Soaps Catching up with Ian Bartholomew, who plays Geoff Metcalfe in Coronation Street
Ian Bartholomew, who plays Geoff Metcalfe in Coronation Street, tells us about his gripping storyline which has him bullying his loving wife, Yasmeen, and fooling everyone about his true character
Did you always know how dark and controlling Geoff’s behaviour would become?
I knew where it was going but I wasn’t sure how far it was going to go. All the early behaviour was deliberately ambiguous but since then it has become clearer that his behaviour is becoming unacceptable and it is very interesting to play. I am not apologising for his behaviour at all but it will be interesting if we find what it is in his makeup that has created this person. I am shocked each week when I get my scripts and find out what he is going to do next.
So is he an interesting character to play?
I have to find a way through it that makes it believable and also real but remember that it is a drama and there are certain limitations. The darkness is really interesting to explore and it has made me question my own behaviour and the behaviour of people around me. That is the reason we are doing this; the best reason I can think of that someone sees it and says ‘ That is me or that is happening to someone I know’ and then something can be done about it.
What do you think is making him act in this way?
I think it is to do with his upbringing. To play Geoff I have to have some sort of back-story. There is a misogyny that is ingrained in him, but he also needs to be loved and he needs love. Because of his psychological make-up, there is a disconnect between what love is and being able to show it.
Does he love Yasmeen?
Oh yes, he absolutely does. He has convinced himself that this is possibly his last chance; if he doesn’t get this right, he wouldn’t know what to do. He can’t bear to be on his own, or not to be loved.
Geoff’s public face is very different to the one behind closed doors…
He is Mr Jokey, Mr Affable in public, an entertainer, a magician, to the outside world. That is another important part of telling this story, it is so isolating for the victim because you can never tell what is going on behind closed doors.
Do you think he has done this before?
We don’t know much about Geoff’s previous relationships, but I am sure this is not the first time he has behaved like this, because of that need to be loved, to be in control and there is a fear and a strange vulnerability in that. There is something within him that is not right but he can’t admit that to himself because if he does, his world will crumble and he is left in a place where he couldn’t bear to be.
What do you make of his relationship with his son, Tim?
On the face of it, it’s very straightforward but I think because he has airbrushed the details of the relationship with Tim’s mother. Tim only knows his mother from Geo ’s point of view. ere is a whole wealth of stu to explore.
What happens when he ends up being injured?
It stems from the need to make sure that Yasmeen toes the line and doesn’t go out and have a life of her own. He keeps her busy doing the housework. He tells her that he is ill and it is partly because he is allergic to the dust and the place has to be spotless. He has history of feigning an illness for sympathy and that has reared its head again. Yasmeen is not doing the housework properly, in his opinion, and he is telling her how to do it, they have a tussle with the hoover and it comes apart sending him falling and hitting his head. He blames her because she should have done it properly in the rst place.
Will he use this incident to his advantage?
at incident plays into his hands because he now has a black eye, another way of isolating Yasmeen from her friends by suggesting she has a drink problem.
Cathy witnesses him shouting at Yasmeen. Is he worried about what Cathy and Brian might think?
The last thing he wants is Cathy questioning his behaviour. If word got out that there is something not quite right going on then it reflects badly on him. He can’t countenance that: he has to be the hero as far as he is concerned he is saving Yasmeen from herself and he believes his version of the truth, he has to, otherwise the whole edifice crumbles and all those lies and deceit comes out and he has failed.
Why is he taking Yasmeen’s money?
I don’t think he is a er her money; it is about being in control of the situation so that she can’t do things without him. He gives her access to a small amount of money so he is in control of her spending. I don’t think he is siphoning it o in a bid to run away.
What does he really think of his stepgranddaughter, Alya?
She is the one y in the ointment; she is a threat to his dominance and his manhood in a way. She is close to Yasmeen and what he has been doing systematically is exorcising everything in her past. Alya is a still part of her life so he’s trying to drive a wedge between them.