Les Battersby vs. Spider Nugent - September 1999
Former Coronation Street star Bruce Jones, who is best known for his portrayal of Les Battersby, was recently informed via email that his iconic character is going to be killed off - even though he left the soap 17 years ago.
Bruce played the fiery Les for a decade before his departure from the soap in 2007.
Les Battersby's death will be confirmed in an upcoming episode of Corrie where his on-screen daughters, Leanne and Toyah, will be told about their father’s passing.
The actress who played Battersby's wife Janice confirmed the way Bruce found out about Les's fate on X.
Vicky Entwhistle responded to a soap fan on the platform, saying: "I know, Bruce told me a couple of months ago after receiving an email."
Bruce's character was abruptly written out of Coronation Street following allegations that Jones got drunk with an undercover reporter, insulted fans, and revealed plot details.
Since then, the actor has been hoping that he might be invited back onto the show in the future.
An insider said that the character's death feels like a "huge snub" to both the actor and long-time fans of the soap.
A source told the Mirror: "It's a huge snub to kill off a popular character like this. Bruce created one of the Street's most iconic characters in Les and always hoped one day he might return.
"A lot of the cast and crew have said it's a bit mean. It's also bound to infuriate long-term fans who remember Les with great fondness."
In an episode that is set to air next month, Leanne Battersby will receive a phone call informing her of her father’s death.
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The heartbroken character will then break the news to her sister Toyah, marking the end of Les's tumultuous Coronation Street journey.
Bruce earned £140,000 a year at the height of his Coronation Street fame and accumulated more than £1million during his time on the show.
Despite that, the actor revealed that he had fallen on hard times in 2015.
After spending his fortune, Bruce was left on benefits, with only £14 to his name at one point.
