The former EastEnders actress has let him move back into their luxury home - just a month after kicking him out and ending their volatile 23-year relationship.
Last night a source close to the couple said: "After spending a few weeks apart she's decided to take him back. She's said it's a case of she can't live with him, can't live without him.
"They've been through so much together it's easier than facing life apart."
"Her family are stunned though. They were hoping she was shot of him. They've branded him a monster in the past."
Another source told us: "All couples have rows, but they can patch things up and get over them."
Gillian's decision will upset her family, especially sister Kim, a former cop. Kim has said: "I've worked with victims in these situations. He tells her how awful she is, that nobody loves her and she'll never find another man."
We revealed last month that one-time millionaire businessman Knights, 54, was virtually penniless and dossing on friends' couches after being booted out of the family home in Broxbourne, Herts, where the couple lived with children Jessica, 17, and Harrison, 10.
It was a dramatic turnaround after Gillian - who played Kathy Beale in Enders for 15 years and starred in Footballers' Wives, The Bill and Strictly - endured years of violent bust-ups.
In 2005 she kicked Knights out for cheating with a barmaid but then forgave him. In 2006 Gillian needed three stitches in her scalp after he beat her up in front of their terrified son while out celebrating their 20th anniversary. He was cautioned after Gillian, 53, refused to press charges.
Six months later Geoff was convicted of assault after attacking a hotel receptionist in Barbados.
And in January this year he was arrested and bailed after allegedly assaulting Jessica's ex-boyfriend Darren Welsh, 18.
This article has 25 comments
yes laura wilton it does get better, i have been apart for over a year and miss him less and less each day x
By pauline. Posted October 4 2009 at 5:25 PM.
Gilly I Love Youuu !!! :) My Mummy Number 2 XxX
By Sara :) . Posted August 21 2009 at 11:10 PM.
Gillian - you cannot win this one. This is NOT love and no matter how many times you forgive him, you cannot make him love you.
By Sophie. Posted July 19 2009 at 10:31 AM.
I think that everyone who is slagging Gillian off is right as she is wrong to take him back, however it is easy for others to pass jugdement and criticise as they dont know how she feels, she is obviously a very scared woman, scared of being alone, with low self esteem after years of this appalling bahaviour, i am a past victim of domestic violence , i left my partner because of my children as i put them first although i was devastated and wanted to try again in my heart i knew he would never change, and i have to say it completely destroys your confidence and Gillian is clearly not a happy women and i cant see her feeling good about herself with this decision she has probably been feeling very depressed and decided this was better than the depression and lonliness continuing as it is a scary thought for any woman. Gillian is a gorgeous woman and can do sooooo much better and im sure she will wake up the next time this happens, because im afraid it will, these kind of men never change, Gillian be strong aand leave this coward and u will not be alone for long.
By Karena Browning. Posted July 12 2009 at 8:11 PM.
'Weak willed woman?' 'Silly cow?' 'Ashamed of herself?' Amazing how it's Gillian who is being beaten and yet she's being blamed!
Women who stay with a violent partner often do so because they have zero esteem thanks to years of being told how shit they are, how nobody will love them and quite often out of sheer FEAR. Men do track their partner down and kill them. After years of abuse she needs help and proper support to break away completely. I agree she should do it for the sake of her kids but all this victim blaming is appalling. He is the one who is abusive remember.
By Evie. Posted July 12 2009 at 7:19 PM.
She will learn the hard way.
By Bonnieb. Posted July 12 2009 at 6:40 PM.
Ive been in this situation so I do know. Its just so frustrating that she managed a whole month without this bully in her and her childrens lives and now shes completely undone all that hard work. Each minute when something like that has happened to you seems like a lifetime, yet she had done so well. Great great pity. No one has the right to judge anyone, but for her to gain the courage to ever get rid of him again, its scary to think what he will have to do now to make her realise
By lynne. Posted July 12 2009 at 5:58 PM.
she makes me sick wanting sympathy then going back to him,i do believe some people like it really and i feel sorry for all the people go through abuse in there relationships and dong have a the money or fame to be able to escape like gillian did, its her children i feel sorry for they will grow up to think it is ok,wonder what geoff would do if his daughters boyfriend started hitting her,geoff and gillian belong together
By robbie. Posted July 12 2009 at 6:12 PM.
