Julie Goodyear leads tribute to Street star
FORMER star Julie Goodyear was among a host of celebrities who paid tribute to Roy Barraclough at his funeral yesterday.
Ms Goodyear, who famously played Bet Lynch in the soap opera, led the cast of stars past and present as they paid respects to Barraclough, who played Alec Gilroy in the series.
The 75-year-old actress looked ashen as she led the mourners in Oldham, Greater Manchester, where he was being laid to rest. Wearing a black ensemble with a flash of her character’s trademark leopard-print, the actress was visibly upset as she followed the hearse into Hollinwood Crematorium.
Clutching the arm of a male companion, she seemed unsteady with emotion as she prepared to endure the service.
She was joined by other cast members who would have been able to offer their support.
They included Helen Worth, who plays Gail Platt, Beverly Callard and Sherrie Hewson. Other attendees included Jenny McAlpine and Ken Morley.
Goodyear’s appearance at the ceremony comes shortly after she paid tribute to Barraclough via a statement which read: “I have no words to describe how devastated I feel. We kept in close touch and spoke to each other at least two or three times every week.
“I will treasure all the happy times we had working and laughing together. We were just like a married couple, crazy, I know, but true.”
“Rest in peace, Roy. I will always love you.”
Together, the pair played Rover’s Return landlords, who were famous for their comic delivery and on-screen chemistry.
A star of the stage and screen, he was best known for his role as Alec, which he played on-and-off for 22 years in total, eventually leaving in 1998.