Coronation Street fans have speculated that Les Battersby was killed after the news broke on the ITV soap that he had died off-screen—though things may not be as they appear.
Coronation Street fans believe they’ve uncovered the mystery behind Les Battersby’s off-screen death, with some convinced they know who is responsible.
The character, played by Bruce Jones, made his first appearance on the soap in 1997, joining his wife Janice (Vicky Entwistle), daughter Leanne (Jane Danson), and stepdaughter Toyah (Georgia Taylor). His tough yet sly behaviour certainly made waves on the cobbles, but he also brought a touch of comedy to the long-running ITV show.
After Janice and Les’ infamous breakup, sparked by Janice’s new relationship with Dennie Stringer (Charles Dale), Les found love once more with Cilla Brown (Wendi Peters). However, in 2007, actor Bruce Jones left the show, and Les hasn’t been seen since. In October of this year, it was confirmed that the soap would be writing off the character.
This week on the cobbles, it was revealed that Les had died off-screen. In Friday’s episode (November 29), Leanne learned of his passing from a police officer, who told her that he had died while at work, according to Lancs Live.
The news of Les’ death left Leanne and his former stepson Chesney (Sam Aston) devastated. However, fans are speculating that a shocking murder twist might be in play. Additionally, next week’s episodes tease that there are more secrets surrounding Les’ passing.
Coronation Street viewers are eagerly awaiting the next twist, as spoilers reveal that Adam Barlow (Sam Robertson) has some explosive news for Leanne and Les’ former stepchildren Toyah Habeeb (Georgia Taylor), Fiz Dobbs (Jennie McAlpine), and Chesney. It appears the abattoir where Les worked is offering a generous £50,000 compensation for his death, but there’s a catch—they must sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
This has left viewers convinced that Les’ death might have been a result of a shocking plot twist. On a Coronation Street fan Facebook group, one viewer expressed their sadness: “Gutted about Les!” The comments section quickly filled with theories, with one fan suggesting: “Anyone else think he was killed?” Another added, “Something shady is definitely going on.”
The speculation continued, with one fan proposing that Leanne could be behind it all, given her challenging year: “Leanne killed Les? Hear me out, she could be having a breakdown after the institute and Toyah’s affair?” Others voiced agreement, while some fans began to suspect his ex, Cilla Brown (Wendi Peters), with one commenting: “Or maybe it was Cilla? She could come back,” prompting another to reply, “That’s ‘true’! I miss her so much.”
Cilla made her debut on the famous cobbles in 2003, originally introduced as Les Battersby’s love interest. She quickly became a beloved character among fans. Cilla was at the heart of several memorable moments, including the iconic scene where she and Les (Bruce Jones) crashed through their ceiling after their dog Schmeichel caused chaos during their bath.
In 2007, fans were disappointed when Cilla said her final goodbye to the cobbles. A year later, Wendi Peters made a brief return as Cilla Battersby in the Coronation Street spin-off Out Of Africa. The character also made a short comeback in 2014, but since then, the bold and beloved soap character has been absent from Weatherfield.
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