This Is Your Life: Julie Goodyear

Julie GOODYEAR (1942-)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Julie Goodyear, actress, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews as she arrived at Euston Station in London, having been led to believe she was on her way to a meeting.

Julie, who was born in Heywood, Lancashire, worked as a secretary after leaving school, before quitting her job to become a fashion model in the mid-1960s. Having moved into acting, she appeared in several small parts on television, including a short run as barmaid Bet Lynch in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street in 1966.

Following time with the Oldham Repertory Theatre and several more television appearances, Julie returned to Coronation Street in 1970, with Bet Lynch now a regular character and a role that made her a household name.

"Is it going to be a series?"

programme details...

Edition No: 549
Subject No: 545
Broadcast date: Wed 22 Oct 1980
Broadcast time: 7.00-7.30pm
Recorded: Tue 7 Oct 1980
Venue: Royalty Theatre
Series: 21
Edition: 2
Code name: Bar

on the guest list...

Bill Podmore
Bill Roache
Jack Howarth
Andrew McAllister - fiancé
Peter Adamson
Barbara Knox
Anne Kirkbride
Bryan Mosley
Eileen Derbyshire
George Waring
Geoffrey Hughes
Johnny Briggs
Lynne Perrie
Elizabeth Dawn
Christopher Quinten
Helen Worth
Sally Jane Jackson
Jonathan Caplan
Pat Phoenix
Fred Feast
Betty Driver
Doris Speed
Violet Carson - via telephone
Richard Shaw
Alice - mother
Bill - father
Gary - son
Sue Sumner
Peter Birchall
Anita Simpson
Syd Yates
Tony Whitehead
Gordon Allen
Valerie Cunliffe
Rita Bradshaw
Irene Hawksworth - cousin
Jill Ovens
Elizabeth Ashton
Jean Ashworth
Ann Fielden
Prentis Hancock
John Jardine
Pat Jackson
Denise Woods
Peter Dudley
Sister Margaret

production team...

Researcher: Brian Klein
Writers: Tom Brennand, Roy Bottomley
Directors: Stuart Hall, Terry Yarwood
Producer: Jack Crawshaw

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

Street Life

from Elsie Tanner to Eddie Yates

ITV This is Your Life

A special edition celebrating ITV's 21st anniversary

Venues and Sets

the studio look and locations

Screenshots of Julie Goodyear This Is Your Life

Julie Goodyear recalls her experience of This Is Your Life in her autobiography, Just Julie...

I caught a train with Podders, the street's producer, for what I believed – and that would certainly have been enough excitement for one day – was a journey to London to discuss me making some personal appearances in Australia. But when we arrived at Euston Station and got off the train, the first thing I saw was a red carpet leading to a brass band that immediately broke into a welcoming fanfare. As Podders ushered me up the platform in the direction of a group of beaming faces, I kept looking over my shoulder, wondering who on earth this red-carpet treatment was for.

'What a lovely way to arrive,' I joked as we came to a halt. 'But you really shouldn't have! Who are you waitin' for?' Just as these words died on my lips, I saw him out of the corner of my eye, the famous red book clutched in his hands.

'Julie Goodyear,' he boomed in that all too familiar voice I'd heard so often on TV, 'this is your life!'

I was absolutely gobsmacked. 'Eamonn,' I stuttered, when I got my voice back. 'Eamonn Andrews.' Then, still not quite believing what was happening, I added, 'Is it a series?' Given my life, it would need to be!

Before I could ask any more questions, though, I was abducted, bundled into the back seat of a waiting limo, covered with a rug, and whisked off to God knows where. It was surreal, and all the time I was wondering who on earth they would pull out of the hat, who was going to be there. So far, nobody had told me owt. All I found out was that I was on my way to Thames Television in Teddington, Middlesex, where the show would be recorded.

[Bigredbook.info editor: the programme was actually recorded at the Royalty Theatre in central London]

Once we arrived at Thames, young researchers kept tripping past me, saying things like, 'I loved that chandelier in your dining room.' To me they were complete strangers who I'd never invited into my home, but they knew all about me because they'd been working in secret for about six months on my This Is Your Life file. At one point I remember saying to one of the researcher, 'How's me mam? Is she all right?'

