Elizabeth Theresa "Bet" Lynch (previously Gilroy) is a fictional character from the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. The character is no longer part of current storylines. Portrayed by actress Julie Goodyear the character first appears onscreen during the episode airing on 23 May 1966. The character returned in 1970 and continued until 1995. She made brief comebacks in 1999, 2002 and 2003.

Bet strikes out on her own at a young age, choosing a life of factory and bar work and living in digs in Weatherfield. She is out to enjoy herself and felt most at home behind a bar, where she lavishes in the attention of men, although she only tends to attract men who treat her badly or use her. At sixteen she gives birth to a son, Martin, but gives him up for adoption as she isn't ready to be a mother and the father, Joe Mason, has fled after hearing she was pregnant.

Most of Bet's key relationships are with men, and over time she becomes more cynical about their intentions, with a jaded outlook on life but usually able to hide any pain behind a smile. She likes to dress in a way she considered glamorous, and has a fondness for leopard print clothes and a beehive hairstyle.

Storylines[link]

Bet Lynch was born to parents Patrick and Mary Lynch. Her father left when she was six months old, and Bet had received a strict Roman Catholic upbringing by her mother, but that didn't stop her becoming Miss Weatherfield in 1955. When she was sixteen, she met a man called Joe Mason at a party, who was twelve years older than her. After getting pregnant, Joe fled and she gave birth to a baby boy called Martin. However, she was forced to give him up for adoption. A family called the Downes adopted Martin. Bet arrived in Coronation Street in 1966 when working at the PVC factory. She had an affair with her boss John Benjamin and gave Lucille Hewitt a black eye, because of her jealousy at Lucille's speed of welding. She moved away from the area a few weeks later.

Bet arrived back in Coronation Street in 1970 when she bumped into Irma Barlow, who she worked with in the factory back in 1966. Later in the year, Bet was appointed a junior barmaid in the Rovers Return Inn by Billy Walker, a place she would work at for the next twenty-five years. She had numerous relationships with many people, including well-known Street residents such as Len Fairclough and Mike Baldwin. In 1975, Bet got news that her son Martin (who she gave up for adoption when he was a baby) was a soldier and died in a car crash. She also found out that he tracked her down, but was disgusted by her overt sexual nature and left without telling her who he was.

When Annie Walker retired in 1983 after 46 years, her son Billy Walker took over license of the Rovers Return. He was involved in various dodgy dealings and screwed up frequently. He was the landlord for less than a year; he got in trouble with the brewery, and the tenancy was purchased back by Newton & Ridley.

The brewery decided to appoint a manager rather than sell the licence. Sarah Ridley appointed Bet manageress. Bet was flabbergasted, but ecstatic. She moved out of the corner shop flat into the Rovers in January 1985. Bet was involved in a fire at the Rovers in 1986, but was saved by Kevin Webster. The place was gutted but eventually done up and she moved back in a few weeks later.

When the tenancy of the Rovers was being sold up by the brewery in 1987, Bet couldn't come up with all the money in order to buy it. Club owner Alec Gilroy offered her a loan. However, she couldn't pay him back so fled out to Spain and disappeared for a few weeks. Alec managed to track her down to bring her back, and then proposed to her. They later got married. The marriage went better than expected, and Bet had fallen pregnant in 1988, however she had a miscarriage and lost the baby.

In 1991, Alec got a job on a cruise and wanted to sell the Rovers back to the brewery, however Bet didnt want to leave her pub behind, so stayed and let Alec go by himself. Bet became manageress of the Rovers and continued to run the pub for the next 5 years by herself.

