Corrie's Bruce Jones addresses character being killed off

Former Coronation Street star Bruce Jones has said fans will be gutted about his character Les Battersby being killed off for good as he accused the show of 'ignoring public demand' - after informing him of the decision via email.

Jones, 71, became a household name after arriving on the cobbles as foul-mouthed Les, head of the equally uncouth Battersby family - wife Janice and their troublesome teenage daughters, Leanne and Toyah - in 1997. 

But he suffered a spectacular fall from grace when an undercover reporter filmed him insulting fans and revealing top secret plotlines during a boozy night out. 

Show bosses acted swiftly, with Jones promptly suspended in 2007 - ten years after his arrival. He never set foot on the cobbles again.

Now, in his only interview since discovering the door is being permanently closed on Les, the actor has criticised the show for ignoring public demand - and claims fans have told him the show is in sharp decline. 

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'[Show bosses] already emailed me a over a fortnight ago to tell me what was happening,' Jones told MailOnline of the moment he discovered Les was being killed off.  

'I actually thought, well fine, I played him for ten years. It gives me closure. Maybe it will stop people asking me all the time when I'm going back, if I'm going back.

'People want me back, but it'll stop all that, in shopping centres, wherever I go. I'm pleased it's happening but I'm also sad about losing a character I played for ten years. I'm grateful to the street for that.' 

He added: 'I went out the other day and people asked four times that day, 'when are you coming back? The street is dead.'' 

Asked if felt any animosity, he said: 'No, none whatsoever. They gave me ten years and I invented a great character and it became a great hit with everyone. 'I wish them all the luck in the world 

Jones says he has mixed feelings about the decision, and wonders where bawdy Les would fit into the modern landscape if he did return to the soap.  

He said: 'I felt relieved, then I felt sadness, then I thought, 'well, where would he go?' If he went back, where would he go? How would he get back, what would he do? Where would the storylines take him?'

'I don't think they could really do that much with him, which is a shame.'

Jones believes die-hard fans will react badly to news of his legendary character's death - and some might stop watching the show altogether. 

'The reaction will be strange at first, once it breaks,' he said. 'It will be really strange to see how people react to it. 

'I can imagine some people being really upset and annoyed, other people will be, 'well you did your time, it was time to go, we've still got you on classic, so there are memories of you there, so that's fine.'

'I think a lot of people will be upset, a lot of people will be, 'I'm not watching it again because I watch classic (the old episodes).'  

'I'm just waiting for the reaction when it breaks, when I go shopping or to football with my mates. It'll be a sad time for everyone. I don't watch it.  

'You get told, 'I don't watch it any more, we could do with you going back in'. But I'm not going back. He was a very popular person, Les. I can't wait to see what the reaction I get, I can't wait to see what reaction Coronation Street gets.

'I wouldn't mind betting they get a big reaction to it, but that's the end of Les. I had a great time playing him. I'm going to move on and we'll see what happens.'

While his TV career has waned over recent years, Jones, who in 2015 admitted to living off benefits after blowing his £1million fortune, insists he has 'no animosity whatsoever' towards the show.   

'They gave me ten years and I invented a great character and it became a great hit with everyone,' he said. 'I wish them all the luck in the world.' 

The actor has also given up watching the show that made him famous, but believes it will go on forever, despite a perceived dip in popularity.  

He said: 'I'd rather watch good documentaries. I tend to read a lot rather than watch TV a lot. I didn't get much chance to watch it when I was in it, because we were always working. 

'I don't listen to people who say how bad it is. Coronation Street will always be there. They say we don't watch it, we'd rather watch the classic.

'I don't watch it, so I can't say anything which is a shame really. I should watch it, but there are too many memories, so I'd rather not.'