FORMER Corrie star Bruce Jones who won millions of fans with his portrayal of Les Battersby, has landed his first major acting job since soap bosses decided to kill off his character.
The 71-year-old has singed up to star in pantomime over the festive season, appearing in Beauty and the Beast at the Heywood Sports Village in Greater Manchester.
Bruce, who has played his beloved character for around two decades, will star opposite fellow cobbles actor, Steven Arnold, who has appeared as Ashley Peacock for more than 15 years.
Indeed it now seems that actor Steven has made a return to acting, after he was spotted working at a butcher’s in Yorkshire, in a bid to pay the bills between jobs.
Meanwhile, actor Bruce was thought to have signed onto the pantomime, just days after learning that his character was due to be killed off for good.
Having played loudmouth cabbie Les on the soap for more than twenty years, Bruce was said to have been ‘left annoyed’ when bosses told him that his character had come to the end of the line.
The actor was said to have been especially miffed that he was informed of his character’s exit via email, as he told GB news:
“I got an email from the casting office saying, Dear Mr Jones, I am sorry to inform you Les Battersby will die in the next few months.
“I read the email and thought, why send me an email like that? Why call me Mr. Jones? Why not call me Bruce?
“That annoyed me a little bit, but then I felt relieved. Maybe it’s time for me to go now.”
His exit storylines sees his daughter, Leanne, (Jane Danson) get a visit from the police to inform her that her father has passed away.
Being killed off always comes as a blow, as it leaves the actor with no option to return in the future.
This year has been a dramatic one on the cobbles as several long standing players have quit for good.
Legendary Corrie star Helen Worth has shocked fans by announcing she will be leaving the soap this year.
The actress, 73, has played Gail for 50 years but has decided that its time to retire the role. Also Paul Foreman, played by actor Peter Ash was killed off over the summer after suffering from Motor Neurone disease.
After more than two decades on our screens, Peter Barlow star Chris Gascoyne has left the show – and this time it seems to be for good.
Despite his departure the door has been left open for his return.
Chris will also be starring in Panto as he appears in a stage production of Peter Pan as Captain Hook, a role he will be playing at the Alban Arena during the Christmas and New Year period.
Meanwhile actress Sair Khan who plays Alya Nazir in the ITV soap, announced she was pregnant and expecting her first child with partner Nathan.
She eventually gave birth to her baby boy in May 2024 as she revealed the happy news on her social media.
But as a result, she was forced to take a step away from the ITV set for her maternity leave.
Actor Bruce Jones starred as Les Battersby from 1997 to 2007, after which he was suspended from the show when he got drunk with an undercover reporter.
Bruce was said to have made inappropriate remarks as well as revealing future storylines, as well as inappropriate comments.
Earlier this year he made his professional wrestling debut, at an event in Manchester.