When the brewery decided to sell up the Rovers again, Bet couldn't come up with the large sum they demanded. She tried to ask some of her neighbours, especially close friend Rita Sullivan, for a loan. Rita thought about it, but had to turn her down. Bet also tried to ask step-granddaughter Vicky to borrow some money; Vicky turned down the offer, but later said she would buy Bet a house for her to stay in. Bet got upset and threw everyone out the pub. She then left in the back of a taxi in her iconic leopard-skinned outfit, not knowing where to go next. Bet eventually headed to Tenerife where she spent a few happy years before returning back to England. With a twist of fate, Alec had returned to Weatherfield shortly after her departure and started working for the Duckworths when they took over the pub. Bet didn't return for Betty's wedding to Billy Williams later in the year.

Bet arrived back in Coronation Street in June 2002 for Betty Williams' retirement party, which delighted her. Bet revealed that she had made up with Vicky and had been running different pubs across the country for the last seven years, before finally settling down in Brighton. Audrey Roberts offered Bet a room at her home so she would have somewhere to sleep for the night, although Bet intended on staying for two weeks. Rita went to visit Bet the day after to try to make amends over not buying the pub for her, but Bet didn't care as she had moved on from the pub and changed, and said all Rita did was run The Kabin which she only has as a result of Len's death. This offended Rita, who told Bet she should just push off as she had changed and was now bitter. It was later revealed that the reason Bet was back was so she could testify against a former lover called Bruce who stole money from her. Mike Baldwin and Audrey went to the court to give Bet support, however she had lost her court case. Bet promptly left Weatherfield again soon afterwards without saying goodbye.

In November 2003, Bet crossed paths with Liz McDonald in Blackpool. Bet got involved in Liz's problems as her husband Jim had escaped from prison and was on the run. Bet was also due to get married to former Brewery boss Cecil Newton, but he had later died of a heart attack. Bet had returned back to Brighton along with Liz, where she continues to run a bar.

Creation[link]

Background[link]

Information about the character first surfaced to the public on 2 June 1966, when the Heywood Advertiser ran the story that Coronation Street was going through 'a little facelift' and the character of Bet Lynch was to be introduced. The publication that gave a little background to the character prior to appearing onscreen said: "Julie aged 22 has been working for a model sometime, but has also been on the files at Granada. When it was decided to inject more life into the series, she was offered the part as Bet, a typical Lancashire mill girl, who will be working at the new factory which is opening in 'the Street'."^[1]

The character then first appears in 1966 (as presumed) as a factory worker who gives Lucille Hewitt (Jennifer Moss) a black eye. She quickly departs with the explanation she has moved away (actress Patricia Phoenix was also rumoured to have told Goodyear to return to the programme when she gained a little more acting experience). Bet returns in 1970, when she shares a flat with Irma Barlow (Sandra Gough), who put a down payment on it with the help of Len Fairclough (Peter Adamson) and Ray Langton (Neville Bushwell). Bet begins work as a barmaid at the Rover's Return. The earlier incident with Lucille is not mentioned again and the two became good friends.

Casting[link]

Actress Julie Goodyear was offered the supporting role of Bet Lynch for a period of six weeks by Lucy Clayton, which she took without hesitation.^[1] Goodyear was convinced that she would continue in the role on a permanent basis and was shocked when they let her go at the end of her originally contracted period. When actress Goodyear filmed a part for a drama series called 'Family At War', the director June Howson complimented her and said she was impressed. Howson later went on to produce Coronation Street and offered Goodyear a six month contract to reprise her role as Bet, which she took up. She then became a permanent cast member.'^[1]

In March 2010 it was reported on Digital Spy that Bet was set to make a comeback in an attempt by the newly appointed Phil Collinson producer to try to restore the show to its 'golden days'.^[2] However this was denied the following day by Coronation Street bosses. A spokesperson said "At the moment there are no plans for Bet to return. The new producer hasn't even started yet, he's not made any decisions." ^[3]

Following the death of actress Betty Driver in October 2011, there was speculation about Goodyear reprising her role for a one-off episode for the character Betty Williams' funeral, however the rumours ultimately proved to be groundless as Bet did not make an appearance.^[4]

Development[link]

Personality and identity[link]

