Former Coronation Street star Bruce Jones has spoken about the soap’s decision to kill off his character, Les Battersby.
The actor played the outspoken taxi driver on the ITV soap for a decade before eventually departing in 2007, though it was recently reported that current producers had decided to kill Les off with an off-screen death.
In an interview with GB News on Friday (October 25), Jones claimed that he was informed via email earlier this year of the decision to kill Les off, stating further that he received an apology for the way the information was delivered.
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“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’,” he claimed during the interview. “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. But at least I’ve had an apology from the press office for [telling me by email], which I’m grateful for,” he added.
Jones, who has embarked on a career in the wrestling ring since his departure from Corrie, also spoke about the developments in a wider sense, explaining that he could understand the decision and that he had “no problem” with producers of the soap.
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“I’ve been out in the streets in the last few days shopping, and I went to watch some football,” he recalled. “People came up to say, ‘This is ridiculous, they should keep you in’. But it’s their decision. It’s not mine. I’ve got no problems with Corrie – I had ten great years with them.”
Jones further reiterated that he hadn’t been on the soap for many years now and so feels “it’s time to let go”.
Digital Spy has reached out to ITV for comment.
Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and streams on ITVX.
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