Julie Goodyear, 82, all smiles as husband shares health update in rare snap amid dementia battle

Goodyear left fans shocked last year when she announced through Brand that she had been diagnosed with the condition, and revealed in a statement: "My darling wife and I have had to come to terms with this heartbreaking diagnosis.

"Unfortunately, Julie has been suffering forgetfulness for some time. 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."

Since then, Goodyear has kept out of the limelight and spent time with her family, but recently stepped out for lunch with her husband.

Posting an image on social media, Brand shared the snap of Goodyear smiling and captioned it: "My Julie at her best today."

Fans of the actress flocked to the comment section to send their well wishes, as one commented: "Beautiful still got that Bet Lynch twinkle in her eyes xx so happy to see her getting out."

"Still got her lovely smile God bless her," another noted before a third said: "Love Julie Goodyear Love her smile and stay strong both of you."

A fourth expressed: "Such a horrible disease, but hey it's so nice to see her looking good and she always had a lovely smile."

"Still has her lovely smile met this lady many years ago outside Granada TV great person to chat too," one recalled as someone else penned: "Aww so sad loved her in Coronation Street."

The latest picture of the 82-year-old comes after her friend Mark Llewellin, issued an update on how she was doing, and told the Conversation Street podcast: "Julie is living a good life, really. 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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Earlier this year, Brand also gave an update on his wife's condition and explained to The Daily Mirror: "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.

"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."

Throughout the time on the cobbles and bringing it into her daily life, her clothing and glamorous looks were trademarks in the industry, but Brand said his wife had now lost interest in her appearance.

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