Goodyear described her character as "busty, raunchy, voluptuous; a woman who knew how to flirt and manipulate, and give as good as she got. But she was also vulnerable. Unlucky in love, she could cry. Rejected by those who got nearest to her, she could hurt" and noted that it was this mix that viewers got hooked on.^[5] She has been described as having a feisty personality and has learned through the hard knocks in her life how to fight her corner, a survivor, somewhat wary of men, she can get her teeth into most things then gives as good as she gets.^[5]

Bet was also known for her memorable catchphrases, some of which were of anger: in 1995, just before her departure, she roared at Rita "PALS? PALS? You don't know the meaning of the word!" However, Bet could also be philosophical: she once told Gail Platt: "Lovey, I saw more in my lifetime before I was twenty than you'll probably see in your entire life - and I didn't even leave my own back yard!".

Appearance[link]

The character has had some well known looks and styles throughout her time on the show, many have made her instantly recognisable. Goodyear spoke about how her appearance was shaped in the character's early days, stating: In the early days I never stopped researching the character of Bet on the streets of Salford with Tony Warren, and every time we went out, we would see a Bet at the market shopping, and either Tony or I would say 'Look at that silver mac/hairdo/earrings.' You could see Bet's everywhere and we took inspiration from each of them. Bet was based on women we saw in real life. As time went by people said 'too much', 'too over-the-top even for Bet', but Tony and I always knew it wasn't, and Bet's fan mail proved us right."^[5] She has also said that Bet was always dressed in a 'common as muck way'.^[5]

Goodyear has stated on different occasions that she would research the typical salary her character would be on for her barmaid job, as she wanted her character only to appear in outfits that she could realistically afford. This was to make her character credible and believable. This was where the leopard skin style of clothing came from because it was considered naughty, racy and very sexy in her character's early days and was deemed very affordable, staying true to her character.^[5]

As actress Julie Goodyear got older, Bet's physical appearance matured. No longer the one to wear miniskirts and wear her hair long, she adopted a somewhat infamous wardrobe in that many of her outfits were leopard skin print, which to this day is one of Bet's defining attributes. As Goodyear's hair turned white, she also started to bleach her hair and style it in a beehive fashion. In a survey published in the Manchester Evening News in April 2007, Bet's beehive was voted the worst haircut in soap history.^[6] In the early years of her beehive hair do Goodyear would have her real hair combed back and sprayed a large amount of hair lacquer onto it, though after a few years she received a false hairpiece to keep up the image onscreen.

Reception[link]

Inside Soap magazine readers voted Bet as soaps 'Greatest ever Landlady.'^[7] In Dorothy Catherine Anger's book "Other worlds: society seen through soap opera" she brands Bet a "tarty woman" who has the ability to "attract men like bees to honey".^[8]

References[link]

Hilda Alice Ogden (née Crabtree) is a fictional character from the television series Coronation Street, one of the best-known of all the regular characters in the soap opera,^[1] whose name became synonymous with a certain type of working-class woman. She was played by Jean Alexander from 1964 to 1987.

For much of her period as a character in the Street, Hilda worked as cleaner of the Rover's Return Inn. A gossip and busy-body, many of her storylines were used for comedic purposes, though equally the character was used for dramatic effect; a scene in which she wept over the sight of her recently deceased husband's spectacles has been hailed as one of the most moving images in television history.

Actress Jean Alexander quit the role in 1987 after 23 years, but was persuaded to reprise the part in 1990 for a one-off appearance as part of an ITV Telethon. She has also been seen in a spin-off video in 1998, in which another long-running character, Betty Williams, visited her at her new home.

Arguably the serial's most popular character of all time, Hilda was voted the greatest TV character in a Radio Times poll of over 5,000 people. The trademark image of Hilda, wearing hair curlers and a head scarf, has inspired art and catwalk themes. Despite various producers expressing their desire to see the character return, actress Jean Alexander has been openly critical about the direction Coronation Street has taken, vowing never to reprise the role of Hilda again.