'Oh, don't worry, love, everything's gonna be fine. Fantastic.' And it was.

A few hours later, dressed in a pale-blue, full length chiffon evening gown, I came through the audience and onto the stage set, taking my place alongside Andrew. When Eamonn asked Andrew about his relationship with me, Andrew's answer was: 'Julie told me she couldn't promise me very much, but life would never be dull.' Given what happened later that day, though, I think that was one occasion when the boot proved to be on the other foot! But back for now, as they say, to the studio.

Alice, Bill and Gary came in first and took their places next to Andrew, then the cast of Coronation Street (all well used by then to making appearances on This Is Your Life) made their entrance. When Chris Quentin came on, he lifted me up off the floor, swung me round and gave me such a big hug that he nearly burst all my stitches. When Doris Speed walked on, I very daintily lifted the skirt of my long dress and knelt in homage at her feet. She then paid me the following tribute: 'Television is a very nervy business,' she said, 'and we are grateful to anyone who relieves the tension. Now, Annie Walker may have her doubts about Bet Lynch, but Doris Speed has nothing but gratitude for Julie Goodyear because she has quite deliberately made me laugh and relax on so many occasions before we played a scene.'

My cousin Irene Hawksworth then told viewers how we had shared and fought over the most comfortable bed when we were teenagers, and how I'd once knocked up the local greengrocer in the dead of night to get her a slice of melon when she was laid up with tonsillitis.

Peter Dudley, who played Bert Tilsley in the Street, came on dressed in a Roman toga to remind me of the time we'd been in rep together, appearing in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Having recalled me playing Vibrata, a sexy slave girl who he kept calling Vibrator, he then went on to say that, having blacked up my face for the part, I'd suffered an allergic reaction which left me looking like a piece of milk-chocolate peanut brittle. True!

The Corrie lot were then joined by my old teacher Tony Whitehead and school mates Anita Simpson, Sydney Yates and Peter Birchall, and also Sue Skelton, my best friend and jiving partner during my Carlton days.

The evening went marvellously well: the audience were so warm and loving, and it was surprise after surprise as people kept appearing. 'This is quite summat.' I remember thinking. 'I'll treasure the tape of it for ever.' And I have. Then Eamonn, who always liked to end the show with a big surprise for the guest, surpassed himself. Somehow he'd worked a small miracle by getting permission from Sister Margaret's order for her to leave the convent and attend my big night. I was totally overwhelmed. She'd only recently nursed me through cancer – saved my life – and I was absolutely overjoyed to see her again. Although I never cry, as that show came to an end it was, I can tell you, a tearful reunion with her. I felt I was dreaming. It was all wonderful.

After the show everyone was invited to a party in the Thames studios. The moment the credits stopped rolling I couldn't wait to get out of my long dress, slip into something more comfy, and have a relaxing drink and a proper natter without the cameras whirring. I also couldn't bear to let go of Sister Margaret's hand. 'Come on,' I said, 'Nip back to the dressing room with me while I get changed.'

Then, with her in tow, I headed for the dressing room for a quick change before the drive to Regent's Park. When I flung open the dressing-room door, however, I was in for the shock of my life. There, with a boy, was Andrew. We had caught them in an embarrassing clinch. As Sister Margaret's gasp joined mine, I pulled the door shut on all the sighs and heavy breathing we'd interrupted on the other side.

'That,' I said, shocked to the very core of my being and taking her by the hand and leading her away, 'is my life.'

As we drove over to Regent's Park, I couldn't help recalling the message Violet Carson had recorded for me from her Blackpool home: 'Hello, Julie. Sorry not to be with you, but I send my love and hope you will have a thoroughly enjoyable evening.'

Thoroughly enjoyable evening! Thank God Violet would never have to know what really happened, what Andrew had had in store for me. After our experience, Sister Margaret and I did a runner. Having hailed a black cab, we travelled through London together - a nun and a so-called star - both still deeply shocked.

Sally Beck recalls this edition of This Is Your Life in her book, Queen of the Street: The Amazing Life of Julie Goodyear...

