Coronation Street star, 71, slams wrestler to the ground after swapping acting for new fighting career
BRUCE Jones may be best known as Les Battersby on Coronation Street, but he’s proving more of a hard nut in real life with a brand new role as a wrestler.
The 71-year-old actor, who appeared on the Corrie cobbles from 1997 to 2007, became beloved on the ITV soap for his character Les - a rock music loving cabbie with a penchant for denim jackets.
Becoming a long-standing fan favourite, Les remains one of the most iconic characters ever to set foot in Weatherfield.
But fast forward to 2024, and actor Bruce took on something far more brutal, making his debut as part of SOVPRO (Sovereign Pro Wrestling).
Bruce returned as Les Battersby, with promotions declaring: “They don’t call him Batters-by for nothing!”
Appearing in front of 200 people at the Trinity Sports Centre in Manchester, Bruce soaked up the crowd as he arrived in Les’s classic double denim jeans and jacket combo and a black promotional T-shirt.
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Entering to a track Les would be proud of - Rockin’ All Over The World by the cabbie’s beloved Status Quo - Bruce shook the hands and entered the ring to mass amounts of cheers and applause.
But he soon proved he was more than just a gimmick face - taking on some impressive wrestling moves, landing one of the stars flat on their back - and taking some hits in the process.
Speaking ahead of his debut in the ring, Bruce admitted to The Guardian it was a promo spot got out of hand, joking: “So, they were like: ‘You don’t mind getting knocked about in the ring a bit, do you?’”
And the crowd went wild as they rushed the star to get his picture and spend time with him.
Sam Gradwell, who also competed in the ring, later joked on X (previously Twitter): “How often do you get back from your match and a hammered Les Battersby is waiting for you with a beer to congratulate you on your win?”
“‘I thought you lads were gonna f**kin kill each other!’ Life is a fever dream,” he added alongside pictures of him laughing with Bruce in backstage.
“300 plus erupted into ‘Les’ chants after witnessing Bruce Battersby run the ropes better than snoop dog,” declared an onlooker.
The new move marks a big comeback for the actor - who starred in panto in Manchester at the end of 2023.
Bruce was reportedly fired from Corrie after he allegedly got drunk with reporters and spilled a series of top-secret storylines.
During his time on screen, Les was a devoted dad to Leanne (Jane Danson) and Toyah (Georgia Taylor), and long-suffering husband to Janice (Vicky Entwistle) and later Cilla (Wendi Peters).
Devoted rocker Les walked out on his new family to become a roadie for tribute band ZZ Top O' the Morning in 2007.
He later called son-in-law Chesney in 2008 to say he wouldn't be returning, and in the lore of the soap, his location remains unknown.
