20 February 2024 , 20:38
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He got in a few scrapes in Coronation Street but now soap actor Bruce Jones is trying a new career as a wrestler at the age of 71.
Bruce, best known as Les Battersby for the role he played between 1997 and 2007, played on his soap persona as he entered the ring in double denim in his debut as part of SOVPRO (Sovereign Pro Wrestling).
Cheered on by around 200 fans, promoters had declared before the fight: "They don’t call him Batters-by for nothing." Bruce soaked up the atmosphere at the Trinity Sports Centre in Manchester before posing for photos after the bout.
Bruce Jones is trying a new career as a wrestler at the age of 71 (Aaron Parfitt / SplashNews.com)Speaking about his new venture, Bruce said his wrestling role was originally a Les Battersby cameo to promote another match, but it got out of hand. "So, they were like: 'You don't mind getting knocked about in the ring a bit, do you?'" he told The Guardian, and the rest is history.
Wrestler Sam Gradwell, who also fought in the ring on the day, shared some pictures with Jones on Twitter/X, writing that "life is a fever dream".
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"How often do you get back from your match and a hammered Les Battersby is waiting for you with a beer to congratulate you on your win?"
Bruce is a Corrie legend (Aaron Parfitt / SplashNews.com)Gradwell captioned the shots of him and Jones hanging out backstage. I thought you lads were gonna f**kin kill each other. Life is a fever dream."
The new move marks a big comeback for the actor - who starred in panto in Manchester at the end of 2023. Despite Les being a Status Quo fan, he was floored on Corrie by Rick Parfitt in an episode in 2005.