Coronation Street icon hits out at ITV soap bosses as it's confirmed co-star will be killed off
Wendi Peters, who portrayed Cilla Battersby-Brown on Corrie for four years, said it's 'bizarre' that her on-screen husband Les Battersby is being killed off from the soap
A Coronation Street icon has criticised the ITV soap after it was confirmed that her co-star will be killed off.
Wendi Peters, who portrayed Cilla Battersby-Brown on the show between 2003 and 2007, before returning for a brief guest stint 10 years ago, spoke out after news emerged that her on-screen husband Les Battersby - played by Bruce Jones - is being axed from the show. Viewers his children Leanne (Jane Danson) and Toyah ( Georgia Taylor ) being told that their dad has passed away at work.
Bruce, 71, was initially let go from the soap after reportedly getting drunk with an undercover journalist, letting slip future storylines on the show and making inappropriate comments. He never received an on-screen exit storyline, but his stepson Chesney confirmed his former father figure was alive and well, living in Dublin and working as a roadie with an Irish tribute band.
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Following the news that the character will be killed off for good, actress Wendi hit out at the series - and said there might have been "a nicer way" to approach the situation. She told The Sun: "It's a bit bizarre. I guess we haven't been there for 20 years, so we're not under contract. They can decide whatever they want to do. However, there might have been a nicer way of approaching it."
Last month, Vicky Entwistle, who played Bruce's former on-screen wife Janice Battersby, confirmed the news as she replied to a tweet a fan posted. The fan shared a gif of a woman looking shocked after watching something on her laptop, with the caption: "#Corrie are killing off Les Battersby…"
In her response, Vicky wrote: "I know Bruce told me a couple of months ago after receiving an email." A source described the decision made by Corrie boss as "a huge snub" that will "infuriate long-term fans" who remember Les "with great fondness".
They toldThe Sun: "It's a huge snub to kill off a popular character like this. Bruce created one of the Street's most iconic characters in Les and always hoped one day he might return. A lot of the cast and crew have said it's a bit mean. It's also bound to infuriate long-term fans who remember Les with great fondness."
Bruce also revealed his fury over an ITV's email confirming that his character will be axed. He told GB News he was furious to read that Les would die off-screen, and took aim at the show as he claimed it had "no storylines" anymore. "I got an email from the casting office saying, Dear Mr Jones, I am sorry to inform you Les Battersby will die in the next few months," he recalled.
"I read the email and thought, why send me an email like that? Why call me Mr Jones? Why not call me Bruce? That annoyed me a little bit, but then I felt relieved. Maybe it's time for me to go now," Bruce said, adding that he has since had an apology from the press office. He revealed he and his wife watched an episode of Coronation Street recently, but he had to leave the room as he found it unbearable.
"I didn't go back until I heard the music at the end. I just couldn't watch it. Where were the storylines? There was no comedy. So no, I'm sorry I couldn't watch it. I went out and I made a cup of coffee." Bruce said he has been approached by fans in Manchester who ask him when he's returning to the soap, and while he's upset at the decision, he insisted he had "no problems with Coronation Street."
He added: "I had ten great years with them, but they (the viewers) are pretty annoyed about it… I'm sad in one way, but I'm relieved in another. I mean, it's time to let go now, and I'm quite pleased with that."
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