Bruce Jones not returning to Coronation Street, says ITV

Bruce Jones, who played Les Battersby in Coronation Street, was spotted in Blackpool yesterday when the Corrie crew were filming these scenes.

His appearance with the Coronation Street filming crew led some to believe that Bruce was returning to the show.  However, this has been swiftly denied by ITV.

An ITV spokesperson stated that Bruce is not returning to the soap and was merely collecting something from his dressing room when he was spied on-set. 

Bruce is currently starring in  Jack and the Beanstalk at Blackpool North Pier.

It's not the first time ITV have been quick to deny rumours that Bruce Jones is returning to the show. Back in 2015 the same thing happened - have a look here.

Bruce was sacked from Corrie in 2007 - read about it here. 

 

I doubt he'll ever be allowed to return. However, the character of Les Battersby is one that I think could be re-cast. We need a lovable layabout, someone for Tim to be good mates with!

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No Coronation Street return for Les Battersby

In the last week or so there's been an online petition by a fan of Bruce Jones to get him back onto Coronation Street as Les Battersby.

Coronation Street Producer Steve Frost sacked Bruce Jones from the show in 2007. Bruce was sacked after allegations of a foul-mouthed rant against his Corrie cast mates. In the statement issued by ITV at the time, it said: "The character of Les will not be seen back on screen".

In Bruce Jones' autobiography 'Les Battersby and Me' he claims he was set up by two News of the World journalists after they conned him into discussions about possible work in Dubai. 

A spokeswoman for the soap told the Daily Post: “There are currently no plans to bring back the character of Les Battersby.”

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Is Les Battersby returning to Coronation Street?

This could be nothing, so I'm not going to say anything other than in the Channel 4 news report at 7pm last night on Bill Roache, there was a clip and a sound bite from former (sacked) Coronation Street actor Bruce Jones, who played Les Battersby.

The news crew tried to interview him but he was whisked away.  And where was the news crew as they tried to interview him? Only outside ITV studios in Manchester.

Have a look here - blink and you'll miss him just after the 1.05 mark.  It's the news story about Bill Roache marked "Corrie actor arrested on rape charges"  

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Bruce Jones: Why I was kicked out of Corrie

In my grubby little hands is a grubby little book. It's been sent to me, I didn't buy it, and in true Coronation Street fan style - for why else would I have it? - I turned to the chapter called Kicked Out of Corrie in Bruce Jones' autobiography 'Les Battersby and Me'

It's impossible to know, reading this chapter from Bruce Jones' point of view (as written by Chris Berry and Ronnie Oliver with a foreword from Status Quo and Ken Loach) whether he's shamed, been set up or is just stupid. 

Now then, I don't know Bruce Jones. I've never met him and have no connection to him.  I took the reports with a pinch of salt from the News of the World that said he'd got drunk, slagged off his Corrie cast mates, slagged off fans, and revealed plot lines.  The News of the World was never good at telling the truth so there should always have been a doubt in our minds because we weren't there and didn't know what happened.  Anyway, Coronation Street Producer Steve Frost sacked him from the show, that much we do know for sure.  But here's how Bruce Jones explains it in that chapter: Kicked Out of Corrie (page 176 onwards if you want to browse it in a bookshop).

Bruce says he was set up by two News of the World journalists after they conned him into discussions about possible work in Dubai.  He expands on that, and it's interesting to read but it's badly written. It's as if someone's taken a recording of Bruce rambling about events and just transcribed them word for word. As for the rest of the chapters in the book, if they're as badly put together and full of ego as the Corrie chapter is, then I've done myself a favour not reading them. That's my personal opinion as a book fan, ardent reader and Coronation Street fan.

To be fair - because as I said earlier, I don't know this man. I just know his Corrie character and the press reports and statement from Corrie when he was sacked - the book might be a good read and I don't want to put off anyone who wants to buy it and find out for themselves.  It's available on Amazon here.

Bruce Jones reveals Corrie secrets in autobiography

This won't be on my Christmas list but it's out and so I'm blogging it.

Bruce Jones, who played Coronation Street's Les Battersby, has released his autobiography. Well, when I say "his autobiography" it is actually written with Chris Berry and Ronnie Oliver. 

Here's some info from the book blurb:

Best known for his role as Coronation Street's loud-mouthed but likable rogue, Les Batterbsy, Bruce Jones' new biography will be as explosive as any of his on-screen alter ego's punch-ups.

 
Of course, all Corrie fans will want to know about life on the street and Bruce is open and revealing in his insights into his fellow Coronation Street stars and how living his life in the full glare of publicity affected his health and family life.
 
His fall from grace - dismissal from Coronation Street, battles with alcoholism, drink-driving prosecutions, bankruptcy and family upsets - have all been luridly splashed across the tabloid press. And Bruce doesn't shirk from revealing the truth and private misery behind these headlines.

Bruce Jones fails to sell any tickets for pub gig

Ex-Corrie actor Bruce Jones, who played Les Battersby, hit a new career low when fans snubbed his “audience with” show, says The Mirror.

Bruce had hoped to spill the beans to 200 people on his 10 years on the cobbles. But no tickets for the event at the Chilton Country Pub near Chester-le-Street, County Durham, were sold. And only one person made a phone enquiry about the £18.50 gig, that included a meal.

