Ian Bartholomew is constantly "shocked" by his character Geoff Metcalfe’s abusive behaviour in ‘Coronation Street’.
The 65-year-old actor was told by the producers and writers that his alter ego was going to unmasked as an abusive man with viewers seeing Geoff becoming increasingly controlling and aggressive towards his wife Yasmeen Nazir (Shelley King).
However, Ian didn’t realise just how much of a Weatherfield baddie Geoff was going to become.
Speaking to Inside Soap magazine, he confessed: "I’m shocked each time I hear what Geoff is going to do next. I always knew where Geoff’s story was going, but I wasn’t sure just how far it would go! But the crab-eating moment was a real shift in the story."
The "crab-eating moment" showed Geoff attempt to force Yasmeen to eat a crab shell, pushing it into her face, after he became enraged after they hosted their friend Cathy Matthews (Melanie Hill) at a party and she discovered a small slither of hard shell in her meal.
Cathy recently witnessed Geoff’s controlling behaviour when caught him and Yasmeen arguing but after she shared her concerns with her boyfriend Brian Packham (Peter Gunn) Geoff lied to the couple’s friends claiming that his wife has a drink problem which he is trying to help her with.
Speaking about the latest lies from his character, Ian said: "Geoff wants everything to think well of him, so he puts the blame on Yasmeen. He has to be the hero – as far as he is concerned, he is saving her from herself, and he believes his version of the truth. He has to otherwise the whole edifice crumbles, and all those lies come out."
Ian believes that Geoff does love Yasmeen and wants to stay with her, despite his ongoing cruelty.
Both Ian and 64-year-old actress Shelley believe ‘Corrie’ is doing the right thing by running the storyline to help raise awareness of the signs of domestic abuse and gaslighting in relationships..
Ian said: "He is an entertainer, a magician, to the outside world – but these people are often someone whose public persona is completely opposite to what they are like behind closed doors.
"That is another important part of telling this story. It is so isolating, it is such a small world that the people who experience this abuse live in. It’s vital for that to be understood by viewers.
"It’s difficult because he’s not a moustache-twirling villain, so that comes with challenges as he is the sort of baddie who has very few, if any, redeeming features."
The soap star believes Geoff treated his previous wife Tess – who he shares son Tim Metcalfe (Joe Duttine) with – the same way and he hopes that bosses will explore his backstory.
He said: "It will be interesting if we find any clues as to where it has come from, and what it is in Geoff’s make-up that has created this person.
"Also, we don’t know much about Tess, but I am sure this is not the first time he’s behaved like this. Tim only knows his mother from Geoff’s point of view. There is a whole wealth of stuff to explore."
Yasmeen Nazir Corrie abuse storyline shocks Ian Bartholomew
