CORONATION Street chiefs are controversially killing off the legendary Les Battersby.
His death off-screen is a snub to actor Bruce Jones, 71, who played the gobby cabbie for ten years.
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Next month Les’s daughter Leanne, played by Jane Danson, receives a call telling her that her dad is dead. She then breaks the news to her sister Toyah (Georgia Taylor).
A source said: “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.”
The Battersbys arrived on the cobbles in 1997.
But in 2007 Bruce was suspended from the ITV soap for allegedly getting drunk in a restaurant, insulting fans and revealing plots.
The actor was then written out.
Speaking last year, Bruce, now 71, said: “Les is a legend. I’m so proud of him.”
In February Bruce made his wrestling debut.
Spider Nugent fights with Les Battersby in Coronation Street (1999)
Friday night’s Corrie included a dig at his new career with Leanne and Toyah discussing their father being “drunk at the wrestling”.
The source added: “Bruce has been very critical of the show, and the writers never forget.”
A Coronation Street spokeswoman said: “We don’t comment on future storylines.”
