Coronation Street star went from 'having everything' to living 'below breadline'

One of the most iconic Coronation Street stars ended up relying on benefits and living "below the breadline" after retiring from the ITV soap. Bruce Jones, best known for playing Les Battersby on the cobbles, blew his £1million fortune after starring in Corrie for a decade between 1997 and 2007.

The actor has been on benefits twice in his life - the first time in the mid-1980s after a factory accident forced him to stop working. He explained to The Sun: "I still wanted to be the breadwinner and found being out of work hard to bear. It was depressing; as the man of the house I felt I should be going out and bringing home the wages."

By 2015 he was back on benefits after being axed from Coronation Street, admitting it was a "hell of a comedown".

"I was mobbed by people coming up to ask for my autograph. I had a good job, nice car, houses, the best holidays. It all went." He had his £500,000 Cheshire home and bungalow in North Wales repossessed and was left living in a caravan after spending what was left of his £1million earnings.

He said: "I knew that I was instantly recognisable and the Job Centre wasn't really the place I wanted to be." He received around £200 after being on Universal Credit for "about six weeks", which was a "soul-destroying" experience he never wants to repeat.

Now Bruce is living off three private pensions and claims a state pension, and is back living in his own house. He continues to act, having appeared in miniseries The Full Monty in 2023 and short film The Exit Guide in 2024.

The actor has also appeared on several documentaries over the years, including Famous, Rich and Homeless and Celebs on Benefits: Fame to Claim on Channel 5.