Coronation Street 's Joe Duttine, who plays Tim Metcalfe, revealed viewers could not separate him from his character over the storyline with Geoff.
In fact, they were so angry when Tim supported lying Geoff, they even abused him in the street.
"I’ve literally had people calling me thick and all sorts on the street, I was filling my car up the other day and someone shouted ‘Oi Tim you thick b****r’," said Joe.
"This storyline has reached so many people and everyone wanted Tim to realise what is going on.
"The reaction on social media once he found out was brilliant and it was great to get the feedback that people enjoyed the episodes.
"It’s good to know that people think you are doing a good job, it gave me a real lift and it’s very much appreciated."
As Tim has discovered Elaine really was his mother, and that his father was an abuser, he is feeling "angry, upset, let down, disappointed, betrayed and just very confused," said Joe.
He continued: "He also feels guilt and responsibility because he had been so horrible to Alya and Yasmeen and dismissed everybody and chose not to believe anyone.
"All the good people in his life were just trying to get him to see the light, at times he was really rude to those people so he feels he has let people down and he is starting to question his own judgement."
Joe added: "He feels that this whole life was a lie, there is a photo album with not one picture of his mum and his dad convinced him his mum didn’t like having her photo taken.
"That is a massive thing to go without for your whole life, it is the ultimate betrayal."
Tim and Sally go ahead with their plan to renew their vows in a socially distanced ceremony and they keep it a secret from Geoff, but his granddaughter Faye accidentally lets it slip to him.
Joe explained: "The last thing Tim wants is his dad ruining something else, this is too important a day for Tim, he knows that Geoff hates Sally and he does almost manage to spoil it.
"But there are too many people willing to step in and help Sally and Tim."
* Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7.30pm and 8.30pm on ITV
