Former Coronation Street star Ian Bartholomew has wowed Britain's Got Talent judges with an emotional performance.

The actor, best known for playing the role of domestic abuser Geoff Metcalfe on the ITV soap, made a surprise appearance during the contest's first round of auditions this week, The Sun reports.

Bartholomew performed his own song 'This Time', with all funds from the track going to Women's Aid, which helps domestic abuse survivors.

geoff metcalfe in coronation street
ITV

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"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," Bartholomew told judges Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams.

"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," the actor continued.

britain's got talent judges, 2022
ITV

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Bartholomew explained that he wrote the song during the first lockdown.

"The song came out of the first lockdown when cases of domestic abuse were going through the roof and three women were dying every two weeks and I was so angry and I still am," he said.

"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."

Note: The video below contains graphic scenes of domestic abuse.

youtubeView full post on Youtube

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BGT's judges were touched by Bartholomew's performance.

"You did it brilliantly and it is going to do loads of good by reaching out to people on TV and it will help the charity," Walliams said.

"The whole package is incredible and it is unexpected because you are an actor from Coronation Street and this is a very difficult subject. It worked very well."

Holden and Cowell praised Bartholomew's efforts and suggested the actor sing with domestic abuse victims for a bigger impact.

Britain's Got Talent will return in 2022 on ITV.


If you've been affected by any of the issues raised in this story, organisations including Refuge (www.refuge.org.uk) and Women's Aid (www.womensaid.org.uk) can provide further support and information. The 24-hour, freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline is 0808 2000 247. The US National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), or text LOVEIS to 22522.

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Stefania Sarrubba

Reporter, Digital Spy

Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy

Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).