There was another surprise planned for Julie that year. Presenter Eamonn Andrews, clutching that big red book containing Julie's biography, planned to ambush her for his television show This Is Your Life. On 7 October 1980, Eamonn and a film crew met them at Euston Station in London where Julie and Andrew – who knew about the programme – had arrived. Julie had been drawn to London under the ruse of discussing a personal appearance in New Zealand.

Dumbstruck, she was whisked off in a black limousine to Thames Television studios just outside London in Teddington, Middlesex, to record the show which would turn out to be a bit of a sham as Julie and Andrew were no longer dating. Julie, escorted by Andrew, floated through the sliding doors – behind which all the guests waited to come on – into the studio and down the stairs to her seat. She wore a pale blue, full-length chiffon evening gown, with her hair piled on top of her head.

[Bigredbook.info editor: the programme was actually recorded at the Royalty Theatre in central London]

Eamonn asked Andrew about his relationship with Julie. He said: 'Julie told me she couldn't promise me very much, but life would never be dull.'

Alice and Gary took their places next to Andrew, then the Coronation Street cast made their entrance. They were all used to the routine, as cast members were a staple diet for the programme.

Actor Peter Adamson told how the cast spent hours thinking of pranks before a show. He said: 'When Pat Phoenix was on, I was waiting to be called on. I said to Julie, who was next to me: "I want to play a trick on Pat but I need a pair of knickers." Quick as a flash, she whipped up her skirt, slipped off her panties and presented me with them. I went on to give Pat a kiss, shoved the knickers in her hand and said: "Here you are love, you left these in my car!"'

When Julie joined the show to pay tribute to Jill Summers, better know as blue-rinse battleaxe Phyllis Pearce, she could not resist a practical joke. Jill looked mystified when Julie leaned forward and pressed a mystery gift into her hand. The secret token turned out to be a pair of false teeth.

No one played pranks on Julie, but she got a big hug from Geoffrey Hughes. When Doris Speed came on, Julie hitched up her frock and knelt at her feet while Doris paid tribute. 'Television is a very nervy business,' Doris said, 'and we are grateful to anyone who relieves the tension. Now, Annie Walker may have her doubts about Bet Lynch, but Doris Speed has nothing but gratitude to Julie Goodyear because she has quite deliberately made me laugh and relax on so many occasions before we have played a scene.'

Julie's current Street love, actor Richard Shaw – lorry driver Dan Johnson – was next.

Again, Violet Carson, who had not made Julie's wedding reception when she married Tony Rudman, was absent, but a telephone message, recorded at her Blackpool home, said: 'Hello, Julie. Sorry not to be with you but I send my love and hope you will have a thoroughly enjoyable evening.'

Then Julie told a different story about her first performance at the age of six. Originally, Julie had said that she gatecrashed a Carroll Levis talent contest in Rochdale. This time, it seems, she was at the other end of the country. Julie said she was visiting her grandparents in Plumstead, east London, with her mother and stepfather. They were in a social club when she jumped on stage and gave an impromptu performance of the old music-hall favourite, 'If You Knew Suzie'. 'She brought the house down,' added Alice. 'A man came up to us and said if she lived in London she could become a star.'

Irene Hawksworth, Julie's cousin, told how they shared a bedroom above the pub for a while. 'There was one comfy bed and one camp bed,' she said. 'It was always a race to get the best bed and Julie usually won.' Then Irene went on to tell a story about how she was once laid up in bed with tonsillitis. It was late at night when Irene told Julie she fancied a slice of melon, so Julie knocked up the greengrocer at 10 pm just to get her some.

Peter Dudley, who was in the Street playing Ivy's husband Bert Tilsley, hid behind the doors with Julie's ex-Oldham Rep colleagues. They came on dressed in the Roman costumes they had worn in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, staged in 1967.

In the play Julie was Vibrata, a sexy courtesan. Peter told how he kept calling her Vibrator. Then he said: 'Julie had to black up for the part. She had an allergy to the make-up and came out in spots. She looked like a milk chocolate peanut brittle.' His comment brought the house down.

