Yahoo News Coronation Street's Geoff steps up control of Yasmeen
Coronation Street's new villain Geoff Metcalfe will step up his attempts to take control of Yasmeen Nazir's life next week.
Show bosses have announced plans to explore the issue of coercive control with Yasmeen and Geoff's relationship, which has started to take a dark turn recently.
Next week's episodes see Geoff (Ian Bartholomew) put on a show of caring for Yasmeen while hiding a bigger agenda.
Geoff spoils Yasmeen (Shelley King) with a champagne breakfast, but also offers to speak to the insurance company following a "mystery robbery" at her home.
In reality, Geoff has stolen Yasmeen's treasured items himself and now wants to seize his opportunity to start looking after her finances.
When Yasmeen gets upset about the loss of a framed photo of Kal, Geoff keeps her on side by replacing it with a huge picture on the wall.
Later, Geoff proudly tells Yasmeen that he has shopped around and managed to save her over £200 on her house insurance, which even covers his DJ gear.
Yasmeen is impressed by Geoff's ability to find a great bargain – so much so that she doesn't question his next piece of news.
Geoff makes out that he accidentally gave his own bank details to the old insurer for her jewellery payout, so has received the money himself.
Yameen assures Geoff that it's fine, leaving him secretly pleased that he's taking control of her finances. Is Yasmeen starting to lose her independence?
Coronation Street's producer Iain MacLeod recently spoke about the coercive control storyline, explaining: "It's common for people to think abusive behaviour has to be physical - but you can damage someone profoundly without laying a finger on them.
"Many thousands of people feel trapped in relationships with someone who claims to love them but who is actually taking them apart piece by piece, isolating them from friends and family and locking them in an invisible prison of fear and insecurity.
"Often, the abusive behaviours accumulate and intensify over time so that you don't realise it's happening - it's an insidious type of brainwashing.
"I hope this story will help anyone going through similar experiences in the real world by highlighting that feeling undermined, belittled, controlled or intimidated by your partner is never okay. The old 'sticks and stones' adage is just plain wrong - words can be instruments of torture and manipulation."
Coronation Street airs these scenes on Wednesday, July 3 at 7.30pm and 8.30pm on ITV.
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