Coronation Street fans have been left baffled as one of their favourite soap villains went missing from ITV competition Britain’s Got Talent.
Ian Bartholomew, who played abuser Geoff Metcalfe on the cobbles from 2018 to 2021, was slated to audition for the 2022 series – and it was reported in March this year that he made the judges cry.
But he has failed to show up on the programme, which is already at the live show stage.
According to The Sun, Ian wowed at the audition as he performed a song he had written for domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid – the music video for which he has also starred in.
The track, This Time It’s Forever, left the judges in tears – though Ian also received some constructive criticism.
Introducing himself to the judges during his audition, Ian said: “I am from Cheshire. I was in Coronation Street. I played nasty Geoff Metcalfe. He was a nasty piece of work. I started in 2018 and I fell off a roof in the show last year. I am 67.
“The song I am singing I wrote myself and was used in a campaign by Women’s Aid to raise awareness about domestic abuse. I am not here for me, I am here for the charity and the abused victims.”
He added that he’d written the song during the first lockdown, when cases of domestic abuse were soaring – with three women dying every two weeks.
He said: “I was so angry and I still am.
“This song just came out and I approached Women’s Aid and that is why I am standing here now as this program has the most amazing reach.”
Ian got a yes from all four judges, with David Walliams admitting he performed the song “brilliantly”, adding: “It is going to do loads of good by reaching out to people on TV and it will help the charity.”
Amanda Holden hinted it would “work much better” if Ian had some women with him on stage to form a choir, adding: “It is this odd concept of this man that we all know from Corrie singing about these poor women.
“I think it needs some coming out behind you so we can turn it into something even stronger. The song is very beautiful.”
But irate fans have been left disgruntled as the audition failed to appear on screen, and took to Reddit to vent their frustration and confusion.
One wrote: “Was the actor who played Geoff Metcalfe appeared on Britain’s Got Talent yet?
“I thought that I read that the actor went on stage and performed a song and the judges liked it. Has he been on it yet?”
Another said: “No, and since this week is the live semi-finals they’re obviously not showing him if he did.”
As another said: “Definitely not!”
Someone else couldn’t resist joking: “He’d have really stormed the audition as a magician with Yasmeen, ‘Jiggle it Geoff’,” referring to his Corrie character’s impromptu stage name.
If you have been affected by issues of domestic violence or coercive control you can call Refuge’s 24-Hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline for free. The number is 0808 2000 247.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
