Former Coronation Street star Bruce Jones reveals how he blew £1million and is now on benefits after being axed from the soap

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Former Coronation Street star Bruce Jones has revealed that he is living on benefits after blowing his £1m fortune when he axed from the soap

Former Coronation Street star Bruce Jones has revealed he is living on benefits after blowing his £1m fortune when he was axed from the soap. 

The actor, who played Les Battersby for a decade, came to rely on state benefits after being axed from the show due to his drinking.

The 62-year-old, one of British TV's best-loved soap characters, has since had two houses repossessed and, at one point, had just £14 to his name. 

He also broke up with his wife and had to revert to living in a caravan. At times, he said he contemplated suicide.

Mr Jones has now opened up about his financial troubles as part of a Channel 5 documentary, due to air later this week, which looks at celebrities who have endured a riches-to-rags plight. 

Mr Jones earned £140,000 a year at his peak and pocketed more than £1million during his Coronation Street career.

But he was sacked in 2007 when he told fellow pub customers about the Tracy Barlow murder storyline.

After leaving the show, Mr Jones struggled to find acting work. When he launched a stand-up career in Marbella, Spain, his first gig sold just five tickets.

Mr Jones had already struggled to cope with his drinking while on the show. In 1998, he was banned from driving for three years after admitting being drunk behind the wheel.

More than ten years later, he was also convicted of dangerous driving after admitting grabbing the steering wheel from his wife Sandra and shouting 'I'll kill us both' as they drove on an A-road in Wales.

His family were later saddled with debt, leading to his £500,000 home in Cheshire being repossessed. A second bungalow was later repossessed.

The father-of-four has previously compared himself to troubled footballer Paul Gascoigne. Five years ago, he was warned by doctors that more drinking could kill him. He revealed shortly afterwards that he had once drunk as many as 15 pints a day.

But in 2013, he appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, something which he said helped him fight his demons. He also went into rehab twice. 

The actor, who played Les Battersby for a decade (pictured left and right), has revealed how he came to rely on state benefits after being sacked from the show due to his drinking

The 62-year-old, one of British TV's best-loved soap characters, has since had two houses repossessed and, at one point, had just £14 to his name. Pictured: Cilla, played by Wendi Peters, punches Les

But he was in the news against last year after he complained to police that he was owed £4,000 by an agent who allegedly failed to pay him for appearing on the Jeremy Kyle show. 

He was also forced to deny that he had died after friends from the soap posted a series of 'RIP Bruce' tweets.

The show will also feature Lisa Appleton, a former Big Brother contestant, who is now living in a council estate in Warrington

After Kym Marsh and Brooke Vincent sent RIP tweets about someone else connected to the show, who was also called Bruce, Mr Jones tweeted: 'I am writing to let you all know that I'm fine and well and not dead as people seem to think I am. #aliveandkicking.'  

As well as Mr Jones, the one-hour Channel 5 documentary will also feature Lisa Appleton, a former Big Brother contestant who made a quick fortune but is now living in a council estate in Warrington.

The 47-year-old, who has split from fellow contestant Mario Marconi, will reveal how she went from a high-end lifestyle to living in a 'rat-infested hole'.

She told the Daily Star: 'Anyone who thinks people on benefits are spongeing off the state and have an easy life should think again.

'It's killing me. It's hard to keep a smile on my face and it's deeply affecting my self-esteem and confidence.'

The one-off show will also feature non-celebrities who had promising careers ahead of them before losing everything and relying on benefits.

Martin Walker, a professional language teacher, was forced to move back in with parents, while Chris Bragan used to be a high-flying banker in Australia before moving to the UK and ending up in a bedsit.  

Celebs on Benefits: Fame to Claim will air on Channel 5 on Thursday, June 25 at 8pm.