Coronation Street’s Bruce Jones was pictured for the first time on Saturday since the revelation that his character had been axed by ITV via email.
The actor, 71, became a household name after landing on the cobbles in 1997 as foul-mouthed Les, head of the equally boorish Battersby family – wife Janice and their troublesome teenage daughters Leanne and Toyah.
Bruce headed out with his wife Sandra this weekend and went shopping in Wales, where he was recognized by a fan.
He wore a black turtleneck sweater, sherpa-lined denim jacket and jeans for the outing.
Bruce smiled after being stopped by a woman outside the store and posed for a quick photo.
Coronation Street’s Bruce Jones was photographed on Saturday for the first time since his character was axed by ITV
The actor, 71, enjoyed a day of shopping in Wales where he was recognized by a fan
Although the character has remained popular with fans over the years, with many urging him to make a comeback, it was revealed last week that Les was killed off-screen – with Bruce informed of the news by email .
Now the ex-soap star has told in a new interview how bosses have apologized for the way they broke the news, with Bruce also revealing he can now no longer watch Corrie.
Speak with GB News, Bruce shared: “I received an email from the casting agency stating: 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 are you sending me an email like that? Why do you call me Mr. Jones? Why don’t you call me Bruce?
‘That annoyed me a bit, 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’ve been out on the street shopping for the past few days and went to watch football. I went to watch Manchester City on Sunday and people said: “This is ridiculous. They should keep you in.”
‘But it’s their decision. It’s not mine. I have no problems with Coronation Street. I’ve had ten great years with them, but they (the viewers) are quite annoyed by it. I say, ‘There’s no point in attacking me, it’s not my fault.’
Bruce became a household name after arriving on the cobbles in 1997 as foul-mouthed Les, head of the equally boorish Battersby family – wife Janice (pictured) and their troublesome teenage daughters Leanne and Toyah.
He wore a black turtleneck sweater, sherpa-lined denim jacket and jeans for the outing
‘On the one hand I am sad, but on the other hand I am relieved. “I mean, it’s time to let go now, and I’m really happy about that,” he added.
‘The fans are not happy and everything, people pull me into the street and say: “We don’t watch it. We watch classics.” And I get the feedback from these people who were quite annoyed about it; people who love Les.
‘But it’s their decision. It’s their show.’
Meanwhile, while Bruce claimed fans were tuning out over the news, he went on to reveal that he too is no longer tuning into the soap after walking out of 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 soaps. I was in one for 10 years and I was in Heartbeat and a lot of shows but I don’t watch soaps.
“I didn’t have time when I was there to watch it because I was in it. But on Monday night I was watching Corrie with her, and at the end of part one of that show I walked out of the room and only went back when I heard the music at the end. I just couldn’t watch it.’
In a new interview, the ex-soap star told how bosses have apologized for the way they broke the news, with Bruce also revealing he can now no longer watch Corrie
Speaking to GB New s, Bruce said: ‘I received an email from the casting agency 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 storylines? There was no comedy. When I came back, my wife said to me, ‘Why did you go out?’ I said, “Sandra, that’s not the show I was on. That wasn’t the show I spent ten years on.”
“So no, I’m sorry I couldn’t watch it. I went outside and made a cup of coffee.’
Reflecting on his time on the iconic soap, Bruce concluded: ‘I love acting and I love working with Vicky Entwistle and the two girls. We have actually become a unit. I think the only mistake we ever made was splitting 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 got an apology from the press office [telling me by email] which I am grateful for.’