Coronation Street’s Wendi Peters looks unrecognisable nine years after quitting as gobby Cilla Battersby

CORONATION Street star Wendi Peters delighted fans with her turn as gobby, carefree Cilla Battersby-Brown.

The ITV actress, 54, 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.

Since her latest Coronation Street departure, the Lancashire-born star looks completely unrecognisable.

Wendi has worked extensively on stage, in theatre shows and musicals, and as such has ditched her wild blonde perm, candy-coloured lipstick and bright eye-shadow.

A recent image saw Cilla's signature beam behind the scenes of her panto role in Jack and the Beanstalk.

Her curls had gone in favour of sleek blonde waves while her face was decorated with jewels.

Off-stage, 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.

Last year 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.