Coronation Street icon Wendi Peters gets huge response as ‘nightmare’ Cilla returns to screens
Wendi Peters has recognised support from fans who are loving Cilla Battersby-Brown’s return to Classic Coronation Street.
The actress, who is currently starring as Dr Nina Bulsara in BBC daytime soap Doctors, first appeared on the Corrie cobbles between 2003 and 2007.
Bursting onto our screens as mother from hell Cilla (full name Priscilla Petunia Aurelia, fact fans), she was revealed to be the neglectful mum of established character Fiz Brown (Jennie McAlpine).
Coupling up with layout Les Battersby (Bruce Jones), it wasn’t long before she came to blows with his estranged wife Janice (Vicky Entwistle) and installed herself at No. 5 with son Chesney (Sam Aston).
Her stint on the show is currently being broadcast on ITV3 on weekday afternoons following the broadcaster’s decision to start repeating old episodes from 1986 onwards, seven years ago.
In recent weeks, we’ve seen Cilla abandon poor Ches in Weatherfield after he exposed one of her many affairs and jet off for a new life in Spain.
The youngster struggled to find his path and contemplated running away to London with trusty dog Schmeichel, but was stopped by Rita Sullivan (Barbara Knox).
After returning with a tan and fresh ignorance to her actions, she tried to drive a further wedge between Les and Janice, who had got back together, and convinced him to take her back as she’d come into some inheritance money.
In this week’s episodes, hapless Les ordered Jamie Baldwin (Rupert Hill) to clear out his house in anticipation of replacing all of his possessions using Cilla’s cash – but when she revealed that her aunt had left every penny to a cat charity, they had to go digging at a tip to recover their furniture.
The drama has been a big hit with fans who are calling for Cilla’s return, having last been seen a decade ago in a story that facilitated Jennie McAlpine’s maternity leave.
‘Cilla’s awful but is the one of the characters in Classic Corrie. I’d like to see [her] return. Lots of potential with her kids still being on the street and all her grandchildren plus Evelyn, Cassie and Bernie to get on the wrong side of’ commented one fan.
Another added: ‘Cilla is one of the best characters to ever grace Coronation Street – how she never won mother of the year, I don’t know.’
The outpouring of love has prompted Wendi to add her own tribute.
Taking to X/Twitter, she told her 25,000 followers: ‘Loving all the Classic Corrie comments. Blimey, she was a nightmare.. but what fun I had!!’
One viewer cried: ‘Come back one day’.
‘Would love to see you return!’ said another.
A story in which the Battersby-Browns fell through their ceiling after installing a spa bath will play out in the coming weeks, is well remembered: ‘Cilla was a brilliant character. I’ll always remember that superb scene where Les and Cilla come crashing through the ceiling in the bath after Schmeichel jumps in.’
It’s understood that Wendi will be departing Doctors before the final episode airs in November, so there’s definitely room for a return to the Street.
Her character has been cared for by her family off-screen on numerous occasions due to her suffering from osteoporosis.
We’d love to see her come head to head with grandson Joseph’s (William Flanagan) maternal grandmother Linda Hancock (Jacqueline Leonard)!
