Corrie villain looks unrecognisable as he makes a surprise appearance in Midsomer Murders – three years after being sensationally killed off

He played the evil abuser Geoff Metcalfe before he was sensationally murdered.

But Coronation Street star Ian Bartholomew looked worlds away from his soap alter-ego when he made a surprise appearance in Midsomer Murders on Sunday.

The actor, 69, sported a bushy gray beard for his guest starring role in the mystery drama, taking on the role of the father of a murdered girl named Tilly.

In the episode, his character publicly denounced a group of psychics who had settled in the village, accusing them of being responsible for his daughter’s death.

He raised suspicions that he might be the culprit when Detective Jamie Winter caught him trying to burn Tilly’s diaries, and was later arrested when he violently detained the psychics during their mystical encounter.

In Corrie, Ian was best known for playing Yasmeen’s controlling husband Geoff, making him one of the soap’s most hated characters.

The hard-hitting storyline shed light on compulsive control and saw a terrified Yasmeen try to kill Geoff, and nearly go to jail for her crime.

In dramatic scenes, Geoff’s abuse of Yasmeen was soon revealed, and he was killed after falling from a roof in a special episode marking the soap’s 60th anniversary in December 2020.

Parallels can certainly be drawn between Ian’s two roles, as his Midsomer character was also accused of controlling his daughter before her death.

Sunday’s episode of Midsomer Murders also featured a surprise cameo from Holly Willoughby, making her acting debut as “The Queen Of Daytime.”

Baffled viewers saw the TV regular make a fleeting appearance at a paranormal convention attended by local sleuth John Barnaby, played by film veteran Neil Dudgeon, and his partner, DS Jamie Winter, played by Nick Hendrix, as they investigate a murder.

Holly, a VIP guest at the event, sits on a throne and is the center of attention as the tired detectives spot her after they enter.

“Is that the queen of the day?” asks Winter, signaling the host if she catches sight of them.

Scary! The actor is best known for his role as the abusive Geoff Metcalfe in the ITV soap and went on to become one of its most hated characters

RIP: Geoff was sensationally murdered in December 2020, in a special episode celebrating Corrie’s 60th birthday

Apparently not a fan of This Morning, the much older Barnaby responds, “Gloria Hunniford? Are you sure?’

Fans were equally unsure, albeit for different reasons, with many blighting the scene’s “forced and unrealistic” dialogue and Holly’s presence on the show.

A viewer turned to X and wrote, “Is that the queen of the day?” As if anyone would say that.’

While a second commented: ‘Ah yes, realistic, not at all forced top quality dialogue there ITV.’

A third quipped, “How much did Holly Willoughby pay the #MidsomerMurders writers to get that line.”

While a fourth wrote, ‘Why why Holly Willoughby? Much better without, because it felt like it broke the fourth wall by using her – that silly grin she uses had no place in that episode with the other “real” actors. Put a new actor on set instead!’

Others, however, were more charitable, with one commenting, “I actually kind of like Holly Willoughby popping up every once in a while playing herself in the episode of #MidsomerMurders on STV.”

Cameo: The autocue was nowhere to be seen when Holly Willoughby made her acting debut in Sunday night’s episode of Midsomer Murders

Guest of Honor: Holly was a VIP guest when the Midsomer village of Angel’s Rise hosted the annual Psychic Fayre

While another added: ‘Forgot @hollywills would be in #MidsomerMurders. I love it, I see her shine.’

Appearing on Wednesday’s edition of Good Morning Britain, Dudgeon explained the decision to cast Holly despite the presenter having no apparent acting experience.

He said, “Well, she’s kind of a friend of the show, I think — she’s a huge fan of the show and we’re always looking to broaden our casting net.”

“She was amazing, she was professional through and through. I think she was a little nervous when she first arrived. She plays a character called Holly Willoughby, I wouldn’t say it’s her.’