Joe Duttine gets blasted as "thick" by fans who mistake him for his ‘Coronation Street’ character.
The 50-year-old actor’s alter-ego Tim has gone months without realising his evil dad, Geoff Metcalfe (Ian Bartholomew), has been abusing his wife Yasmeen Metcalfe (Shelley King), and away from the cobbles, fans desperate for Tim to find out the truth have berated Joe as he has been going about his everyday life.
He said: "I’ve literally had people calling me thick and all sorts on the street. I was filling my car up the other day and someone shouted, ‘Oi Tim, you thick b*****.’
"This storyline has reached so many people and everyone wanted Tim to realise what is going on.
"The reaction on social media once he found out was brilliant and it was great to get the feedback that people enjoyed the episodes, it’s good to know that people think you are doing a good job.
"It gave me a real lift and it’s very much appreciated."
Joe admitted he has also been desperate for Tim to discover the truth about his father.
He added: "In the same way that the audience was wanting the storyline to reach this point so was I as an actor.
"Tim was starting to question things a little in the weeks before that and it was a case of how long can he deny what is in front of his eyes.
"It was exciting for me to get to that stage and play those scenes."
Joe feels fortunate to be working amid the coronavirus pandemic, and he is pleased the plot will be part of the show’s upcoming 60th anniversary in December.
He said: "It is great to know that this story is part of the anniversary."I haven’t seen the scripts so, like everyone else, I am keen to find out what happens to Geoff and where this takes Sally and Tim as we head into next year.
"It’s exciting, I’m loving it at the moment, working under the restrictions brings its own challenges but everyone is rising to that challenge and we are very fortunate to be working."