Development[link]

Characterisation[link]

Hilda Ogden, with her trademark hair curlers and pinny, has been described as "the classic hard-working class Northern woman. With a voice like breaking glass and a temper to match".^[2] Actress Jean Alexander has explained her interpretation of Hilda's head scarf and curler look: "Like Hilda, my roots were in Liverpool and that’s where I first noticed the curlers and headscarf look. The curlers were put under the headscarf by the factory girls [...] They had their hair tied up and scarves like that to stop their fashionable long hair getting caught up in the machinery at work. They had the curlers in place in case they got asked out on a date, so they’d be ready for a night out after the shift. They could just take off the headscarf, remove the curlers and shake down their hair. Hilda’s background was just like mine and her recollection would have been the same so the headscarf look was born on-screen."^[3] Alexander stated in 2010 that she based Hilda bits of differing, eccentric people she had seen in her youth in Liverpool.^[4]

A term that has been described as synomymous with Hilda Ogden is "busy body". Critic for The Guardian, Grace Dent, has suggested that Hilda "spent the 70s providing an unofficial town-crier service for Corrie scandal. Hilda was known to sleep propped up in bed with one eye open so she could see what time Ken Barlow's female friends left. (Or what time they were carried out in bodybags. Ken's never had much luck with women.)" She added that Hilda was the mold that other popular soap gossips were made from, including Dot Branning from EastEnders, Mrs Nell Mangel from Neighbours, Lynda Snell from The Archers and Martha Huber from Desperate Housewives.^[5]

The Ogdens[link]

The Ogdens, Hilda and her husband Stan (Bernard Youens) – or "the Oggies" as they were affectionately dubbed – have been hailed as one of Coronation Street's favourite couples.^[6] The bickering pair stayed together through mishap and financial difficulty. A working-class couple, they remained a screen doubleact for 20 years, until actor Bernard Youens died, forcing the writers of the soap to kill off Stan on-screen.^[6] A scene following Stan's screen funeral, showing Hilda weeping at the sight of Stan's signature spectacles, has been described as "one of the most moving moments in TV history" and "instrumental in winning [Jean Alexander] the Royal Television Society's Best Performance Award for 1984-5".^[6] Neil Marland, who worked as Granada TV's stills photographer for 30 years has described the scene as terribly poignant, adding, "Everyone was crying and the camera tracked in – she had to undo his handkerchief, and in it were his glasses. She broke down sobbing. And, of course, I had to do a picture of this. So I left her for a minute or so sobbing. Then, as I got nearer, I just went, `Jean, Jean...' And she sat bolt upright and said, `What picture do you want Neil? I'm only acting'. It was just amazing because everyone on the floor was in floods of tears."^[7]

Commenting on the screen partnership, actress Jean Alexander has said, "It was a real pleasure working with Bernard Youens, who played my screen husband, Stan. Any success I have had is really down to Bernard because we worked well as a team and each knew how the other would want to play a scene. It was a happy screen partnership but it was strictly professional. We didn't socialise after work."^[6] Alexander has stated that the Ogdens were a brilliant set-up: "They were the only couple in the street who were married – permanently. They were the only ones who owned their own house where everyone else rented, they stayed together and didn't stray or have affairs and, yes, they bickered among themselves but let anyone else criticise either of them and they would be up in arms."^[4]

In 2002, Hilda and Stan Ogden were voted Britain's top romantic TV couple, in a poll of more than 5,000 people carried out by NTL:Home. They beat off competition from Friends' couple Monica Gellar and Chandler Bing and Dot and Jim Branning from EastEnders.^[8] In 2005 the couple topped another poll. The Ogdens were voted ITV's favorite TV characters in a survey by Broadcast magazine, which took place to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the network. They beat Minder's Arthur Daley and Prime Suspect's DCI Jane Tennison, who took second and third place respectively.^[9]

Departure[link]

