Coronation Street legend lands £20k panto tour 16 years after axe from soap
CORONATION Street fans are delighted after one of the soap’s legends signed up to appear in pantomime.
Bruce Jones, who played Les Battersby in the ITV soap, has signed a deal worth £20,000 to star in Beauty and the Beast this Christmas.
The iconic actor will be appearing in the panto in several locations across England this December.
It will be the first time Bruce has been on the road in 16 years and he is said to be thrilled to be back touring theatres again.
A source exclusively told The Sun Online: “Bruce hasn’t been on tour for ages but can’t wait to get back on the road.
“He’s being paid around £20k for the gig and he’s worth every penny – people can’t wait to see him live again!”
Bruce starred in ITV‘s Coronation Street as taxi driver Les between 1997 and 2007.
Bruce was fired from Corrie after it was alleged that he got drunk with reporters and spilled the beans on a string of closely under wraps storylines.
Last year, he landed a leading role in the Disney+ reboot series spin-off of the 1997 movie The Full Monty.
He will tour Beauty and the Beast between December and January, appearing in the Trio produced panto at the Exmouth Pavilion in Devon, Melton Theatre in Leicester and the Majestic Theatre in Notts.
Bruce has said about his new job: “I am really looking forward to appearing in Beauty and The Beast this Christmas.
“I love doing pantomime and the experience and cant wait to get back into the pantomime mood again and have lots of fun.”