As part of our series of 60th anniversary press day interviews, we join ITV journalist Nina Nannar to discuss the coercive control story with actors Shelley King (Yasmeen Metcalfe), Ian Bartholomew (Geoff Metcalfe) and Sair Khan (Alya Nazir)
Worthy of a three-part interview, here is part two and a chat with actor Ian Bartholomew about the coercive control story, joining Coronation Street, and about being a baddie in a continuing drama.
NN = Nina Nannar, IB = Ian Bartholomew
NN - The writing between Geoff and Yasmeen has been extraordinary. Was this a difficult part to play?
IB- It has been a riot and very challenging to play. As Shelley said, people around us have been very supportive and understanding. I would reiterate most of what Shelley has said, it's been a great honour and privilege to be involved in a story like this. It affects so many people - this is what a public broadcaster does. It's important to bring the message out of the shadows and into the light.
NN - Have you known for a while that your story is going to end with some conclusion?
IB -When I first joined, Geoff was a bit of a bumbling idiot, the hospital DJ and amateur magician. He suddenly developed when they decided to turn the storyline and character into something else, that was 6 months in - we have been playing this storyline now for over two years. I think it was pretty much understood, that you play a baddie like this, there is a certain amount of shelf-life and it was not a surprise when we realised we were coming to this conclusion and catharsis for Yasmeen.
NN - What happens when you play a strong scene with Shelley, or Sair maybe. Do you have a cup of tea - how do you decompress?
IB -You have to remember it's not me, its the character. There is a certain amount of overlap because doing it all day every day, especially when you are in a storyline like this it becomes your life - you have to be able to turn off. My wife and kids keep me sane and grounded. Over the years, you develop a technique to be able to deal with it.
NN - As an actor, what was it like to join Coronation Street, was it a sense of achievement to be joining such high-calibre drama?
IB - Gobsmacked that I got the part anyway. I was unsure how long I was going to be here, but I got to this point and, the character has got to this point. It has been a great honour to be here on the 60th anniversary!
Keep 'em peeled for part three of this interview where we get the lowdown from Alya Nazir aka Sair Khan.
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