'Coronation Street' Julie Goodyear 'wants to return for Betty funeral'

Coronation Street legend Julie Goodyear is hoping to make a one-off return to the soap for Betty Williams's funeral episode, a report has claimed.

Bosses at the ITV1 show are currently planning a fitting send-off for Betty after Betty Driver, who played the long-serving barmaid, passed away at the age of 91 earlier this month.

Goodyear, better known as Bet Lynch, worked alongside Driver on Coronation Street for 25 years and reports suggest that she now wants to be part of her former colleague's exit storyline.

"She's not coming back permanently but she's up for doing an episode," an insider told The Sun. "Nothing is set in stone yet, but a funeral with stars past and present would be really fitting.

"[Betty] deserves a tribute episode and everyone wants to honour her memory and her work."

Goodyear was present at Driver's funeral in Manchester on Saturday alongside a variety of other Coronation Street stars.

She also recently paid tribute to Driver, saying: "It was an honour and a privilege to work with Betty Driver for 25 years. We laughed together, we cried together and never once had a cross word. She was a totally professional actress. A true icon and legend and a very dear friend. She will be missed and remembered by millions."

Coronation Street's producer Phil Collinson has promised that the soap will give Betty "a brilliant and magnificent" send-off when her departure is written into scripts in the New Year.

> Coronation Street stars pay tribute to Betty Driver
> Coronation Street's Betty Driver 1920-2011: Obituary
> Betty Driver had so much love to give, says Bill Roache
> Betty Driver: Malcolm Hebden, Beverley Callard join tributes
> Read more Coronation Street news and spoilers

Browse through a gallery of Betty Driver's life in pictures below: