Coronation Street fans 'figure out' Les Battersby's killer - and it's someone on cobbles

Coronation Street’s Les Battersby was murdered, fans have claimed - and they ‘know exactly’ who killed him.

The character, played by Bruce Jones, first rocked up to the soap in 1997 alongside his wife Janice (Vicky Entwistle) his daughter Leanne (Jane Danson) and stepdaughter Toyah (Georgia Taylor).

And it’s fair to say he turned the famous cobbles on its head with his menacing and conniving ways. But Les also brought a touch of humour to the long-running ITV soap.

Following Janice and Les' infamous split due to Janice finding love with Dennie Stringer (Charles Dale) Les also formed a new relationship with Cilla Brown (Wendi Peters).

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In 2007 though, actor Bruce left the show - and Les has not been seen since. But back in October this year, it was confirmed that the soap was killing off the character.

And over on the cobbles this week, it was revealed that Les had died off-screen. During Friday’s episode (November 29) Leanne was informed of Les’ death by a police officer, who told her that he had died at work.

The news left Leanne and Les’ former stepson Chesney (Sam Aston) devastated - but fans fear a shock murder twist is in the cards. What’s more, over on the soap next week, it’s revealed that there is more than meets the eye when it comes to Les’ death.

Spoilers have revealed that solicitor Adam Barlow (Sam Robertson) meets with Leanne, as well as with Les's former stepchildren Toyah Habeeb (Georgia Taylor) Fiz Dobbs (Jennie McAlpine) and Chesney to share some news with them.

According to Adam, the abattoir where Les had been working has offered his family £50,000 as compensation for his death at work. But only if they agree to sign an NDA. Now, fans reckon Les was murdered in what would be a huge twist.

Over on a Coronation Street Facebook fan page, a fan said: “Gutted about Les!” In the comment section, fans shared their theory that Les was murdered. One person wrote: “Anyone else think he was killed?” A second person wrote: “There’s something dodgy happening definitely.”

A third even mused how Leanne could be responsible, following a rather dramatic past twelve months on the soap. They said: “Leanne killed Les? Hear me out, she could be in the middle of a breakdown after the institute and Toyah’s affair?” A fifth agreed and wrote: “Yes to this!” A sixth said: "They didn't have an amazing relationship either so it could be."

Meanwhile, other fans pointed their finger to his ex and former soap legend Cilla Brown (Wendi Peters). The viewer penned: “Or what about Cilla? She could come back then,” as someone else wrote: “That’s true! I miss her so much.”

Cilla first rocked up to the famous cobbles back in 2003. Introduced as Les Battersby's love interest, Cilla soon became a hit with viewers. She was involved in several memorable moments, including the iconic scene that saw Cilla and Les (Bruce Jones) fall through their ceiling after dog Schmeichel invaded their bath.

But in 2007, soap fans were left gutted when Cilla said her goodbyes to the cobbles. A year later though, Wendi made a cameo appearance as Cilla Battersby in the soap spin-off Coronation Street: Out Of Africa. And in 2014, the character returned for a brief stint. But the loud-mouthed soap favourite has been absent from Weatherfield ever since.

Coronation Street airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX

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