Coronation Street fans rooting for Yasmeen Metcalfe watched as she lashed out at her husband Geoff after months of abuse in tonight's dramatic episode.
In a nail-biting half an hour featuring Geoff and Yasmeen in almost every scene, fans saw a claustrophobic Yasmeen fight back like a 'wounded animal.'
An exhausted Yasmeen has been bullied, manipulated and controlled by her cruel husband - and in Friday's episode she stabbed him with broken a wine bottle after he forced her to wear a revealing dress bought for one of his escorts.
Geoff locked her in the house after accusing her of ruining their evening with family and friends at the Rovers Return, then threw chips at her and hurled insults while brandishing a bread knife.
"You actually thought I bought it for you? I bought it for someone who would fill it all the right places," he sneered about the dress.
"You're a shell of a woman, a husk."
Coming at her with the knife, he asked: "Why can't you grow a spine?
"You flinch like I'm some kind of monster."
And as Yasmeen cried in terror he spat: "Maybe I should kill you. Do the world a favour.
"Nobody would notice if you were gone."
Yasmeen struck Geoff across the head and as he reeled in shock she stabbed him with the neck of the broken bottle.
Viewers said they were 'cheering' as she retaliated.
"I think everyone watching #corrie is cheering for Yasmeen," tweeted one viewer.
"Yes Yasmeen!" tweeted another.
"I’m not saying Geoff deserved it, but he deserved it," said another.
The soap has worked with the organisations Women's Aid and charity Independent Choices Greater Manchester on the coercive control story.
In horrifying scenes Geoff previously served up Yasmeen's beloved pet hen for dinner and Yasmeen recently tested positive for the sexually transmitted infection chlamydia after the hospital radio DJ and magician used escorts.
Geoff also locked her up in his magic box and planted CCTV in their home so he could monitor her every move.
Speaking about the moment leading to Yasmeen slashing Geoff, actress Shelley King said: "What she does is react like a wounded cornered animal she just wants it all to stop, she defends herself she doesn't attack him but it is him who ends up bleeding on the kitchen floor.”
Viewers are now wondering if Geoff’s reign of terror is finally over and if Yasmeen pays the price for lashing out at her abuser.
When quizzed by chat show host Lorraine Kelly this week actor Ian Bartholomew was staying tight-lipped on whether this was the end of his character.
"That was edge of the seat stuff . Fantastic acting , but don’t think Geoff’s dead," suggested one viewer.
"He has to get his just desserts."
And another asked: "Geoff dead hopefully? Please scriptwriters, don’t let this storyline last any longer."
Next week police are called to the cobbles, Yasmeen is taken in for questioning and 6 Coronation Street is searched for evidence.
Yasmeen's worried granddaughter Alya Nazir returns from her brother's wedding celebrations in Spain and heads straight to the police station to be with Yasmeen.
In the Rovers Return the police question the regulars about Geoff and Yasmeen’s relationship.
Corrie senior storyliner Amy Coombs previously said they wanted to show with this storyline that domestic abuse doesn't have to just be physical.
It was announced last June that the soap was to explore the disturbing effects of coercive control relationships.
Since 2015 this form of abuse has been classed as a criminal offence and underpins 95 per cent of all abusive relationships.
If you or someone you know is at risk from domestic abuse please go to womensaid.org.uk
