Bruce Jones' 'Coronation Street' exit caused him to spiral into depression.
Bruce Jones
The 62-year-old actor - who starred as cab driver Les Battersby for a decade on the ITV soap, before he was axed in 2007 - has admitted his exit from the show had a dramatic impact on his wellbeing.
Bruce, whose £500,000 Cheshire home was repossessed in 2010, explained: "I didn't know I had depression. I just felt bad. A friend came in because he was worried about me. I'd been in my pyjamas for four days. I never moved.
"My wife got me to the doctor who wanted to give me pills.
"But I told him, 'I'm not taking anti-depressants. I'll get myself out of it'. Which is easier said than done."
The father-of-four is desperate to return to acting, but his struggle to find work has led him to claim benefits.
He told The Sun newspaper: "It's been a journey I never thought I'd go on. I realise it happens to a lot of people.
"There are a lot of really professional people signing on now, which surprised me.
"You can see in their faces they don't want to do it. They want to work. I want to work. I don't like living off the state."
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