After 23 years playing Hilda, Jean Alexander decided to leave Coronation Street in 1987. According to Alexander in 2010, it was the right time to leave as the writers had run out of ideas for Hilda and as a character, Hilda had run out of steam. She added, "Her other half had gone and she would have just scraped along. I didn't want that."^[4] Alexander went to see the show's producer Bill Podmore to inform him she did not want to renew her contract.^[4]

Her decision to leave prompted an outcry from fans and a "Save Hilda" campaign was launched, as many did not realise that the actress had made her own decision to depart.^[10] Hilda's final scenes in the programme were aired on Christmas Day 1987, when the locals in the Rovers Return joined Hilda in what has been described as a "stirring rendition" of "Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye". On-screen, Hilda departed for Derbyshire, to make a new life for herself as the housekeeper for Doctor Lowther.^[11] 27 million viewers watched.^[12] It remains the highest-rated episode in Coronation Street's history.^[13] It has been described as the most moving scene in Coronation Street that did not involve a death.^[14] The writer behind the "memorable" episode depicting Hilda Ogden's departure, which attracted a record soap opera audience, was Leslie Duxbury.^[15]

Since her departure in 1987, various producers have expressed their desire to see Hilda Ogden back on Coronation Street.^[16] In 1990, Jean Alexander reprised the role after two-and-a-half years as part of ITV's 27-hour charity telethon. The episode showed her visiting Stan's grave.^[17] In 1998, the character was resurrected again, as part of a special direct to video film.

However, in 2005, actress Jean Alexander ruled out ever returning to the role of Hilda Ogden, due to Coronation Street's overemphasis on sex and "who's sleeping with whom".^[18] She also criticised the soap for not being fun enough and she disapproved of the modern storylines, saying some are allowed to "drag on forever".^[18] She added:

A spokesperson for the soap responded to Alexander's criticism, saying, "We don't subscribe to Jean's opinions. Every week 12 million people across the country tune in to be entertained by the drama in Coronation Street."^[19] Alexander reportedly declined to return as Hilda as part of Coronation Street's 50th anniversary celebrations in December 2010. They allegedly offered her a large sum of money but her agent Joan Reddin stated "She's not interested in getting involved again."^[20] When interviewed in 2010, Alexander further discussed her reasons for not wanting to return to the role of Hilda. She said, "It would be impossible for me to recreate Hilda. She would be totally different from the scrubber who left the Street [...] I'm sorry, after 23 years I couldn't recreate that character as she would be now – and I didn't want to play her as she was. Hilda would be about 91 now. She left to be housekeeper for the lovely doctor and be part of a village community. She has status now which is something she always wanted . I have changed so I'm sure she has. And I think the fans would be disappointed. It would have spoiled the memories people had of her."^[4]

Storylines[link]

Hilda and her husband Stan were first featured in Coronation Street in 1964. A working class couple, beset with financial woes and few friends, many of the more established characters looked down on the Ogdens. Hilda worked as a char, cleaning the Rovers Return, Mike Baldwin's factory and private homes, while Stan cleaned windows.

Hilda and Stan had four children. Two children, Sylvia and Tony, were not seen on the series with the explanation that they were taken into care when Stan beat them while drunk. Their other children were seen on the programme and were named Irma and Trevor. Trevor stole money and ran away within the first six months of arriving on the Street, writing back home to ask Hilda to disown him. Hilda's daughter Irma worked at the Corner Shop and eventually married David Barlow. Irma was crushed when David and her child were killed in Australia in 1970. Irma returned home for a few years, but then vanished, with the explanation being she had moved to Wales, and later Canada. She had little contact with her family. Trevor eventually married and gave Hilda and Stan a grandson, but was ashamed of the life his parents led and only made the occasional visit.

Hilda's most remembered attributes were her hair curlers which she almost always wore, her pinny, and her "muriel" in her living room, which first showed a scene of Alpine mountains but was later changed to a coastal scene with three duck ornaments flying over them. She considered herself clairvoyant and offered teacup readings.

