Ian Royston Jones (born 24 January 1953), better known as Bruce Jones, is an English actor and professional wrestler.[1][2] He is best known for his role as taxi driver Les Battersby in Coronation Street from 1997 to 2007.
Bruce Jones | |
|---|---|
 Jones in September 2007 | |
| Born | Ian Royston Jones 24 January 1953 Collyhurst, Manchester, England |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Spouses | Sue Bailey
(m. 1971; div. 1982)Sandra Jones
(m. 1984) |
| Children | 4 |
Early life
editJones was born in Collyhurst, Manchester. As a child, he spent two years on a hospital isolation ward with rheumatic fever. When he was 12, his parents separated and he was expelled from school, after which he was raised in North Wales by his grandmother. He left school at 16 and worked as a pipe fitter; he was also a fireman.[1]
Career
editEarly career
editJones had a teacher who encouraged him to become an actor. He and a friend formed a comedy duo, known as Clark and Jones,[3] and he began using his father's name, Bruce Jones, as his stage name.
After years acting in addition to day jobs, Jones' first big break came in 1993, when he was cast in the lead role of Bob Williams in Ken Loach's feature film Raining Stones.[1] The film won the Evening Standard British Film Awards for Best Film and Best Screenplay.
In 1995, Jones had a role as a prostitute's client in Band of Gold. In 1996 he appeared in Jimmy McGovern's Hillsborough. In 1997, Jones had a small part in the film The Full Monty, and also appeared with Bob Hoskins in the Shane Meadows film Twenty Four Seven.[1]
Coronation Street years
editFrom July 1997 to May 2007, Jones was a regular cast member of the ITV soap opera Coronation Street as the outspoken rogue Les Battersby.[1][4]
Since then, Jones has had numerous credits for film and television productions, including Heartbeat, A Touch of Frost, the pilot episode of Harry Hill's TV Burp, and Roughnecks. He appeared as Dean Martin in Celebrity Stars in Their Eyes, Mr. Bumble in Oliver for Children in Need, and the Robber in Granada's televised Christmas pantomime Cinderella. He also made several television appearances in game shows and chat shows.[citation needed]
In March 2007, he was suspended from Coronation Street after allegedly getting drunk with an undercover reporter, making inappropriate comments and revealing future storylines.[5] It was confirmed in May that year that Jones would not be returning to the show; he would be suspended until his contract ended in September.[6][4] Jones noted that he was one of the victims of the since-discredited reporter Mazher Mahmood, and has said that his departure from the programme was voluntary.[1]
After Coronation Street
editSince leaving Coronation Street, Jones has performed stand-up comedy routines in Benidorm. On 23 March 2008, he featured in Celebrity Wife Swap with Sinitta. He played Mick the Manager in the film Souled Out, and also appeared on the TV programme The Dark Side of Fame with Piers Morgan.[citation needed]
With four other celebrities, Jones took part in the BBC One show Famous, Rich and Homeless, broadcast in June 2009. The five temporarily lived on the streets of London. Jones was clearly the most affected by the experience, regularly seen breaking into tears and considering pulling out of the programme. He ranted to the camera advocating the reinstatement of hanging in the UK, in order to free up funds to assist the homeless and pensioners. He referenced his horrific discovery of one of the Yorkshire Ripper's victims, describing himself as a victim.[7]
In November 2009, Jones appeared in Celebrity Come Dine with Me. The competition also featured presenter Yvette Fielding and Atomic Kitten member Natasha Hamilton; it was won by former Catchphrase host Roy Walker.[8] The same year, he worked with Manchester-based production company Gritish Films, featuring in the short film Down Our Way, alongside Inspiral Carpets vocalist Clint Boon and actor Gary Graham Smith.[9]
During the 2009–10 Christmas season, Jones appeared as King Rat in the pantomime Dick Whittington at the Contemporary Urban Centre in Liverpool.[10] In 2011, he performed as Captain Hook and Mr. Darling in Peter Pan at the Blackfriars Arts Centre in Boston.[11] He struggled with this role, however, and was reported to have lost his voice.[12]
In April 2012, Jones appeared in a music video for the British rock band Never A Hero, which was featured on Kerrang! TV.[13]
In 2013, while also working as a mechanic, Jones appeared in a one-man play about tackling and recovering from depression, TALK!! Tackling the Taboo, which he commissioned from author and playwright Huw Roberts.[1][14][15][16]
On 22 August 2013, Jones entered the Celebrity Big Brother house with his screen Coronation Street ex-wife, Vicky Entwistle;[17] on 6 September 2013, he was the fourth housemate to be evicted, on the same day as Dustin Diamond.[18]
Return to feature films
editIn April 2014, production started on a Welsh feature film, Cream, in which Jones played the lead character, Ron Harris. Filming took place in and around Llandudno.[19] That year, he appeared in British gangster thriller Looters, Tooters and Sawn-Off Shooters, in which he played Roy.[20]
