Goodyear quits 'Calendar Girls' show

Former 'Coronation Street' star Julie Goodyear has pulled out of her run in West End hit 'Calendar Girls', it was announced today.

The star opened in the show – in which she stripped – earlier this month, but has left the production because of a “debilitating virus”.

Goodyear has been replaced by ex-'EastEnders' actress Hannah Waterman who will play Cora (Miss July) from December 1.

Waterman will show off her new slimline figure in the role after dropping five dress sizes with a new fitness regime.

A spokeswoman for Goodyear said the actress had been told to rest.

She said: “Due to a debilitating virus Julie has been told by doctors to rest. She will be fine, she just needs to rest and that would be impossible with eight shows a week.”

Goodyear, 67, is best known for her lengthy stint as the Street’s brassy Rover’s landlady Bet Lynch, retiring from the show in 1995.

She made a brief return to the series in 2002, but had to be written out after only a handful of episodes because of ill-health.

'Calendar Girls', at London’s Noel Coward Theatre, also stars Kelly Brook, Arabella Weir and Jan Leeming.