A spokeswoman said: “It had to be cancelled. We are not sure why tickets did not sell. We are normally fully booked.”

Bruce Jones opening up a bar??

I'm not quite sure if this is a wind up or a truly bizarre twist, but there's a report today in the Sunderland Echo that Bruce Jones is opening a bar with a friend in Sunderland. After a recent run in with the courts due to his drinking, and his previous history of getting into legal trouble because of the same, and reports that he's broke and living in a caravan, I find it hard to believe he's getting involved in a bar to be called Agadoo. They have plans to open up a Comedy club in the establishment and have even bigger plans to open up more bars across the country. I may be a skeptic, but perhaps the friend is hoping Bruce's name will bring in the punters?

Bruce Jones gets suspended jail sentence

Bruce Jones, who played Coronation Street's Les Battersby, has avoided going to jail for dangerous driving. The actor admitted last month that he yanked at the steering wheel of his wife Sandra's car as she drove along a busy road. Jones, 57, was drunk and shouted "I'll kill us both" when the incident took place as his wife drove along the A55 in north Wales last August. Jones was sentenced today at Mold crown court to eight months in prison, suspended for 18 months.

The actor pleaded guilty to dangerous driving a day after a jury heard his wife's evidence about how he subjected her to years of drink-fuelled physical and emotional abuse. He has since vowed to give up alcohol and save his marriage. Jones showed no emotion as recorder Simon Medland handed down the sentence.

Bruce Jones tried to kill himself

If you're interested in following Bruce Jones' day in court on a drink-driving charge where he admitted to trying to kill himself and his wife and his wife revealed that she's suffered years of abuse from him, then, the full story is here.

Bruce, you may remember, played Les Battersby on Coronation Street and he lost his job on Corrie because of alcohol-related problems.

His wife told the court that on the day of the incident, Bruce said he had been thinking of a career change. She added: "He often spoke about becoming a gangster."

Bruce Jones back on telly

Bruce Jones, formerly Coronation Street's Les Battersby, is going to be back on our television screens in a new sitcom soon after recent unfounded rumours of him appearing in Celebrity Big Brother. It's called The Band and is about a boy-band called Overdrive. Bruce will play the hard done by manager of the generally rowdy group of lads, with the task of keeping them from going off the rails. The pilot has been filmed and also stars another former Corrie actor, Scott Wright. You may remember him as hunky Sam the mechanic. He's looking very gaunt and thin these days judging from the pic on the Sun's article about this. Bruce has had a lot of bad luck lately, let's hope this is the first step to a fresh start for him.

Bruce Jones to join I'm A Celebrity jungle?

Rumours abound at this time of year, just days before the line-up's revealed for the latest series of I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here!

Tabloids and websites suggest that Bruce Jones, who played Coronation Street's Les Battersby, might be one of those going into the jungle this year. Hmm.

Bruce Jones broke and living in a caravan

The News of the World today reveals that ex-Coronation Street actor Bruce Jones, who played Les Battersby, is broke and living in a caravan.

The paper says that Bruce has been ordered by a court to stay away from his wife and he's no longer allowed to live in their home. Bruce Jones faces charges of assault, drink driving and dangerous driving over a row with his wife Sandra last month. A condition of his police bail is that he has no contact with her. Bruce is due to appear before Prestatyn Magistrates on Wednesday under his real name Ian Roy Jones.

Bruce Jones: "I'd go back to Corrie!"

Bruce Jones sings the blues to the Sunday People and admits that he's broke. There's a list of reasons why, he blames bad business decicions and reckons £30,000 was spent on booze.

Bruce was sacked from Coronation Street, the paper says, after 19-pint boozing session in which he allegedly cracked jokes about Pakistanis, made sexual jibes about actress Wendi Peters (Cilla Battersby) and called his Corrie co-stars "w***ers". And he then goes on to say about his role on Coronation Street as Les Battersby: "Don't get me wrong, if they asked me back tomorrow I'd go back." Ooh, I won't hold my breath.

Want to see what Bruce Jones is doing on telly next? Click here.

Bruce Jones sleeping rough

Since leaving Coronation Street as Les Battersby, disgraced Corrie actor Bruce Jones is going to be sleeping rough. He's taking part in a BBC telly programme to go undercover to find out what life is like for Britain's homeless. Bruce will take part in the show, called Famous, Rich and Homeless alongside Hardeep Singh Kholi, Annabel Croft and The Marquis of Blandford. The five celebrities will spend 10 days on the street with guidance from top fella John Bird, founder of The Big Issue. The show will air next year.

See also: Where did Les Battersby go?

FAQ: Where did Les Battersby go?

For some odd reason, I've had a few emails asking where Les Battersby's gone. As far as I can remember, and do correct me if I'm wrong, Les went off to be a roadie with an Irish ZZ Top tribute band called ZZ Top O' The Morning.

And if this story is true then not only will actor Bruce Jones not be returning to Corrie but Les Battersby won't ever return too.

For more answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Coronation Street, have a look here.

Bruce Jones in Celebrity Wife Swap

Bruce Jones (Les Battersby) and singer Sinnita in Celebrity Wife Swap? I couldn't watch it, it was too much like car-crash TV for my liking. But Ian Wylie of the Manchester Evening News watched it and blogged it and if you want to read his take on it, it's online right here and there's a full, frank and revealing interview with Bruce Jones too.