Coronation Street is set to kill off Les Battersby 27 years after his controversial debut way back in 1997.
Bad news about the character, played for a decade by Bruce Jones, will reach his daughters Leanne (Jane Danson) and Toyah (Georgia Taylor), later next month, Metro.co.uk can confirm.
It’s a storyline that will kick off more turbulence for the sisters, who have already had a year packed with infidelity, baby tragedy and *checks notes* a sinister cult.
The Battersbys – which also included Vicky Entwistle’s Janice – landed on the cobbles in 1997, to an immediate fan and press backlash.
For some time, the clan was largely hated for their neighbours from hell schtick but, over time, the characters developed and became somewhat more grounded.
However, Les remained a lout throughout most of his tenure, swinging his fists around, cheating on his wife and exhibiting bullying behaviour and transphobic and homophobic bigotry.
Actor Bruce, 71, was initially let go from the soap for off-set behaviour, and allegedly insulting fans and eventually revealing plots.
His career has taken quite a different path these days, as he now partakes in professional wrestling.
But Corrie is never far away from him, as one of his most notable opponents was fellow 90s icon Steve Arnold, better known as Ashley Peacock.
The stars thrilled a 200-strong audience with a bout (which Bruce won) before grinning and hugging each other, evidently still friends decades on.
Coronation Street appeared to make a reference to this recently, with an update on Les being he was drunk at a wrestling match.
Recently, Bruce admitted that he still has nightmares after he was wrongly accused of being the Yorkshire Ripper.
He became a suspect during Peter Sutcliffe’s murdering spree in the 70s after discovering one of the bodies.
In 1981, Sutcliffe was found guilty of murdering 13 women and attempting to murder seven others between 1975 and 1980.
Bruce found the body of the fifth victim- 20-year-old Jean Jordan, at an allotment in Manchester in 1977. He had been working there with a friend when the harrowing discovery was made.
Speaking in the documentary The Dark Side Of Fame, the actor said: ‘It actually destroyed me to learn that people can do that to a human being.
It is not known how Bruce feels about his alter-ego being given a permanent off-screen exit, but a source claimed to the Sun that it is likely to be seen as a ‘snub’.
‘Bruce created one of the Street’s most iconic characters in Les and always hoped one day he might return,’ they told the publication.
‘A lot of the cast and crew have said it’s a bit mean. Bruce has been very critical of the show, and the writers never forget.’
Coronation Street spokespersons don’t comment on future storylines but viewers can expect to see the storyline unfold at the end of November.
