Julie Goodyear's husband Scott Brand shares 'painful' reality of star's dementia

Coronation Street icon , who is battling dementia, brought joy to fans this week when she was pictured in a rare snap. Scott Brand, the actress's husband of 17 years, from their Lancashire home to mark Julie's 83rd birthday.

"Just got home with my lovely wife and we've had a fantastic day together," Scott, 55, . "Thank you so much for all your birthday wishes from both of us." Julie revealed her diagnosis with the condition that causes a loss of memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities in March last year, with the couple going onto sell their £1.3m home. They have received support from Alzheimer's Society, which helps sufferers and their families and were pictured cuddling on the frontline of a race for the charity.

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Scott, who met Julie 29 years ago when he delivered some plaster to her house when it was being renovated, opened up about the 'painful' impact of dementia on the couple in a TV advert for the charity, The Long Goodbye. Fronted by Colin Firth, this aimed to highlight how the progression of the disease impacts families.

Julie's magnetic nature, seen on TV for 25 years behind the bar of the Rovers Return in her iconic Bet Lynch role, is something her devoted husband misses hugely. "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," said Scott.

"All of this is now slowly fading away and it's extremely painful for me to watch this deterioration. Not being able to spontaneously go out as husband and wife, holding hands as we stroll along, going for meals together and going shopping – all these losses for me symbolise the Long Goodbye."

Also known for her unforgettable stint on Celebrity in 2012, Julie was given an Lifetime Achievement Award at the National Television awards in 1995 and the following year was made an MBE for her services to television and drama.

Scott is now her carer as well as her husband and said he initially found the transition hard. "For me, the hardest part was accepting and coming to terms with the ," he said. "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. I soon realised I needed to ask for help as I couldn't do it by myself." Scott was supported by Alzheimer Society's dementia advisor Julie Mann, adding: "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. She has helped to take such a burden off our shoulders."

Alzheimer's Society provides help and hope to anyone affected by dementia - visit or call 0333 150 3456 for support