Coronation Street star Ian Bartholomew has opened up over playing such a hated character.
The actor is currently at the centre of the ITV soap's biggest storyline, which sees evil Geoff Metcalfe trying to cover his tracks after his appalling treatment of his wife Yasmeen.
Corrie's coercive control story saw Geoff subject Yasmeen to months of mind games and abuse. Yasmeen is now facing trial after lashing out at him when he pushed her to breaking point.
Asked whether he was concerned about playing such a nasty individual, Ian replied: "Yes, of course. When, by way of the television, you're invited into people's homes several times a week, and then behave appallingly as Geoff does, you have to be prepared to be thoroughly disliked, and consequently put up with a bit of flak from the audience now and then.
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"Happily I can say that as yet I haven't been 'handbagged' or shouted at in the street, thank goodness, but I'm aware of how much Geoff is hated.
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"I console myself by remembering that it's not me they all hate, it's Geoff. More importantly, I think about the positive implications of telling this story to a wider public.
"As for my family, they understand that it's what I do for a living. Over the years they've seen me play all sorts of characters, nasty and nice, but my 12-year-old son doesn’t like watching someone who looks like dad being horrible to his friend Shelley on the telly. And you know, that's absolutely fine by me."
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On how he researched the storyline, Ian continued: "We had a great deal of input from Women's Aid and Independent Choices Greater Manchester, who have been heavily involved in the writing of the storyline, and we have met and spoken to many victims of coercive control.
"But it wasn't easy, because the problem I had understanding Geoff and trying to get under his skin was that it's almost impossible to find a perpetrator of this type of abuse who is willing to talk about their controlling behaviour, because they seem incapable of admitting it in the first place.
"So I had to listen to the survivors of their abuse to glean any clues I could find that would help. After a while I started to form a picture of all the behavioural and psychological traits that are commonly displayed by those who inexplicably feel compelled to seek total control over another human being.
"That aided me in interpreting the material the writers were coming up with."
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The Geoff and Yasmeen storyline has been credited for raising awareness of coercive control. It has also pushed Corrie to a 17-month ratings high.
On the reaction, Ian added: "You can't help feeling proud when you learn how people are responding to this storyline.
"It's been a tough and emotionally draining ride, but the thing that's kept Shelley and myself going, is the responsibility we have as actors to tell the story of these two unhappy and lonely people, and to shine a light on the terrible and cowardly crime of coercive control.
"To be a part of the team of writers, storyliners, producers and actors addressing such an important issue in Coronation Street, a well-loved and hugely popular programme, is a privilege.
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"Knowing that we are helping women and men who are affected by this kind of abuse in some way, and making our general audience more aware of it at the same time, is reward enough in itself.
"Finally I'd like to say that while it's been hard to do, acting out this storyline on TV can't get anywhere even slightly close to knowing what it's like to be the victim in an abusive relationship of this nature in real life.
"When Shelley and I finish work at the end of the day, we can go home and leave it all behind us. Sadly, anybody living with an abusive partner can't, because they're in the midst of having to deal with it every single hour of every single day. We must all spare a thought for them, and offer help if, and when we can."
Coronation Street currently airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7.30pm on ITV.
Organisations including Women's Aid can provide further support and information on coercive control or coercive behaviour.
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