Julie’s a sure Bet for Rovers Return
LEGEND LYNCH TIPPED FOR CORRIE COMEBACK
CORONATION Street bosses want to bring back Bet Lynch.
The telly legend was last seen on the cobbles 15 years ago.
But Julie Goodyear will reprise her role as the gobby former barmaid if show chiefs get their way.
Outgoing executive producer Kate Oates is a big fan of “icon” Julie and wants to get her back if she can find the right storyline.
In an exclusive chat, she told the Daily Star Sunday: “I bet Julie would be great on the show. If the story fitted, then why not? It could happen…
“She was definitely considered a modern day icon. She still is.”
Rovers Return landlady Bet was famed for her flamboyant outfits, romances and no-nonsense manner.
Kate added: “I’ve got a leopard print coat… so I’d be in competition with her when it came to clothes.” Julie, 76, played Bet during Corrie’s heyday when it was pulling in around 20million viewers for every episode.
She was one of its biggest stars during a 25-year stretch between 1970 and 1995.
Bosses convinced her to return for short stints in 2002 and 2003 and it now looks like she could be back again – almost five decades after her debut.
Julie last appeared on TV as
Bet earlier this year in an ITV gameshow.
It sparked a frenzy among fans who are desperate to see her reprise her most famous role. Julie coming
back would follow the much-hyped return of Charlie Lawson as boozy Jim McDonald.
We revealed last month how Corrie bosses were planning to bring back a big name, with Jim the hot favourite.
At the time, Kate Oates told how she loves bringing back popular characters.
She said: “It’s nice to bring people back. It’s nice to have old characters back even for a short time. It’s feels right and it’s a treat for the older viewer, so it covers all bases.
“I’m really happy to be able to do it occasionally.”
Kate will bow out as executive producer this summer after two years at the helm.
She has faced criticism for overseeing dark storylines including male rape and grooming.