Soaps are adored for their melodramatic plot lines and tacky cliffhangers (there's no wonder millions of people across the UK tune into them every night), but every so often a storyline comes along that serves a greater purpose.
Coronation Street is currently highlighting the issue of coercive control - a type of abuse which has benefitted from increased media coverage lately - through the characters of Yasmeen and Geoff.
Geoff Metcalfe's abusive behaviour towards Yasmeen Nazin has seen a slow build up since the characters married last year, after the radio DJ (played by Ian Bartholomew) tricked Yasmeen (Shelley King) into marrying him. Since, viewers have watched the once vivacious Yasmeen become a shell of her former self.
The latest in evil Geoff's controlling behaviour has seen him taking her bank cards off her, installing cameras in the home so he can keep an eye on her every move and cut her off from the rest of Weatherfield, convincing her - and the town's residents - that she's an alcoholic.
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Monday night's episode made hard watching for viewers as Geoff callously blamed the failure of his magic trick (performed at baby Tianna's birthday party) on his assistant - Yasmeen.
When they return home, Yasmeen begs his son Tim to stay for dinner as not to feel Geoff's wrath. When he doesn't accept, Geoff begins to blame his wife for the downfall of the evening, eventually shoving a camera in her face to cruelly mimic how the couple were filmed and mocked.
The tough viewing appears to have struck a chord with fans of the ITV soap who have taken to social media to talk about the "uncomfortable" storyline.
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"Anyone else starting to find the Geoff & yasmin storyline really difficult to watch #coronationstreet," wrote one fan.
"The #coronationstreet storyline with Geoff and Yasmeen makes me SO uncomfortable, but that's because it's done so well," opinioned another.
"Yasmeen and Geoff storyline has to come to an end soon surely. Such a nasty character. Please @itvcorrie free Yasmeen from this horrible man," pleaded another with the channel.
But while many are calling for the difficult storyline to end, many are praising it for what it is: essential viewing.
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The most recent figures from the Domestic Abuse in England and Wales report, ending in March 2019, saw coercive control offences rise to 17,616, up from 9,053 the year before. Shining a light on such a real issue, even through the media of TV, can only be a positive thing.
"For everyone complaining about the Geoff/Yasmeen storyline making them angry or uncomfortable imagine living it in real life. Things like this can't be switched on and off, so the storyline should run as it needs to, to reflect real life," said one fan.
"This storyline really highlights how important soaps are. There is no more effective way to get real life issues that we need to be aware of and discussing, in to millions of households daily," penned another.
Others suggested ways for the plot line to play out, instead of ending unrealistically with murder, as we see so many times with abuse storylines in soaps.
Perhaps Tim will uncover his father's abuse, or Yasmeen's friend Cathy will expose him?
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Coronation Street continues tonight on ITV. If you've been affected by any of the issues raised in Yasmeen and Geoff's story, ITV offer a helpful advice page.
Featured Image Credit: ITVTopics: Entertainement, Coronation Street, Relationships,
