saying: "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."

He painfully acknowledged the devastating impact of her condition, adding: "All of this is now slowly fading away and it's extremely painful for me to watch this deterioration."

Discussing the support they received from the Alzheimer's Society, Scott revealed: "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. This, in reality, didn't last for long."

He continued: "I soon realised I needed to ask for help as I couldn't do it by myself."

Born in Heywood, Lancashire in 1942, Julie Goodyear began her illustrious career as a model in the 1960s before making her acting debut in 1965. At just 24 years old, she first appeared on Coronation Street in 1966 for nine episodes, later becoming a series regular from 1970 to 1995.

Her surprise return to the show in 2002 and 2003 sent shockwaves of excitement among fans. Beyond Coronation Street, Julie also made appearances on Celebrity Big Brother in 2012 and a single episode of Hollyoaks in 2006.

Throughout her distinguished career, Julie has received numerous accolades, including a Lifetime Achievement Award at the National Television Awards in 1995 and an MBE in 1996 for her outstanding contributions to television and drama.

Since her retirement from television, Julie has devoted herself to charitable endeavors, becoming a patron of Manchester's Willow Wood Hospice in 2022, a place that holds special significance following the passing of her co-star Roy Barraclough in 2017.The Queen of the Rovers has generously donated a collection of iconic memorabilia, including Bet Lynch's famous jewellery and items of clothing, helping to raise a whopping £16,000 for the hospice.