Coronation Street legend Bruce Jones accuses ITV bosses of ignoring public demand by killing off Les Battersby – as former star claims show is in decline and fans believe the ‘street is dead’

Former Coronation Street star Bruce Jones has accused the show of ‘ignoring audience demand’ by killing off his legendary character, Les Battersby – after informing him of the decision via email.

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

But he fell spectacularly from grace when an undercover reporter filmed him insulting fans and revealing top-secret storylines during a boozy night out.

Show bosses acted quickly and Jones was promptly banned in 2007, ten years after his arrival. He never set foot on the cobblestones again.

Now, in his only interview since discovering the door has been permanently closed on Les, the actor has criticized the show for ignoring public demand – and claims fans have told him the show is in steep decline.

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

‘[Show bosses] already emailed me over two weeks ago to tell me what was going on,” Jones told MailOnline of the moment he discovered Les was murdered.

‘I actually thought: fine, I played him for ten years. It gives me closure. Maybe it will stop people asking me when I’m going back, if I’m going back.

“People want me back, but that will all stop, in malls, wherever I go. I’m glad it’s happening, but I’m also sad because I’m losing a character I played for ten years. I am 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.’

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

He said: ‘I felt relieved, then I felt sad, and then I thought, “Well, where would he go?” If he went back, where would he go? How would he come back, what would he do? Where would the storylines take him?”

“I don’t think they could really do that much with him, and that’s a shame.”

Jones believes that die-hard fans will react poorly to the news of his legendary character’s death – and that some may stop watching the show altogether.

He starred in the long-running soap opera for a decade before ITV bosses banned him in 2007 for revealing show secrets.

The actor is pictured with Vicky Entwistle, best known for playing his screen wife Janice

“The reaction will be strange at first once it’s broken,” he said. ‘It will be very strange to see how people react to it.

“I imagine some people will be very upset and irritated, other people will be, ‘Well, you did your time, it was time to go, we still have you on classical, so there are memories of you there , so that’s fine.”

‘I think a lot of people will be angry, a lot of people will say, “I’m not watching it again because I’m watching classics (the old episodes).”

‘I’m just waiting for the reaction when it breaks, when I go shopping or play football with my friends. It will be a sad time for everyone. I don’t watch it.

‘You are told: “I won’t look at it anymore, we can use it when you go back in.” But I’m not going back. He was a very popular person, Les. I can’t wait to see what reaction I get, I can’t wait to see what reaction Coronation Street gets.

“I bet they get a big reaction to it, but that’s the end of Les. I loved playing him. I’ll move on and we’ll see what happens.’

‘[Show bosses] already emailed me over two weeks ago to tell me what was going on,” Jones told MailOnline of the moment he discovered Les was murdered.

Although his TV career has declined in recent years, Jones, who previously admitted living on benefits after blowing his £1million fortune, insists he has ‘no animosity’ towards the show.

Although his TV career has declined in recent years, Jones, who admitted in 2015 to living on benefits after blowing his £1million fortune, insists he has ‘no animosity whatsoever’ towards the show.

“They gave me ten years and I came up with a great character and it was a big 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 continue forever despite a perceived dip in popularity.

He said: ‘I prefer watching good documentaries. I’d rather read a lot than watch a lot of TV. 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, but rather watch the classic.

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