In 2020, Jones was cast in the comedy short film Shiney, directed by Paul Holbrook, which was funded by the BFI Network South West.[21] The short film was featured at various film festivals,[22][23] including the International Film Festival of Wales, who awarded Jones Best Supporting Actor in 2021.[24]
Novelist and screenwriter Simon W. Golding wrote the screenplay of The Coat, a thriller feature film, for Jones.[25] It will be directed and edited by Jason Figgis.[needs update]
Professional wrestling
editAt the age of 71, Jones made his debut in professional wrestling, appearing in character as Les Battersby at a Sovereign Pro Wrestling event in Manchester on 18 February 2024.[1][26] Jones was initially booked to make a cameo to promote an upcoming match; after the promotion received more publicity, however, the promotion asked if he would be willing to be "knocked about in the ring", to which he agreed.[1] At the promotion's next event in May 2024, Jones – as part of the "Les Battersby World Order" – took part in a "Coronation Street Fight" before being confronted by Steven Arnold, in character as Ashley Peacock and leading his own faction, the "Butcher Club".[27][28][note 1]
Publications
editHe published his autobiography, Bruce Jones: The Official Autobiography, in November 2011.[29]
Charity work
editJones has appeared at many Variety Club fundraising events and been an ambassador for the charity.[3] On 16 February 2011, he made an appearance for the Sir Norman Wisdom tribute at De Montfort Hall in Leicester, raising money for the Roy Castle Fund;[30] he spoke of Wisdom's time on Coronation Street.[31]
Awards
edit- European Actors Award, Raining Stones[citation needed]
- co-winner, Screen Actors Guild Award, outstanding performance by a cast in a major motion picture, The Full Monty[32]
- Silver Heart, Variety Club of Great Britain, 2004[citation needed]
Personal life
editJones' first marriage was to Sue Bailey. They had two sons, and divorced in 1982.[33]
Jones is a fan of the english rock band Status Quo just like his character Les Battersby in Coronation Street.
On the morning of 9 October 1977, Jones discovered the mutilated body of 20-year-old Jean Jordan on an allotment in Chorlton, Manchester, a victim of the "Yorkshire Ripper", Peter Sutcliffe. He was treated as a suspect, and attracted recurring coverage in the tabloids about his supposed "secret".[1] He has attributed the end of his first marriage to the suspicion and his resulting depression.[33] He spoke about the discovery and how it affected him in the Netflix series The Ripper (episode: "Between Now and Dawn").[34]
In 1984, Jones married Sandra; the couple had two children.[35]
Jones has had problems with alcoholism. In 1998, he pleaded guilty to drink driving after being tested by police and found to be more than twice the legal limit, and was banned from driving for three years.[16] In 2000, he spent a period in the celebrity rehab clinic the Priory.[33][36] After leaving Coronation Street, he found it hard to get work,[37] and drank heavily. In August 2009, while drunk, he grabbed and repeatedly jerked the steering wheel of his car whilst his wife was driving it on the A55 in North Wales.[1] He subsequently pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and drink driving.[38] His wife told the court that he had physically and emotionally abused her for years.[39] He was given a suspended sentence;[40] he and his wife separated and he became bankrupt and homeless.[1][41]
In June 2015, Jones appeared in a documentary called Celebs on Benefits: Fame To Claim, about celebrities who have hit hard times.[42] In 2019, he hit out against the rollout of Universal Credit, saying that the wait for the first payment was causing severe hardship, and that he had recently helped a family with money for food.[43]
Credits
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Raining Stones | Bob | |
| 1994 | Heartbeat | Fred Parkin | |
| 1995–1996 | Roughnecks | Terry | |
| 1996 | Bob's Weekend | Bob | |
| Hillsborough | Video Technician | ||
| 1997 | A Touch of Frost | Tommy Dunstan | |
| Eight Hours from Paris | Male inspector | ||
| The Full Monty | Reg | ||
| Twenty Four Seven | Tim's Dad | ||
| 1997–2007 | Coronation Street | Les Battersby | 1,022 episodes |
| 1999 | 10x10 | Priest | |
| 2008 | Snappers | Bruce | |
| 2010 | Soulboy | Mike the Manager | |
| 2014 | Looters, Tooters and Sawn-Off Shooters | Roy | |
| Cream | Major Ron Harris | ||
| 2017 | Distorted | Detective Jones | |
| Duty of Care | Major Ron Harris | ||
| The Offer | Michael Bishop | ||
| 2018 | Finders Keepers | Roy Smiley | |
| 2019 | The Witching Hour | Marvin La'Fantome | |
| 2020 | Breach of the Peace | Vince | |
| 2020 | Shiney | Bill the Newsagent | |
| 2023 | The Full Monty | Vince | 2 episodes |
| 2024 | The Athena Syndrome | Sasha Nikitovich |
Notes
edit- ^ The Les Battersby World Order and Butcher Club are parodies of the New World Order and Bullet Club, respectively.
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Daniel Dylan Wray (9 February 2024). "'I fear a paper will destroy me again': Coronation Street's Bruce Jones on murder, trauma and tabloid intrusion". The Guardian (interview).
