Former Corrie fave Bruce Jones, who played the legendary Les Battersby, says he’s so horrified by the recent violence in the show that he no longer watches.
Les was a firm fave among fans during Bruce’s 10 years in Corrie. Viewers adored his mishaps during his marriage to Janice – Toyah’s mum – and later to Cilla, Fiz and Chesney’s mum.
But Bruce says the show has changed so much since he left that he can’t bear to tune in.
He said recent brutal storylines, including Bethany’s horrific sexual exploitation ordeal and Phelan’s gory murder spree, have caused him to turn off.
“The shootings and stabbings went too far,” he told SunOnline. “The violence when I was there wasn’t as bad as that.
“I don’t know why it’s gone that way. I can’t watch any more because it’s too violent.”
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He said he wasn’t the only one to be turning off because of the brutality on the show.
“People really rant. I’m not joking you, they are mad,” he said. “They’re really mad. People come up to me in the street – ‘We’re not watching that, we’d rather watch Emmerdale’.”
He added that the show adding an extra episode each week was necessary so they could fit in all the gory stories.
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“Just because the world’s gone violent doesn’t mean the feel-good TV show has to go violent,” he grumbled.
Viewers have complained about some recent storylines, and Phelan murdering Luke attracted a lot of official complaints, but ratings for the show are good and many fans are enjoying the brutal topics covered.
And it seems there’s no end to the brutality in sight.
In an upcoming gritty storyline, David Platt will be raped, while Phelan’s still trying to save himself – no matter who gets in his way.