Raising a glass to lifeboat crews

I support the
In-shore lifeboats
Bruce Jones is embarrassed to be hailed as one of the most famous
people in Britain via his portrayal of Les Battersby in Coronation
Street. He finds it hard to accept even though he is virtually mobbed
wherever he goes. Recently it happened on an Island-bound ferry
when he was rumbled by a group of pensioners.
He loves the Isle of Wight and late last year made his third visit to
the Fairway Holiday Park, in Sandown, to help raise funds for the
Sandown Inshore Lifeboat.
Bruce is so happy to come here
to help his long-time friend
Chris Williams and is aware
how hard Chris and his staff
work to make this annual
charity night a success.
“There is something about this
Island and the people who live
here should feel really lucky.
It’s a magical place,” enthused
Bruce.
On his recent visit Bruce had
to drive back to Manchester
the following morning to make
sure he was up bright and early
for his Monday filming session
at the Granada Studios. On
past visits he had managed to
Left: Bruce Jones
Right:
Artful Dodger Georgia
Derbyshire (10) -
Oliver - Harley
Mackness (9)
Below:
John Hannam (Left)
Bruce Jones
Chris Williams
Bottom Left: Bethan
John
stay on for a day or two to enjoy the local hospitality. A few years
ago Bruce completed the Round the Island yacht race and they
finished first in their class.
After gradual television success via hit series like Roughnecks,
Heartbeat and Frost, Bruce played the lead in the Ken Roach movie
Raining Stones and his career really took off from there. He was
making a movie with Bob Hoskins when he got the call from
Coronation Street. That was nine years ago.
“I had grown up watching Coronation Street with my grandmother
and when I was offered the part of Les Battersby I didn’t think it
would last five minutes. Everybody hated us but I’m still there and
I love it,” said Bruce.
He has no plans to leave – unless asked to.
Bruce grew up in Collyhurst a tough area in Manchester where
some lucky youngsters became footballers or boxers. He was the
first actor to come from that area and, to this day, is still very
grateful.
Much of Bruce’s off-set time is devoted to helping charities but he
is happy to keep a low profile and not seek publicity. This work
gives him great personal satisfaction.
Bruce is like a pied piper and people follow him everywhere and
shout out “Les” wherever he goes. It would give him far more
satisfaction if they called out “Bruce.” Then he would feel he has
really made his mark. He admits to leaving Les Battersby on a coat
hanger at work.
“Coronation Street is a real team effort and it all revolves around
the crew, the cast and the office staff. We all work together and noone
is bigger than Coronation Street,” enthused Bruce.
There have been other milestones in the life of actor Bruce Jones,
like Band of Gold and The Full Monty.
Being a famous soap star is not all fun. He does meet obsessed fans
and one slapped him around the face, on a Manchester station,
because he had married Cilla.
He can’t wait until his next visit to the Island.
INTERVIEW
9