
Julie Goodyearâs devoted husband has made a devastating confession â revealing that caring for the Coronation Street legend alone was âkillingâ him before he was forced to make a huge change.

The actress, now 81, became a national treasure through her iconic portrayal of Bet Lynch. But last year, it was confirmed that Julie is living with dementia â a diagnosis that has quietly transformed the coupleâs lives, leaving behind the leopard print outfits and bold lipstick that once defined her larger-than-life personality.
Her husband Scott Brand has now opened up about the emotional toll of becoming her full-time carer.

Scott admitted that when Julie was first diagnosed, he refused to accept help, determined to manage everything on his own. He even gave up work to care for her full-time.
But the pressure soon became overwhelming.
âI wasnât coping and needed to seek support,â Scott confessed. âCaring for Julie is my priority, but my health was being affected and as a lone carer I felt it was killing me.â
He explained how Julie had always been the one in charge of finances â but now she can no longer recognise the value of money.
âJulie had always dealt with everything,â he said. âSuddenly I was thrown into a new world of having to manage all the household affairs by myself. It was something Julie had always done with ease and perfection.â
âIt felt like being dropped into a completely new life. I would advise anyone on this journey to accept help straight away.â
Scott has since been supported by Dementia Advisers from Alzheimerâs Society â a service he describes as nothing short of a lifeline.
âI couldnât have managed without it,â he said. âWithout that support, I really donât know how I would have coped.â
He shared his story as part of Alzheimerâs Societyâs new campaign The Long Goodbye, fronted by a television advert voiced by Colin Firth. The powerful campaign explores the cruel reality of dementia, which causes loved ones to âdie again, and again, and againâ.
Dementia, according to the NHS, refers to a group of symptoms linked to a decline in brain function, affecting memory, thinking and everyday abilities.
For Scott, the emotional loss is unbearable.
âI miss the fun-loving wife Julie always was,â he said. âHer big personality, the way she lit up every room. Watching that slowly fade is incredibly painful.â
Julie and Scott married in 2007 after meeting when Scott delivered plaster to her home near Rochdale in Greater Manchester. Julie had joined Coronation Street back in 1966 and became one of the soapâs most beloved stars until her departure in 2003.
Kate Lee, chief executive of Alzheimerâs Society, said the campaign reflects the reality faced by families every day.
âLoved ones often describe dementia as a âliving griefâ,â she explained. âBit by bit, the disease causes part of the person to die again and again. But there is hope â our support services are there for families whenever they need them.â