Lodging with the Ogdens from 1980 to 1983 was Eddie Yeats, their surrogate son, and, after Stan died in late 1984 – just a few years after celebrating their ruby wedding – Hilda got extra money by allowing Kevin and Sally Webster to live in one of her vacant rooms. Shortly afterwards Hilda's employers, the affluent Doctor Lowther and his wife, made the decision to sell their home and move to Hartington. However, on the night that Hilda helped Mrs Lowther pack away her treasured possessions, burglars broke into the house and violently assaulted them both. Doctor Lowther, who had gone out to get a takeaway meal, was horrified to discover his wife dead and Hilda seriously injured.

Although she made a full recovery physically, mentally she became afraid to be in her own home. When Doctor Lowther asked her to move to Derby and be his housekeeper, she jumped at the chance. When Hilda left the programme on Christmas Day 1987, she sang "Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye", in her trademark trilling voice; it was watched by an aggregated audience of 26.65 million people, one of the highest audiences in British television history.^[21]

Reception[link]

The character of Hilda Ogden was very popular with the British public — in 1982 she came fourth behind the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and Diana, Princess of Wales in a poll of the most recognizable women in Britain.^[22] Hilda Ogden has been branded as the "greatest-ever soap character" and "loved by millions the world over".^[6] In 2004 she was voted the greatest soap character in a Radio Times survey of 5,000 viewers, despite the character not physically appearing on screen for 17 years at the time. Actress Jean Alexander commented on the accolade: "I'm very flattered. It came totally out of the blue. I knew nothing about it. Friends rang to tell me and I was completely taken aback. I am surprised that so many people remembered Hilda, considering it was so long ago that I played her."^[6] She added in 2005 that she is amazed by the nation's enduring affection for Hilda. She said: "I've no idea why. I'm totally flummoxed. If they remember Hilda with such affection, then I'm happy and very flattered," says Jean. She adds: "It means that I did a good job and that's what I set out to do. I had 23 wonderful years playing Hilda. I worked with some of the Street's legends – Pat Phoenix (Elsie Tanner), Violet Carson (Ena Sharples), one of TV's greatest characters, Jack Howarth (Albert Tatlock), Arthur Leslie and Doris Speed (Jack and Annie Walker), all now sadly gone."^[18]

The character can count various celebrities among her fans, including Michael Parkinson, writer Willis Hall, the former Poet Laureate John Betjeman and the late Russell Harty, who formed themselves into the British League for Hilda Ogden.^[6]

A storyline involving Hilda and her husband Stan once resulted in monetary claims to the council of an increase of 200%. Off-screen, actor Bernard Youens had become ill, so the writers at Coronation Street excused his screen absence by making Stan have an injury – he hurt his toe on a pavement and was bed-ridden. In the storyline, Hilda discovered that if a paving stone is sticking up over a certain measurement, a claim can be made against the council. Hilda sued Weatherfield council and won a payout. Councils all across the UK were reportedly "up in arms against Coronation Street", because subsequently, claims against them for people tripping up over paving stones that were three-quarters of an inch high, increased by 200 percent.^[23]

In other media[link]

In 1998, a straight to video, Coronation Street spin-off film was released. It was entitled The Women Of Coronation Street and featured clips of the show's most famous females. The video hailed the brief return of Hilda Ogden, who had not been seen in the soap since 1987; Betty Williams travelled to meet her at her new home. A spokesperson for Granada Television commented, "It shows what happens when Betty goes up to visit Hilda Ogden at her home in Derbyshire. She used to do cleaning work for a doctor and when he died he left her the house in gratitude. It'll be a souvenir fans want to keep."^[24]

In popular culture[link]

An image of Hilda Ogden in her signature hair rollers and head scarf has been used in artist David Knopov’s series of silk prints. The artist says Lenny Henry, Bill Nighy and Elvis Costello are among the famous names who have bought a Hilda.^[25]

