Former Coronation Street star Bruce Jones has claimed that he can no longer watch the ITV soap after learning his character Les Battersby would die.
It was confirmed last week that bad news about the character, who was a regular fixture on the cobbles for a decade, will reach his daughters Leanne (Jane Danson) and Toyah (Georgia Taylor), in November.
Bruce first arrived into Weatherfield as outspoken Les in 1997 and quickly got into scraps with pensioners Emily Bishop (Eileen Derbyshire) and Percy Sugden (Bill Waddington).
The lazy layabout and his family were devised by producer Brian Park in a bid to modernise the show amid falling viewing figures.
During his tenure he was entwined in some of the soap’s biggest stories – from ridiculing Hayley Cropper (Julie Hesmondhalgh) as she came out as trans, to a feud with Ken Barlow (William Roache) and breakdown of his marriage to Janice (Vicky Entwistle).
Now the actor, who recently turned to pro-wrestling alongside former co-star Steven Arnold – who played Ashley Peacock – has revealed he felt ‘relieved’ upon hearing that Les would be killed off.
‘That annoyed me a little bit, but then I felt relieved. Maybe it’s time for me to go now’ he explained to GBNews.
‘But it’s their decision. It’s not mine. I’ve got no problems with Coronation Street. I had ten great years with them.’
Viewers will best remember Les for his heartwarming bond with step-son Chesney Brown (Sam Aston) and lodger Kirk Sutherland (Andy Whyment), and the time he served a mowed down turkey to vegetarian Toyah on Christmas Day.
Bruce was reportedly suspended from the soap in 2007 after he allegedly got drunk and revealed upcoming storylines.
He was written out off-screen, explaining that he had joined a ZZ Top tribute band on tour as a roadie.
The star also said that fans have told him they prefer repeats of classic episodes on ITV3, and that his wife will be tuning into Emmerdale in future.
‘I sat and watched Corrie with her on Monday night, and at the end of part one of that show I walked out the room and I didn’t go back until I heard the music at the end’ he continued.
‘I just couldn’t watch it. Where were the storylines? There was no comedy. I went out and I made a cup of coffee.’
Bruce concluded by praising the Battersby family unit; Entwistle, Danson and Taylor, though criticised the soap’s decision to break-up Les and Janice in 2001.
