Coronation Street fans couldn’t believe what they were seeing during Ted’s funeral scenes in Friday night’s episode of the ITV soap.
Viewers were sure they spotted iconic Corrie villain Geoff Metcalfe – who was killed off in 2020 – while Emma chatted to Ted’s grandson at the church.
Geoff was reviled by viewers during his reign of terror on the cobbles, as he relentlessly abused his wife Yasmeen – locking her in his magician’s box, threatening her with a knife and cutting her off from friends and family.
Though the hospital radio presenter started off as mild-mannered when he was introduced as Tim’s dad, things soon took a dark turn when Geoff’s controlling tactics came to the surface.
He died by falling off a roof while Yasmeen and Alya looked on.
But fans were sure that Geoff – played by Ian Bartholomew – made a cameo appearance in the soap in the congregation of mourners at Ted’s funeral.
(Image: ITV)
The elderly man died after Faye – Geoff’s granddaughter – hit him with her car, with Faye and Emma working together to cover up the tragic incident.
And as Emma chatted to Ted’s grandson in the church, a group of mourners could be seen chatting behind her.
Taking to Twitter, one fan wrote: “That group of people behind Emma. One of them looks remarkably like Geoff #Corrie.”
As someone else echoed: “That guy in the background of the funeral looks like Yasmeen’s ex Geoff? #Corrie.”
(Image: ITV)
Four people were clearly visible in the shot – and one man had the same hairstyle and face shape as the late Geoff.
And it wouldn’t be the first time the star has made a surprise cameo since his death, as he appeared as a vision to Yasmeen in February of 2021 – more than two months after he was killed off.
Since leaving the soap, actor Ian has starred in one other TV project – appearing as Chitterlow in the TV musical Kipps: the New Half a Sixpence Musical.
It appears the character of Geoff is never far from Ian’s mind, either – as he has even since appeared on Britain’s Got Talent with an emotional performance to raise money and awareness for domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid.
(Image: ITV)
The Sun reported that the star performed his self-penned track This Time, used in a campaign by the charity. Speaking on the stage, he told judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams: “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 wrote the song during the first lockdown, when “cases of domestic abuse were going through the roof”.
The actor added: “The song just came out and I approached Women’s Aid and that is why I am standing here now as this programme has the most amazing reach.”
Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7:30pm on ITV.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
