Coronation Street’s Bruce Jones was pictured for the first time on Saturday since revealing his character was sacked by ITV via email.
The actor, 71, became a household name after hitting the cobbles as the foul-mouthed Les, head of the equally boorish Battersby family (wife Janice and troublesome teenage daughters Leanne and Toyah) in 1997.
Out with his wife Sandra this weekend, Bruce enjoyed a shopping spree in Wales, where he was recognized by a fan.
She wore a black turtleneck with a sherpa-lined denim jacket and jeans for the outing.
Bruce smiled after a woman stopped him outside the store and posed for a quick photo.
Coronation Street’s Bruce Jones was pictured for the first time on Saturday since ITV axed his character.
The actor, 71, enjoyed shopping in Wales, where he was recognized by a fan
Although the character has remained popular with fans over the years and many are urging him to return, last week it was revealed that Les were being killed off off-screen, and Bruce was informed of the news via email.
Now, in a new interview, the former soap star has told how bosses have apologized for the way they broke the news, with Bruce also revealing he can no longer look after Corrie.
talking to EN News, Bruce shared: ‘I received an email from the casting office that said: Dear Mr. Jones, I regret to inform you that Les Battersby will be passing away in the coming months.
‘I read the email and thought, why send me an email like that? Why call me Mr. Jones? Why don’t you call me Bruce?
“That bothered me a little, but then I felt relieved. Maybe it’s time for me to go now.
Bruce went on to say that fans are “not happy” with the news of Les’ permanent departure, although he admitted it is a “relief” to say a final goodbye to his alter ego.
He explained: “I have been on the street these last few days shopping and I went to watch football. I went to see Manchester City on Sunday and people came up to me and said: “This is ridiculous. They should leave you there.”
But it’s your decision. It’s not mine. I have no problems with Coronation Street. I had ten fantastic years with them, but they (viewers) are pretty upset about it. I say, “There’s no point attacking me, it’s not my fault.”
Bruce became a household name after hitting the cobbles as the foul-mouthed Les, head of the equally rude Battersby family, his wife Janice (pictured) and their troublesome teenage daughters, Leanne and Toyah, in 1997.
She wore a black turtleneck with a sherpa-lined denim jacket and jeans for the outing.
‘I’m sad in one way, but relieved in another. “I mean, it’s time to let it go and I’m very happy with that,” he added.
“The fans are not happy and all that, people push me in the street saying, ‘We’re not seeing it. We’re watching a classic.” And I get comments from these people who were pretty upset about it; people who love Les.
But it’s your decision. It’s your show.
Meanwhile, when Bruce claimed that fans were tuning out due to the news, he went on to say that he doesn’t tune into the soap opera either, having left the room when his wife was watching it recently.
He said: ‘At the weekend my wife said: “I’m going to watch Emmerdale.” But I don’t watch soap operas. I was in one for 10 years and I was in Heartbeat and many shows, but I don’t watch soap operas.
‘I didn’t have time when I was there to see it, because I was in it. But I sat down and watched Corrie with her on Monday night, and at the end of the first part of that show I left the room and didn’t come back until I heard the music at the end. I just couldn’t see it.’
In a new interview, the former soap star told how bosses apologized for the way they broke the news, with Bruce also revealing he can no longer look after Corrie.
Speaking to GB News, Bruce shared: “I received an email from the casting office saying: Dear Mr Jones, I regret to inform you that Les Battersby will be dying in the coming months” (pictured in 1997).
Bruce continued: ‘Where were the stories? There was no comedy. My wife said to me when I came back, “Why did you go out?” I said, “Sandra, that’s not a show I was on. That wasn’t the show I spent 10 years on.”
‘So no, I’m sorry I couldn’t see it. I went out and made myself a cup of coffee.
Recalling his time on the iconic soap, Bruce concluded: “I love acting and I love working with Vicky Entwistle and the two girls. We actually became a unit. I think the only mistake we made in my mind was breaking up Les and Janice. They should never separate Les and Janice. I think that was the end of the Battersbys when that happened.
“But at least I’ve received an apology from the press office for (telling me via email), which I’m grateful for.”