A closer look at Julie Goodyear’s husband Scott Brand, friendship with Piers Morgan and girlfriend Janet Ross

Former Coronation Street icon Julie Goodyear has revealed that she has dementia. Julie is best known for her role as leopard-print loving Bet Lynch in the ITV soap.

The news was confirmed by her husband Scott Brand in a statement released today it read “My darling wife and I have had to come to terms with this heart-breaking diagnosis. Unfortunately, Julie has been suffering from forgetfulness for some time and we have been seeking medical advice and assistance.”

He added " 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.”

Julie first played the role of Bet the barmaid and later landlady of the infamous Rovers Return for a few episodes in 1966. She then became a permanent fixture on Coronation Street and started her 25 year reign from 1970-1995. 

Piers Morgan interviewed Julie for his ITV series Piers Morgan’s Life Stories. According to the TV Times Piers described Julie as “one of the most unpredictable, outrageous, emotional and hilarious guests I've ever had on Life Stories.” He shared a comment on his social media when the news broke today. Piers said “What sad news.” 

Marriages 

The actress has been married four times, her first marriage was when Julie was just 17. She had a shotgun wedding after falling pregnant with only son Gary Goodyear after just two months of dating Ray Sutcliffe (1960). 

Her second marriage was similar to any soap storyline after husband Tony Rudman (1973) left her on their wedding day shortly after the reception. Julie had a long distance relationship with third husband airline executive Richard Skrob who she married in 1985. 

Scott Brand 

The actress took things slow before marrying fourth husband Scott Brand who is 26 years her junior and eight years younger than her son. She met Scott when he delivered plaster to her house. 

Julie started dating Scott but made him wait over a decade before marrying him. The couple finally married in 2007 after he had proposed to her everyday for 11 years. 

Speaking to Piers Morgan on the ‘Piers Morgan’s Life Stories’ in 2013 Julie explained why she finally agreed to marry Scott, saying it was “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.”

Janet Ross

In her 2006 autobiography ‘Just Julie’ she spoke about being bisexual and as well as four marriages Julie has also had four lesbian relationships. The former Coronation Street star described ex-girlfriend Janet Ross as her ‘soulmate’. 

A decade after her split from second husband Tony it was revealed that Julie was dating Janet who had been working as Julie’s PA. After overcoming cervical cancer the couple set up a charity but were accused of fixing a raffle competition.   They were cleared of all charges but the relationship ended. 

Janet sadly lost her battle with cancer in 2012. Speaking to Piers on his ITV show Julie said “it was her turn now, After everything that she’d done for me, with my mum, and in my life. We’re not talking sex, we’re talking about good people, real people, kind people. And she died.”