As for Julie well, as they say, there is nothing new under the sun. The usual stories about her grandmother, fear of Pat Phoenix, failed marriages, sexuality etc. all made an appearance. There's not a great deal to go around but fair play to Julie for admitting that her return to the Street in 2002 had been a mistake. Perhaps the most chilling part of the evening though was her offhand dismissal of her husband Scott, sat a few feet away. Julie tried to put a jokey spin on what she was saying but the icy silence of the studio audience spoke volumes. It was a truly uncomfortable piece of television.
Did anyone find themselves warming to Julie? For me, I found it difficult to judge whether she was the real deal or if she was playing the 'part' of Julie Goodyear, as expected by the media. There were genuine moments of sadness but more striking were the carefully worded tributes from some of her co-stars. Maybe in the hands of a more skilled interviewer things might have been different. However, as some of the clips proved, the 1970s 'imperial phase' Bet was a joy to behold and other than Annie Walker and Betty Williams, arguably remains the best of the bar staff. For that Ms Goodyear, we salute you!
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