Julie's old teacher Tony Whitehead and school pals Anita Simpson, Sydney Yates and Peter Birchall, who had shared her acting debut at school, were also invited. A true professional himself, Tony, who was not really interested in Weatherfield antics, had taken time to gen up on his subject. He said: 'Before the show, I watched Coronation Street to see if I could see anything of Toni – her character in the school play – it wasn’t obvious. Julie had good timing and knew just how to play herself.'

Sue Skelton, Julie's former best friend, also appeared. However, the finale (Eamonn always had a big surprise for his guest at the end of each show) was Sister Margaret, the Wonderwoman who had comforted Julie during her cancer scare. Sister Margaret had been given special permission by her order to appear. 'The religious order to which Sister Margaret belongs does not permit appearances outside of hospital or convent,' said Eamonn, 'but knowing how much it would mean to you, at the last moment we were able to gain special permission and she's here.' It was a tearful reunion which completed the final page of Julie's tribute.

After the show everyone gathered for a party. The famous and old friends were invited to the upmarket White House Hotel in Regent's Park. At first Julie's son Gary was barred from the party for not wearing a tie. Peter Birchall recalls: 'Someone lent him one in the end. I must admit, Gary seemed like a bit of a tearaway.'

Her old friends said Julie didn't spend a great deal of time with them. Her 'best friend' Sue, who hadn't met her for twenty years, said she hardly spoke to her. 'I was disappointed. We made no promises to keep in touch. I thought afterwards we might pick up again but nothing happened,' said Sue.

Teacher Tony Whitehead couldn't get to see much of her, either. 'I was disappointed. We didn't really have time to talk to her because she was busy. She greeted us but she might have forgotten us. I suppose a lot of things have happened since she was in the school play,' said Tony.

Julie spent most of her time with Wonderwoman. As Peter Birchall said: 'At the party we were like spare appendages at a wedding. The attention all hinged on Julie and this nun. You couldn't get near Julie. The only time I got to talk to her briefly was on the train coming back.'

Andrew McAllister stayed out of the limelight, never mentioning that he and Julie were no longer together. They had separated before filming, but had agreed to keep up appearances for the cameras. By the end of October, seven months after they met, they had separated.

Scriptwriter Roy Bottomley recalls this edition of This Is Your Life in his book, This Is Your Life: The Story of Television's Famous Big Red Book...

Real life produced a drama well up to Coronation Street standards on the evening of 7 October 1980, the occasion of the Life of Julie Goodyear, in those days the Street's Bet Lynch.

We knew she had a visit to London planned, so we organised a red-carpet welcome at Euston Station, with flowers, champagne and a brass band playing 'She's a Lassie from Lancashire'.

What happened next was not planned. Unknown to Julie, as soon as her train had pulled out of Manchester, Life associate producer John Graham arrived to catch the next train – in the company of the whole of the rest of the cast of Britain's most popular drama series. The plan was to walk Julie on set at the Royalty Theatre, then immediately 'spring' the surprise of all her friends and colleagues - whom she thought she'd left behind in Manchester - coming on behind her.

But a huge warehouse fire a mile out of Euston cut off the railway line's electricity supply, and the train carrying the Street cast screeched to a halt. Pausing only to give the steward £30 to give them anything they wanted (it was 1980), John leaped from the train to organise a rescue. We learned later that Liz Dawn, who plays Vera Duckworth, had caused consternation aboard the stranded train by asking for chips.

John found some senior BR officials and persuaded them to get out an old diesel engine. Back at the Royalty, because of the now hour-long delay, our 'warm-up' man was getting so desperate he was asking the audience if they knew any gags.

Relief all round when John eventually arrived with the cast and smuggled them into the theatre. The curtain went up on a show that turned out to be particularly popular, since Julie had recently come through a cancer operation.

She had been a secretary and Manchester fashion showroom model before getting an eight weeks' booking to appear in a small part in the Street. It was actress Pat Phoenix – Elsie Tanner – who thought Julie had great potential and put in a word for her at Oldham Rep, where she was taken on as assistant stage manager. When she returned to the Street, it was to stay.

Series 21 subjects