- ^ Stefania Sarrubba (20 February 2024). "Former Coronation Street star Bruce Jones makes surprising new career move". Digital Spy.
- ^ a b "Bruce leads the way in the name of Variety". Manchester Evening News (interview). 18 January 2013 [13 August 2004]. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ a b "Corrie sack Bruce Jones". Manchester Evening News. 13 January 2013 [31 May 2007]. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ "Coronation Street actor suspended". BBC News. 27 March 2007. Retrieved 17 November 2010.
- ^ "Soaps - News - Bruce Jones to leave 'Coronation Street'". Digital Spy. 30 May 2007. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ^ "TV review: Rich, Famous and Homeless (BBC One)". The Telegraph. 26 June 2009.
- ^ "Episode 16 - Celebrity Come Dine with Me". Channel 4.
- ^ "Gritish Films - Down Our Way Teaser Trailer - Bruce Jones". YouTube. 17 November 2009. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021.
- ^ "DICK WHITTINGTON CONTEMPORARY URBAN CENTRE". Contemporary Urban Centre. 23 December 2009. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 11 April 2011.
- ^ Bernard Bale (3 January 2012). "The Stage / Reviews / Peter Pan". The Stage. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ^ Laura Hammond (23 December 2011). "Arts & Leisure: Ex-Coronation Street star Bruce Jones on life in Boston and his panto role". Boston Standard (video interview). Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ^ "Lowestoft guitarist to star in video with Coronation Street star". EDP24. 23 April 2012.
- ^ "'I've just made sausage butties!' Coronation Street legend Bruce Jones on his new life as a car mechanic". Wales Online. 12 May 2013.
- ^ David Powell (19 April 2013). "Review: Tackling the Taboo at Theatr Colwyn". Daily Post. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ a b Rachel Wearmouth (12 March 2013) [24 February 2013]. "Bruce Jones beats depression thanks to North friends". Evening Chronicle. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ Blake Welton (23 August 2013). "Celebrity Big Brother: Meet the Contestants". Get Reading.
- ^ "Celebrity Big Brother Farewells Bruce Jones, Dustin Diamond In Double Eviction". Huffington Post UK. 6 November 2013 [7 September 2013].
- ^ "Former Corrie star Bruce Jones to appear in new feature film". Manchester Evening News. 22 March 2014. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
- ^ "Corrie star set to star in gangland film directed by Romford brothers". Romford Recorder. 12 July 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ David Redfern (30 October 2019). "BFI Network SW Funded Project: Shiney Dir. Paul Holbrook". Film Hub South West. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ "MANIFF2021". Manchester Film Festival. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ "2021 Comedy Awards - The Killer Valley Comedy Film Festival". Killer Valley Film Festival. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ "IFFW 2021". Film Festival Guild. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ Neil Thomas (23 December 2022). "A way with words". What's What.
- ^ Stefania Sarrubba (20 February 2024). "Former Coronation Street star Bruce Jones makes surprising new career move". Digital Spy.
- ^ Adams, Michael (15 March 2024). "Les Battersby star reveals which Corrie icon he is fighting". Metro. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ Carreno, Laura (7 May 2024). "Corrie's Les and Ashley stars reunite at event after actor's new career move". The Mirror. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
- ^ "Coronation Street Blog: Bruce Jones reveals Corrie secrets in autobiography". Coronation Street Updates. 16 November 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ^ "A wonderful tribute to the late, great Sir Norman Wisdom". De Montfort Hall. Archived from the original on 12 April 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
- ^ "A Tribute To Sir Norman Wisdom: Steve Bennett at the Leicester Comedy Festival event". Chortle. 14 February 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ Mark Rabinowitz (10 March 1998). "'Monty' 'Gets' SAG Awards, Taylor Feted". IndieWire. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ a b c Emmeline Saunders; Helen Carter (13 November 2020). "How Coronation Street's Les Battersby actor became a Yorkshire Ripper suspect - Bruce Jones says the mix-up cost him his marriage". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ Paul Fogarty (17 December 2020). "Bruce Jones in the Ripper: How Coronation Street actor became a suspect in Yorkshire Ripper case". HITC.
- ^ "Biography". Corrie.net. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ^ "Stressed Street star in clinic". BBC News. 2 March 2000.
- ^ "Corrie Bruce: I'm Broke". People UK. 4 January 2009. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ^ "Les Battersby actor admits grabbing wheel while wife drove". Inthenews.co.uk. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ^ Mike Hornby (18 March 2010). "Coronation Street star Bruce Jones abused me for years, says wife". The Independent.
- ^ "Bruce Jones, Coronation Street star, sentenced for dangerous driving". The Daily Telegraph. 27 April 2010. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ^ "Ex-Corrie star Bruce Jones is 'sleeping on floors'". Primetime Unreality TV. 16 May 2010. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
- ^ "Former Coronation Street star living off benefits". Irish Examiner. 22 June 2015.
- ^ Joel Leaver (18 February 2019). "Coronation Street icon on 'appalling' Universal Credit and reveals he helped out struggling parents". Daily Post.
External links
edit- Bruce Jones at IMDb