Coronation Street legend Bruce Jones accused ITV bosses of ignoring public demand by axing Les Battersby, with former stars believing the show is in decline and fans “the street is dead”.

Former Coronation Street star Bruce Jones has been accused of “ignoring public demand” by killing off his iconic character Les Battersby, after being informed of the decision by email.

Jones, 71, became a household name in 1997 after arriving as the foul-mouthed Les, head of the equally profane Battersby family, with wife Janice and troubled teenage daughters Leanne and Toya.

But he suffered a spectacular fall from grace when an undercover reporter filmed him belittling his fans and revealing secret plots during a boozy night out.

Show bosses acted quickly and Jones was quickly suspended in 2007, ten years after he arrived. He never set foot on stone again.

Now, in his only interview since finding out Leslie's doors are closing permanently, the actor criticized the show for ignoring public demand and claims fans have told him the show is failing.

In 1997, Jones became a household name as the foul-mouthed Les, head of the equally vulgar Battersby family, with his wife Janice (pictured) and their troublesome teenage daughters Leanne and Toyah.

'[Show bosses] I emailed a fortnight ago to tell him what was happening,” Jones told MailOnline at the time he discovered Les had been murdered.

'I thought, well, I've played with him for ten years. It gives me closure. I could stop people from asking me all the time when and if I'll be back.

'People want me to come back, but everywhere I go, everything stops at the shopping centres. I'm glad it's happening, but I'm sad to lose a character I played for ten years. I owe Street a debt of gratitude for that.

And he added: 'The other day I went out and people asked me four times that day: “When are you coming back? The street is dead.”

Jones says he has mixed feelings about the decision and wonders where Awkward Les would fit into the modern landscape if he returned to the soap.

He said: 'I felt relieved and then I felt sad and then I thought, “Well, where is it going to go?” Where will he go if he comes back? How will he return and what will he do? Where will the stories take you?

“I don't think they can do much with it, which is a shame.”

Jones believes die-hard fans will react badly to the news of their iconic character's death, and some might even stop watching the show.

She starred in the soap for a decade before ITV bosses suspended her in 2007 for revealing secrets from the show.

The actor is in the film with Vicky Entwistle, best known for playing his wife Janice.

“The reaction at first after the breakup is strange,” he said. 'It will be very strange to see how people react.

“I imagine some people being very upset and upset, others saying things like: 'You've done your time, it's time to go, we still have you in the Classic, so we have memories of you, so it's okay.'”

“I think a lot of people will be angry, a lot of people will say, 'I'm not going to watch again because I watch the classics (old episodes).'”

'When I go shopping or to football with my partner, I wait for the reaction when it breaks. It will be a sad moment for everyone. I don't see it.

They will tell you: 'I won't look at it anymore, we can make you come back.' But I'm not going back. He's a very famous person, Les. I can't see what kind of reaction I'll get, and I can't see what kind of reaction Matisootu Street will get.

“I don't want to bet that they'll get a big reaction, but that's Les' decision.” I enjoyed playing with him. “I'm leaving, we'll see what happens.”

'[Show bosses] I emailed a fortnight ago to tell him what was happening,” Jones told MailOnline at the time he discovered Les had been murdered.

While his TV career has declined in recent years, Jones, who admitted living off the benefits after making his £1million fortune, insists he has “no animosity” towards the show.

With his TV career in decline in recent years, Jones, who admitted living off the benefits after making his £1million fortune in 2015, insists he has “no animosity” towards the show.

“They gave me ten years and I found a great character who was a great success for everyone,” he said. “I wish you all the best in the world.”

The actor also stopped watching the show that made him famous, but hopes it will continue forever despite its decline in popularity.

He said: I watch good documentaries. I read a lot instead of watching a lot of television. I didn't get much of a chance to see him while I was doing it because we were always working.

'I don't hear people say how bad it is. Coronation Street will always be there. They say we don't watch it, we want to see the classics.

'I haven't seen it so I can't really say anything, shame. I want to see it, but there are too many memories, so I don't want to.