Corrie's Ian Bartholomew releases song for domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid

 

Coronation Street actor Ian Bartholomew releases song to raise money for domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid 

Actor Ian Bartholomew, who plays perpetrator of domestic abuse Geoff Metcalfe in Coronation Street, has released the song, This Time It’s Forever, and accompanying music video to raise vital funds for domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid. 

On screen, Ian is part of a coercive control storyline, where his character Geoff Metcalfe manipulates and controls his wife Yasmeen.  

After recording the song, Ian’s wife, theatre director Loveday Ingram, worked with Women’s Aid to create a music video with real-life videos, images and stories of survivors of domestic abuse. 

The video features women who have survived domestic abuse including Women’s Aid Ambassadors Katie Piper and Charlie Webster, and Survivor Ambassadors Sadi Khan, Natalie Curtis and Saliha Rashid.

The song, This Time It’s Forever, has been produced by James F Reynolds, who has also produced songs for Paloma Faith, and Jessie J and The Vamps. The video was made by Three Wise Monkeys with sponsorship from Steve Morgan Foundation. 

Ian Bartholomew says: 

"A great deal of research has gone into the Geoff and Yasmeen storyline. Women’s Aid visited us several times at the Coronation Street studios, with survivors of domestic abuse, making a huge impact on how we told the story.  

I followed up with further research trying to understand why perpetrators of domestic abuse behave in the way they do. The more I found out, the more I wanted to help shine a spotlight on this appalling crime. Even more so after I found out that women all over the country were asking for help from Women’s Aid – many saying that it was because of what they were watching on their TV screens.” 

Teresa Parker, head of communications at Women’s Aid, says: 

“Both Ian and his wife Loveday have become valued supporters of Women’s Aid over the past year, and we thank them so much for this incredible song and video. We know from the messages we receive from survivors what a huge impact the Geoff and Yasmeen Coronation Street storyline is having on awareness of coercive control. When women who have been watching the coercive control storyline tell us that, after being in a relationship with their abusive partner for nearly five decades, they are now seeking help, it becomes clear that storylines raising awareness of domestic abuse can help change lives – and save lives. 

We thank Ian, Loveday, and all of the survivors who gave their time to appear in the music video, for making this possible. We hope that people listen and share this important song, and if they can, donate on the fundraising page.”

You can watch the video here, it's very moving indeed.

Glenda Young

Author of gritty, family saga novels with Headline

Twitter: @Flaming_Nora

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