Geoff Metcalfe - bully, manipulator and contemptible man

Over the decades, Coronation Street has had its fair share of villains, all wrong ‘uns in their own way. This current villain though, and his aim at the destruction of a kind, vibrant and popular woman, I find to be utterly despicable. Geoff, of course.

Is his aim to make her totally crumble, to render her devoid of personality, to terrify her and make her unable to enjoy her life unless she is cleaning or doing something else that she really doesn’t want to do? As he is manipulating, controlling and unsettling her, he is clever enough to keep telling her that he loves her, to make her think that the change Geoff needs in her is well worth it.

On Monday’s episode, Geoff came home to find Yasmeen and her good friend, Cathy, chatting, laughing, having a glass or two of wine and generally enjoying themselves. ‘We’ve polished off two bottles of wine,’ declares Yasmeen. Geoff maintains a minimum of friendliness until Cathy leaves prompting Geoff to slam the door. Who could not pity Yasmeen, living with this bully? ‘I hope I didn’t spoil your fun. I’m surprised you’ve had time to sit about boozing with your mate.’

‘Time!’ shouts Yasmeen. ‘It’s my day off!

‘You’ve got a list of jobs to do – what is job number three?’ asks the monster. We need to keep the house extra clean, it’s about trust!’

It is then revealed that Geoff has been putting crosses on the skirting boards. He sees they are still there, so Yasmeen has failed! ‘Are you trying to catch me out?’ asks Yasmeen. Oh, if only we could answer her and tell her that he is doing so much more than that.

The revelation of the drinking with Cathy gives Geoff the ammunition he needs. It seems that at that moment he decided that he could use the accusation of alcoholism, should he need it, in order to bend Yasmeen to his will, completely.

During their lunch together, Cathy, who is no fool, suspects there is something wrong. ‘We like to keep the place clean,’ explains Yasmeen. ‘The place is spotless!’ declares Cathy.

Yasmeen tells Cathy, ‘I’ve never been happier in my life!’ I wonder how many viewers gasped at this and wondered whether she was trying to convince herself.

When Yasmeen tells Cathy that Geoff has taken her shopping, persuaded her to buy things she would never normally consider, Yasmeen is full of praise for Geoff. He’s helping her

push the boundaries, preventing her from becoming the dreaded ‘fuddy-duddy’ – but as Cathy points out, Yasmeen has her own sense of style. Yasmeen insists Geoff’s not taking over her life, but being in a relationship is taking over her life, ‘With the man I love!’

Later, Geoff presents Yasmeen with a colour-coded jobs rota. Why on earth did she not rip it up in front of him? She daren’t. I believe she feels so cowed in his presence now that she would do anything he asked her to. Each minute he has her more firmly in his controlling, manipulating grasp.

One of Geoff’s tricks is outright cruelty. He apologises for having a go at her but his respiratory system cannot bear a speck of dust. He makes her feel unkind, while he is the cruel one. He spits out nasty comments, in a deliberate attempt to undermine her. He points out that everyone ends up leaving her: Sharif, Zeedan, Alya. He says this to a woman who has lost, in dreadful circumstances, her only son and before that, her daughter-in-law.

Now, he can’t bear her ‘hovering’ as it sets him on edge. Yasmeen asks about his soup and he says that it’s just from a can, not made by famous chef Ottolenghi, another implicit criticism. He says he feels like Canute, holding back a tide of filth, all these cruel comments combining to further undermine Yasmeen’s confidence. The happiest she’s been in her life? She resembles a terrified rabbit in the headlights.

He then cranks up his campaign to make Yasmeen believe she is an alcoholic. She is dismissive at first but as Geoff works on, she begins to believe in the possibility that she might just be an alcoholic. Yasmeen!!

He talks in such concerned confidence to Brian about his anxieties. Brian is most sympathetic and even gets Peter Barlow on board who calls round to see Yasmeen, out of kindness, and speak to her about alcoholism. Yasmeen must be terrified by now. She makes a vow that she will completely give up the booze, when we viewers want to scream at her again.

Geoff’s new rota is ‘very detailed’ says Yasmeen. Taking this as a compliment, when he knows it isn’t, he thanks her, once more making Yasmeen believe that rotas are a good idea, and not only for students sharing accommodation. Yasmeen tells him it’s hard physical work, all this cleaning and feels as if she’s done an all-night gym session. His only comment, once more designed to put her down is, ‘No need to exaggerate.’ Yasmeen tells him she cares for his health and happiness. All he says in reply is, ‘Show, don’t tell.’ The viewers are thoroughly exasperated once more.

Then comes his piece de resistance, his master stroke. He asks for her credit and debit card, so that she will avoid the temptation of having a drink. After her initial shock, Yasmeen as meek as a kitten, hands them over.

Alya, Cathy, Brian, Sally! Please help Yasmeen escape the horrific clutches of this thoroughly contemptible man!

By Ruth Owen, Twitter @Ruth1722

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