I endured a 2 year violent and abusive relationship with my husband but i got out 4 my daughters sake but i miss him so much but i no i wud lose my daughter family and home if i got back with him...we've been apart for 9 months now, does it eva get easier?
By Laura Wilton. Posted July 12 2009 at 4:41 PM.
Some womaen enjoy being the victim and it seems that this stupid woman does. she could and should start her life again without this bully.....she can support herself and doesn't need him. Get a life
By Anna. Posted July 12 2009 at 3:01 PM.
How pathetic can you get taking back a man who has all but destoyed your life. Does she really think he'll change his ways. N. Briggs is right a leopard does not change his spots... Get out gillian and stay out..... AND NOW......
By Lorna Wanstall. Posted July 12 2009 at 12:29 PM.
BELIEVE ME-I know what its like to be emotionally & physically beaten by the person who is ment to love u. I put up with it for 3yrs but I had to leave for my SONS SAKE. He was very young & the effect is has on them is alot worse than it has on the you. I still loved him & didnt want to leave him but I HAD 2 or my lovely little boy would have seen it over & over again & in my mind that was powerfull enough for me to gain the strength to leave - scared or not. My SON needed safe, secure, happy life & if that ment me losing the only person I only really loved then so be it. I dont think Gillian will ever leave him now, the longer your in a voilent relationship the harder it is to leave. I only have sympathy for her kids & family now. She is so selfish & stupid to take him back.
By Gail. Posted July 12 2009 at 11:53 AM.
silly cow.How dumb can you get?
By juan_kango. Posted July 12 2009 at 11:51 AM.
Gillian how could you you will regreat it your a fool.
By Cal. Posted July 12 2009 at 10:47 AM.
Unless you lot have suffered at the hands of a wifebeater u all need to save the comments, I was beaten by a partner who gave me everything, said he loved me, he would lose it completely then say sorry, and I have kids as well, its not just a case of telling them to get lost its not that easy when you cant think straight, yes I left him but I was stalked for over a year by him pleading to take him back, I couldnt go out but he woud be lurking watching me, I had to move 500miles away from everything I knew and loved to get away, Gillian has been with this idiot 23 years thats a long long time of mental as well as physical abuse, she maybe cant break the habit or maybe theres another excuse as to why she took him back, she is mad he will never change they never do, but making comments about stuff half of you havent experienced and hopefully never will is crazy
By Gilly. Posted July 12 2009 at 11:07 AM.
It's very sad. She sending out the wrong message to her kids. That it's ok to beat your wife and it's ok to be beaten. How her son and daughter can learn what a loving and respectful relationship is when they see their parents being so destructive towards each other. It's so frustrating for people around when a woman cannot get out of this vicious circle!
By Malina. Posted July 12 2009 at 10:54 AM.
She would sit on the loose women show and slag off any other weak women who did the same thing
By ALEXIS YOUNG. Posted July 12 2009 at 11:25 AM.
Takin him back after hes cheated on you is bad enough but taking him back after hes beaten you is just plain dumb!!!
By cravena. Posted July 12 2009 at 10:05 AM.
Its a shame she can't look at herself next to him and see how attractive she is. He looks like a bloated wrinkly past it "r sole"
He has eaten away at her self esteem for years, the woman needs help NOT criticism!!!
By Moira symons. Posted July 12 2009 at 8:15 AM.
There's no fool like an old fool!
By lisa. Posted July 12 2009 at 7:41 AM.
how could she let her children live with a wifebeater.
By rita fullick. Posted July 12 2009 at 6:41 AM.
Weak
By Blink. Posted July 12 2009 at 2:29 AM.
silly girl gillian,,,,,, you'll be sorry
By tim. Posted July 12 2009 at 1:05 AM.
I totally agree with N Briggs. Not only that, what sort of mother is she to allow her children to be bought up in such dysfunction? She should be ashamed of herself.
By M Erlin. Posted July 11 2009 at 11:58 PM.
What a weak willed woman she is. She should stand up for herself and stop playing the martr. How she could go back to him after he beat her up infront of their son says it all. He is just a bully and a nobody and she is a well known actress. Get rid of him a lepoard never changes its spots.
By N Briggs. Posted July 11 2009 at 11:06 PM.