then succumbs to a brain tumour a few weeks later. Throughout 1994, Bet enters into a relationship with Charlie Whelan, a long-distance lorry driver whom she meets in December 1993. Bet and Charlie grow closer towards the end of the year, but Charlie later reveals that he has been seeing barmaid Tanya Pooley behind Bet's back and they separate. Charlie returns a few weeks later, revealing that Tanya had dumped him in Hamburg but Bet is not interested and they do not reunite. In mid-1995, Vicky announces that she is engaged to Steve MacDonald. Bet is disapproving of the engagement, believing that Steve is only marrying Vicky to gain access to her trust fund. Bet contacts Alec who returns from Southampton in August but is unsuccessful in trying to stop the wedding. Bet and Alec part ways again, although this time as friends. In October of the same year, Bet receives news from Newton & Ridley that they are selling The Rovers and a number of other pubs in order to focus on more family sized ventures. Bet is unable to raise the money herself to buy The Rovers and first tries to go into partnership with Rita. Despite initially agreeing, Rita later backs out, leaving her friendship with Bet in ruins. Bet's relationship with Vicky also sours when her step-granddaughter refuses to invest in the pub, offering to buy Bet a house instead where she can pay nominal rent. A furious Bet asks Vicky to leave before kicking out all the other customers and telling her staff that she and The Rovers are finished. Bet secretly departs from Weatherfield the same day by taxi- only Don Brennan is aware of her departure initially before the rest of the street find out. Bet eventually heads to Tenerife where she spends a few happy years before returning to England. Alec returned to Weatherfield shortly after she left and has been working for the Duckworths as they took over the pub. While in Tenerife, she meets a man called Bruce and they become lovers. Bruce owns a boat on which the two would spend many happy days together. When he dies suddenly, the boat is left to Bet and she returns to England in 1999, visiting Brighton to make amends with Vicky and sells the boat to invest in Vicky's wine bar. 2002–2003 Bet reappears in Coronation Street in June 2002 for