Additional heartbreaking twist to Les’ death in Coronation Street leaves betrayed Leanne in shock
Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson) is hit by two huge shocks in Coronation Street next week.
We know, of course, that one of these relates to the death of her dad Les Battersby, who last appeared on the ITV soap in 2007.
It was confirmed last month that bad news about the character, who was a regular fixture on the cobbles for a decade, will soon reach his on-screen family.
At the time, former actor Bruce Jones said that he was ‘annoyed but relieved’ by the news that they were killing his legendary character off-screen.
He did, however, eventually give her some stability when he married Janice (Vicky Entwistle), therefore making a blended family with her daughter Toyah (Georgia Taylor).
The Battersby clan were moved from area to area by the council as a result of their unruly behaviour. Many years after Les departed Weatherfield for pastures new, she discovered that landlady Stella Price (Michelle Collins) was her estranged birth mother.
Despite their fractured relationship, Leanne has kept somewhat in touch with her dad – and the upcoming news is a devastating blow in the wake of recent events in her life.
From adoptive son Simon Barlow (Alex Bain) moving away, to being entwined in a sinister cult by life mentor Rowan Cunliffe (Emrhys Cooper) who preyed on her vulnerabilities, she’s really had a tough time.
That’s without mentioning her fiancé Nick Tilsley (Ben Price) sleeping with Toyah in the midst of the chaos.
In upcoming scenes, Nick and Toyah are preparing to announce that they’re back together – a move which would devastate Leanne who had come to terms with moving forward in the wake of losing them both.
They’re also planning to make a quick-flit abroad in the wake of the shock, to give her some time to process it. Toyah suggests that they wait until after the trial against Rowan, and after the memorial for Leanne’s late son Oliver.
She’s further convinced that they’re making a wrong move when Leanne presents her with a rose tree to be planted in memory of her own late daughter Rose.
In response, Nick suggests that his new girlfriend join him and son Sam (Jude Riordan) for tea in his plush Victoria Court flat, that was once the family home, so that he can get used to seeing them together again.
Later, as he prepares to break the upsetting news, he’s stopped in his tracks by the arrival of a police officer who reveals that Les has died at work.
Leanne is stunned, and rushes out to inform Toyah. Nick decides the quickly call Toyah to pre-warn her about what she’s about to hear.
The two sisters are united in grief, though as they’re hugging it soon becomes apparent that Toyah already knew. She confesses how she knew, leaving Leanne confused.
Nick thinks on his feet and comes up with a excuse about making the call to talk about the work rota at the Viaduct Bistro, and during their conversation the news slipped out.
However, Leanne is suspicious by their movements and decides to do some digging.
She opens Nick’s laptop, and notices they’ve booked into a hotel in Tenerife.
How will she react to the revelation?
