Inside Julie Goodyear’s marriage to 28yrs younger husband she called ‘best of a bad bunch’ who quit work to care for her - suong

JULIE Goodyear is celebrating her 83rd birthday with the love of her life, Scott Brand.

The actress, who famously played Bet Lynch on Corrie, announced she was living with dementia in June 2023, and her beloved husband, 55, has been by her side throughout her battle.

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Julie is being cared for by her Scott, who is her fourth husband, at their Lancashire home.

Yesterday, Scott shared a picture of a smiling Julie wearing a tracksuit and sitting in a chair inside her bedroom.

He wrote: "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."

JULIE'S LOVE STORY

The happy couple - who have an age gap of 28 years - have enjoyed an incredible love story, which started when they met in 1996 when he delivered plaster to her house.

At first the difference in their ages caused quite a stir, but Julie and Scott have never let that define their romance.

The couple have now been together for nearly 30 years, but the actress previously revealed how she put off marrying Scott for more than a decade.

The soap icon said she finally agreed to wed her toyboy – who is eight years younger than her son Gary – after he proposed every day for 11 years.

Asked why she gave in, Julie told Piers Morgan's Life Stories: “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.”

After the Bet Lynch star finally said yes, the couple tied the knot in 2007.

However, Julie - who was married three times before Scott - added: "He’s been the best of a bad bunch, he really has.”

LOOKING AFTER JULIE

Scott has continually proved his love for Julie, and cares for her as she battles dementia.

Dementia is a condition that refers to a group of disorders affecting brain function.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common form, affecting between 50 and 75 per cent of those diagnosed.

Scott was the one who broke the news, releasing a heartfelt statement.

It read: “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.”

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LIVING A 'GOOD LIFE'

Julie has been seen infrequently since going public with her diagnosis but last year her friend, Mark Llewellin, said she was living a "good life".

Speaking on the Conversation Street podcast, he said: “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.

“She’s quite happy, she goes out regularly.

“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.

"It changes what you can do and how you look at life.

“I think Julie has been very brave and strong about that.”

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