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Coronation Street's Shelley King has been 'hell to live with' over abuse storyline

FROM ITV

STRICT EMBARGO - No Use Before  Tuesday 23rd February 2021

Coronation Street - Ep 10263

Wednesday 3rd March 2021 - 1st Ep

Locking herself into No.6 Yasmeen Metcalfe’s [SHELLEY KING] suddenly wracked with pain. Clutching her chest, she struggles to breath.

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Shelley King plays Yasmeen Nazir in Corrie. (ITV Plc)

Coronation Street actor Shelley King has admitted that her emotionally draining storyline about abuse has made her "hell to live with".

King plays Yasmeen Nazir, who suffered at the hands of abusive husband Geoff (Ian Bartholomew) for years before his death in December.

Speaking about the storyline on Lorraine, King said it had taken its toll on her personal life – although luckily wife Trilby James was understanding.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - JUNE 01: Shelley King and Trilby James attend the British Soap Awards at The Lowry Theatre on June 01, 2019 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)
Shelley King with wife Trilby James. (Karwai Tang/WireImage)

The 65-year-old actor said: "I've been hell to live with – I mean, poor Trilby! Thank goodness she's a wonderful director and actor and understands the process that we all have to go through.

Read more: This week's Coronation Street spoilers

"And thank god for Ian, whom I love and I think is one of my dearest friends because we trusted each other and we helped each other so much and we talked about it and we talked through our problems, because we have to visit a lot of dark places just to recreate that mood."

Viewers may have seen Geoff as a monster, but King explained that Bartholomew could not have been a better colleague and friend.

Geoff (Ian Bartholomew) makes a toast as he watches Yasmeen (Shelley King) eat her pet chicken, Charlotte.
Ian Bartholomew and Shelley King co-starred as Geoff and Yasmeen. (ITV PLC)

She said: "You cannot open yourself out in that way unless you trust the person you're working with.

"I miss him dreadfully. I mean, Yasmeen is still being haunted by him. I just wish I could see him more and the family – his kids and his family.

"But we can't do anything – but soon we'll be down that motorway having a picnic, I hope, very soon!"

King added that she hoped Corrie fans would see Yasmeen get back to her outgoing self now that she has escaped Geoff's clutches and is rebuilding her life.

Watch: Coronation Street actor Johnny Briggs dies aged 85