Coronation Street’s Ian Bartholomew admits he sought counselling as he filmed Geoff’s abuse

Coronation Street star Ian Bartholomew has revealed he sought counselling as he struggled to film Geoff Metcalfe’s horrific abuse of his wife Yasmeen.

The actor, 66, said he spoke to producers about meeting a counsellor as he filmed the hard-hitting scenes, just before the UK was placed in lockdown in March.

It comes as viewers rejoiced on Wednesday after Geoff was sent plunging to his death following a dramatic rooftop showdown with wife Yasmeen, who after being acquitted of his assault was finally free of his controlling demands.

Speaking on Thursday’s Lorraine, Ian said filming the hard-hitting scenes took their toll as the soap tackled the topic of coercive control.

He said: ‘I had to find a way of disassociating myself from Geoff everyday. Luckily, I have got a very understanding family but sometimes you need a bit of professional help and I asked the producers if they could supply me with somebody to talk to. 

‘I had a few sessions just before we went into lockdown and it helped greatly because I could just offload… it did me good.’

He added: ‘I’ve been with most of the audience whose been watching I don’t like Geoff either, having to do all that stuff to my lovely friend Shelley [King] everyday for the last two years has been quite difficult and disturbing, and particularly that scene when she changed into that red dress.’

Ian added that his close friendship with co-star Shelley King, who plays Yasmeen, made filming the hard-hitting scenes slightly easier.

He added: ‘I think it’s easier when you are friends with someone, but yes we do trust each other, we trust each other to tell each other the truth, in that respect we help each other through.

‘We always focused on the fact that it was a very important storyline, and what we’re proud of is that we were able to bring it out into the light, because this is something that goes on behind closed doors.’

On Wednesday Geoff’s reign of terror finally came to an end when he slipped from the roof of Yasmeen’s house, having vowed to burn it to the ground after planning to flee Weatherfield.

Fearing the police could arrest him after Yasmeen reported him for coercive control, Geoff chased his wife onto the roof, but lost his grip and plunged to the garden below.

Reflecting on his two-year stint on the soap, Ian said: ‘I’m incredibly honoured to have been given such a fantastic role, especially the culmination of being in the 60th anniversary episode. 

‘It was a way of highlighting a very very important issue as well so all good for me.’ 

The actor also told Lorraine bosses aimed to highlight the topic of coercive control in a sensitive manner, and worked with the charity Women’s Aid to ensure the storyline was presented accurately.

He explained: ‘That was the idea behind the way we did the storyline, to make it as real and lifelike as possible, and it takes a while for the victim to realise what’s happening to them.

‘Everything gets stripped for them, their autonomy, she could never go out and see her friends and was just reduced her to this small mouse-like creature, so difficult stuff to watch and to do. 

‘What I will miss is going into work is going to Corrie and being around everybody, I’ve enjoyed every single bit of it.’

Coronation Street continues on Friday at 7:30pm on ITV. Lorraine airs weekdays from 9am on ITV.