The husband of Coronation Street icon Julie Goodyear has spoken about the pain of watching his “fun-loving wife slowly fading away” following her dementia diagnosis.

Julie, who joined the cobbles in 1966 as Rovers Return’s “no-nonsense” landlady Bet Lynch, revealed she had been diagnosed with dementia to the public in June last year.

She married her husband Scott Brand in 2007 after the couple first met when he delivered some plaster to help renovate Julie’s home near Rochdale, Greater Manchester.

Judy Goodyear's husband says his wife is 'slowly fading away'

Speaking about his wife’s condition to The Mirror, Scott said: “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. All of this is now slowly fading away and it’s extremely painful for me to watch this deterioration. Julie now struggles recognising people and everyone she meets is called ‘Scott’."

He added: “Julie has always been extremely glamorous, going nowhere without her makeup. But now the lipsticks and make-up go unworn, and clothes are no longer of interest, especially the leopard print.”

Julie, whose character became one of the most loved on the ITV soap was awarded an MBE for her services to drama in 1996.

The 81-year-old left Weatherfield in November 2003 and now relies on a wheelchair “to be mobile.”

Scott said after Julie was diagnosed with dementia, he initially “refused to accept any support” before realising “I couldn’t do it by myself”.

Julie Goodyear's husband tells people going through dementia journey to 'accept help'

“I had to give up work to become Julie’s full-time carer,” he explained.

“I wasn’t coping and needed to seek support.

“Caring for Julie is my priority, but my health was being affected and as a lone carer I felt it was ‘killing me’.

“Julie had always dealt with the finances but now she cannot even recognise the value of money.

“I was suddenly thrown into having to sort out all the household affairs, something Julie had always managed with ease and perfection.

“It was like being thrown into a new world of having to do everything by myself.

“I would advise anyone going through this journey to accept help straight away.”

Scott has shared his experience of dementia in conjunction with a new Alzheimer’s Society campaign, featuring a TV advert voiced by British actor Colin Firth.

The advert, titled The Long Goodbye, focuses on the harsh reality of the disease’s progression which causes loved ones to “die again, and again, and again”.

It is a theme echoed by Scott’s own experiences.

The 55-year-old said Dementia Advisers provided through Alzheimer’s Society helped him to navigate the new situation, saying: “I couldn’t have managed without it”.

“Without this support I really don’t know how I would have coped – it was a lifeline when we both needed one and continues to be so,” he added.

Recommended reading:

Kate Lee, chief executive officer of Alzheimer’s Society, said: “This campaign seeks to tell the unvarnished truth about the devastation caused by dementia and it is very much informed by people affected by the condition.

“The loved ones of people with dementia often describe it as a ‘living grief’ as, bit by bit, the disease’s relentless progression causes part of the person to die…again and again and again.

“But there is hope.

“Alzheimer’s Society, through its support services, is there for people affected again and again as they face the grim reality of the long goodbye.”

Anyone worried about dementia can visit alzheimers.org.uk for support and advice.