CORONATION Street star Wendi Peters delighted fans with her turn as gobby, carefree Cilla Battersby-Brown.
The ITV actress, 53, arrived on the Cobbles in 2003, causing havoc with Les Battersby until 2008 when she left for Las Vegas.
She last appeared on the hit soap in 2014 for a six week-stint.
Yet since her latest Coronation Street departure, the Lancashire-born star looks completely unrecognisable in her new role.
Wendi has worked extensively on stage, in theatre shows and musicals, and as such has ditcher her wild blonde perm, candy-coloured lipstick and bright eye-shadow.
A recent image saw Cilla’s signature beam replaced with a grim look as she posed for a promotional shot in new play, The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow.
Her curls had gone in favour of sleek blonde waves while she covered up in a cloak.
Another shot saw her make-up free as she posed on-set.
Meanwhile off-screen, Wendy also favours a more demure wardrobe than Cilla, choosing sleek black dresses and perfectly applied manicures.
CILLA’S COMEBACK?
In 2020, Wendi teased an exciting return to the Cobbles.
This became more apparent as, since her exit, her on-screen son Chesney has had four children.
Wendi, who made her comments during the Guide Dogs’ virtual tea party, said: “If a lovely story-line came up and I popped back in for a little while, it’d be nice.
“But I’m so busy work-wise.
“It would be quite fun now they’ve got quadruplets to have the mother from hell to look after them.”
She had previously hinted Cilla could return to keep an eye on Chesney’s antics.
CORRIE CRISIS
And this year, Corrie’s executive producer Iain Macleod has teased explosive upcoming storylines for a number of residents, including the Brown family.
Iain said: “I love that family a lot, for many reasons. We haven’t seen the quads as much as we had liked, it feels we can now examine that house.
“Joseph is sensitive and has tragedy in the background – he is essentially in the box room as the quads are lavished on.
“There’s also damage financially, five mouths to feed is punitive. Joseph has an unsettled home life which causes him to run away.
“It makes the whole Street look sideways at the Brown family, and also threatens the burgeoning friendship with Dev.
“It spins off into a story that will see a reintroduction to the household that will provide another threat.
“There’s a lot going on but I think that family can handle it.”
It came after Cilla posted a Corrie throwback with Chesney and Fiz to mark Children in Need.
Alongside the snaps uploaded to Twitter she gushed: “Was handed a photo album to look at today that took me back to 2004 when #Corrie did #Oliver on
@BBCCiN #happydays look at little Sam !!! Please donate whatever you are able to this Friday xxx”
One fan quickly replied: “Bring back Cilla – Literally the best character ever on Corrie!”
Another then posted: “Yes it’s time you Visited the Quads & stayed a While!? you were amazing x”
Coronation Street airs on ITV.
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