Hilda Ogden was cited as one of the characters to influence New York's elite fashion scene in 2004. The straightlaced tweed and hair rollers "granny chic" style of Sixties Britain, much of the look was derived from early episodes of Coronation Street. Fashion stylist Katie Grand said: "There's something very interesting about working class Britain in the early Sixties. 'Coronation Street was black-and-white and so grimy. They just looked so cool. Hilda Ogden has her hair in curlers but is also in a fabulous tweed jacket and a really nice blouse."^[26]

The video for one of the rock band Queen's music videos, "I Want to Break Free", was based on characters from Coronation Street. Lead singer, Freddie Mercury, was said not to be a fan of any soap opera; however, when he was at home, he would watch Coronation Street. So, in the song's video, the members of the band dressed in drag as some of the soap's most famous female characters. Mercury's style was based loosely on the character Bet Lynch, while Brian May's style was modeled loosely on Hilda Ogden.^[27] The song peaked at number 3 in the UK singles chart, and remained in the chart for fifteen consecutive weeks from its release in April 1984.

References[link]

External links[link]

In the Street is an album by the Village People featuring the return of its original lead singer Victor Willis. Ray Simpson who had replaced Willis is featured on two songs on the album (Everybody Loves the Funk, Radio Freak). The G.I. Alex Briley also sings lead on one song (Lonely Lady). The album also featured a bonus track (America) with Miles Jaye who replaced Ray Simpson, on lead. Fox on the Box and In the Street contain the same songs, except In the Street features a bonus track (America) by Miles Jaye. Fox on the Box was released by RCA Records in 1982 and In the Street by Casablanca Records a year later.

Track listing[link]

1. "Fox on the Box" — 3:43
2. "In the Street" — 4:47
3. "Lonely Lady" — 3:54
4. "Everybody Loves the Funk" — 4:28
5. "Success" — 5:58
6. "Spaced Out" — 5:32
7. "Play Bach" — 4:37
8. "Radio Freak" — 3:09
9. "America" — 3:43 (Bonus track on 1999 CD release)

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Julie Goodyear, MBE (born Julie Kemp, 29 March 1942) is an English television actress and media personality, best known for playing the long-running role of pub landlady Bet Lynch (later Bet Gilroy) on British soap opera Coronation Street.

Biography[link]

Born as Julie Kemp; her parents divorced when she was a toddler, and her mother then married William Goodyear, changing Julie's surname to Goodyear upon her marriage.

Her private life - multiple marriages, scandals, claims of lesbianism - have made her off-screen life as colourful as her on-screen life. Famously, a cartoon appeared in the British newspaper the Daily Mail, which had the director of Coronation Street ripping up the script and saying "Forget the script - just keep talking about your private life."

She was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1996 New Year Honours, "For services to Television Drama".^[1]

Her autobiography entitled Just Julie was released on 3 November 2006. In it she talks about her relationships with men and women.^[2]Among her many partners was the late Justin Fashanu, the bisexual footballer who played for clubs including Norwich City and Nottingham Forest, who was nearly 20 years her junior. They were together for a time in the early 1990s,^[3]several years before Fashanu committed suicide.^[4]

In 1979 Julie left Coronation Street for the second of three times after being diagnosed with cervical cancer, something she kept secret from the public for 25 years. Following her private battle she founded a charity which resulted in formation of the Julie Goodyear Cancer Screening Centre.

[edit] Coronation Street

She is most famous for playing barmaid-turned-proprietor Bet Lynch on the British soap opera Coronation Street. She started playing the role for a brief time in 1966, but left when senior cast member Patricia Phoenix advised her to get some more training. It was at that time she joined Oldham Repertory Theatre.

Goodyear returned in 1970 and played, arguably, the Rovers' most memorable barmaid, until retiring in 1995. Her character made such an iconic impact on the culture that Goodyear has often been referred to as the Queen of British Soap Opera, in parallel to her American contemporary Susan Lucci (Erica Kane on All My Children). In the 1970s, Bet was known for shocking Landlady Annie Walker by wearing provocative clothing, but by the 1980s, her character became synonymous with outrageous leopard prints and a bleached-blonde beehive hairdo.

