Coronation Street’s Bruce Jones has had a surprise career change and was seen making his wrestling debut over the weekend. 

The actor, 71, who played Les Battersby in the soap for ten years before his axe in 2007, stepped into the ring at the Trinity Sports Centre in Manchester on Saturday. 

Paying homage to his onscreen persona, he sported his famous double denim for the event hosted by Sovereign Pro Wrestling. 

Exciting the 200 strong crowd, Bruce declared: ‘They don’t call him Batters-by for nothing!’ 

He entered the room to Rockin’ All Over The World by Status Quo, shaking hands with fans on his way to the ring. 

Coronation Street’s Bruce Jones, 71, has had a surprise career change and was seen making his wrestling debut over the weekend 

The actor, who played Les Battersby in the soap for ten years before his axe in 2007, stepped into the ring at the Trinity Sports Centre in Manchester on Saturday 

During the match he was seen slamming another wrestler to the ground before being knocked down himself. 

Explaining how his new career move came about, Bruce told The Guardian he was meant to make a cameo as Les, but it ‘got out of hand.’ 

He added that organisers had asked: ‘You don’t mind getting knocked about in the ring a bit, do you?’

Bruce was axed from Coronation Street due to his drinking and in 2015 revealed he was on benefits after blowing through his £1million fortune. 

The actor had two houses repossessed and, at one point, had just £14 to his name.

He also broke up with his wife and had to revert to living in a caravan.

Bruce earned £140,000 a year at his peak and pocketed more than £1million during his Coronation Street career. 

Pictured on the soap in 2004

Paying homage to his onscreen persona, he sported his famous double denim for the event hosted by Sovereign Pro Wrestling

Exciting the 200 strong crowd, Bruce declared: ‘They don’t call him Batters-by for nothing!’

Explaining how his new career move came about, Bruce told The Guardian he was meant to make a cameo as Les, but it ‘got out of hand.’

In 2020, Bruce and his co-star Vicky Entwistle had a tearful reunion on Loose Women as they saw each other for the first time in several years.

The actors, who played Janice and Les Battersby on Coronation Street, were close friends during their time on the soap and both were thrilled to see each other again.

Becoming emotional, Vicky said: ‘[It’s been] years [since we’ve seen each other] – four years, maybe five. You look gorgeous still!’ 

Bruce replied: ‘So do you, you look absolutely beautiful, you’ve never changed. I’m nearly in tears looking at you, the memories are flooding back.’ 

Vicky tearfully replied: ‘I promised to myself I wouldn’t cry – sorry!’

Bruce admitted: ‘I owe Vicky so much. Thank you very much Vicky. I’m back, I’m top form!’

Explaining their on-screen bond, Bruce said: ‘The first day we met, we gelled. It was such a great thing for me to have an actress of Vicky’s standard. We just gelled and became The Battersbys.

In 2020, Bruce and his co-star Vicky Entwistle had a tearful reunion on Loose Women as they saw each other for the first time in several years 

Bruce and Vicky joined Coronation Street in 1997, with Bruce leaving 10 years later and Vicky departing the soap in 2011 (pictured in 1999)

‘The pair of us were scared at first. When we read the first scripts, I thought we’re never going to get away with this, we’re going to be hated. 

‘But we did it. We worked hard and we did it. Vicky got me through quite a lot of it. I just wanted to be an actor.

‘The first two years we were hated…I think I even got told off by my mum. She told me if I did anything against Mr Ken Barlow, that nice man, don’t come home!’

Explaining why she had become emotional, Vicky said: ‘I think just seeing his little face. We did have some great laughs. 

‘We used to get told off like you wouldn’t believe. They’d say “cut” and we’d be laughing our heads off over what we had to say or do – it was really outrageous. We were like, “We’re going to ruin this programme!” 

‘We’d both separately been watching it for years. Then all of a sudden, he’s got to headbutt Curly and I’ve got to shout at everyone. We’re like, “No one’s going to like us!”  And to be honest, I don’t think they did!’

Becoming emotional, Vicky said: ‘[It’s been] years [since we’ve seen each other] – four years, maybe five. You look gorgeous still!’ (pictured in 1997)

Bruce replied: ‘So do you, you look absolutely beautiful, you’ve never changed. I’m nearly in tears looking at you, the memories are flooding back’ (pictured in 2001) 

Asked if they’d consider a return, Vicky said: ‘If they gave us the Rovers, Bruce, what do you think? Would you be up for running that with me?’

Bruce added: ‘I would. But I’d only go back with you’.

Vicky replied: ‘Yeah, I don’t want you to go back with anyone else!’

Bruce and Vicky joined Coronation Street in 1997, with Bruce leaving 10 years later and Vicky departing the soap in 2011.