She quit Coronation Street in 1995, shortly after winning the "Lifetime Achievement Award" for her role as Bet Lynch in the first ever National Television Awards. She returned to the role of Bet in 1999 for the spin-off The Rover Returns.

She made a brief but unsuccessful comeback to the show in the 2002. Her comeback was intended to boost ratings, and the writers had planned to keep her character back in the show permanently, but the pressure of increased recording schedules led to her departure amid reports of ill-health, and she was written out after just a few episodes. She did, however, return to the show again in 2003, though this time she didn't set foot on the cobbles of Coronation Street itself and her appearances were part of a storyline that involved Liz McDonald (Beverly Callard) and her husband Jim (Charles Lawson), who had recently escaped from prison.

[edit] Career after Coronation Street

In 1996 she signed a deal for commercials for Shredded Wheat. Other work included filming a pilot of The Julie Goodyear Show for Granada, presenting Live Time on the Granada Breeze network, and being a DJ on Manchester Talk Radio. In 2001 she appeared in the BBC television comedy sketch series Revolver. In 2004 she won the first series of the Living TV reality TV show, I'm Famous and Frightened!.

In 2005, she was one of the celebrities taking part in the popular ITV1 reality TV series, Celebrity Fit Club, alongside friend Ken Morley. She was originally made team captain but quit the role after six weeks, the role was taken over by Aldo Zilli. She lost 1 stone 10 pounds, and her team won the show. She shocked everyone at the final weigh-in by announcing that in 1979/80 she was given a year to live, having been diagnosed with cervical cancer, from which she was to make a full recovery.

She appeared in the reality shows Road Raja, Age Swap, Celebrity Penthouse and Celebrity Stars in Their Eyes as Marlene Dietrich. She had a small role in the British film Tug of War (2006) and in October 2006 played a brief role in Channel 4's Hollyoaks as Mrs. Temple, owner of a B&B. She recently participated in a Coronation Street special Come Dine With Me

In October 2009 it was confirmed that she would be starring in Calendar Girls onstage. She appeared in the show for about three weeks before dropping out due to an unspecified virus.^[5]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Julie Goodyear at the Internet Movie Database

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Rachel Leskovac (born 5 June 1976) is an Olivier award-nominated^{[citation needed]} British actress best known for playing hairdresser Natasha Blakeman in the British soap opera Coronation Street.

Early life[link]

Rachel attended St Joseph's Catholic College in Bradford and during her youth was a member of local theatre group Scala Kids.

Rachel trained at the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, graduating in 1998.^{[citation needed]}

Acting career[link]

Leskovac first received critical note^{[by whom?]} for her performance as the young Viv in the musical Spend Spend Spend.^{[citation needed]} She found a wider fanbase playing serial killer nurse Kelly Yorke in Holby City.^{[citation needed]} In 2003, she played Ciara Pickering in the fourth series of At Home with the Braithwaites.^{[citation needed]} In 2006 she also starred in a TV movie called Losing Gemma for Granada TV. However Leskovac was considerably heavier for the part and since getting her part on coronation street she has slimmed down considerably.

In April 2008 Leskovac was signed up to play Natasha Blakeman, a hairdresser on ITV soap Coronation Street. She left the soap in 2010.^[1]

In 2011 Leskovac starred in a episode of the Sky 1 sitcom Trollied as Leanne the deputy manager who is currently on maternity leave.

In 2012 Leskovac played teacher Lara Heaton in the Channel 4 TV comedy drama series Shameless.

Personal life[link]

Leskovac is married to the musician David Tench, and she gave birth to their first child Macy Blossom in April 2007.^[2][3] Rachel has one younger sister Sophie and a older sister Kate whom both live in Bradford.^{[citation needed]}

References[link]

External links[link]

• Rachel Leskovac at the Internet Movie Database