Coronation Street icon Wendi Peters has criticized soap bosses for how they decided to write out Les Battersby.
The actress, who played the memorable Cilla Battersby-Brown on the ITV soap until 2014, also shared her thoughts on how she’d like to see Cilla’s character meet her end if that time comes.
It was recently revealed that Les is set to be killed off-screen in an upcoming storyline.
Bruce Jones, who played Les for ten years, expressed disappointment last month after he learned of his character’s fate through an email from ITV, rather than a personal call.
The 71-year-old actor, who was suspended in 2007 for controversial behavior, said, “I received an email from the casting team saying, ‘Dear Mr. Jones, we regret to inform you Les Battersby will be written out soon.’ I remember thinking, why address me so formally? Why not just call me Bruce? It felt impersonal.”
While the news initially upset him, he later felt a sense of closure, adding, “Maybe it’s my time to move on.”
Wendi, who joined BBC’s Doctors as Nina Bulsara in February 2023 for a seven-month stint, called the approach “a bit strange.”
She noted, “It’s been 20 years since we were regulars, so we’re no longer under contract. They have the freedom to make these choices, but perhaps a more considerate approach would have been nicer.”
When it comes to Cilla’s exit, Wendi hopes for something bold and dramatic.
ITV hasn’t asked her back, but if Cilla were to be written out, she wants it to be memorable.
The Lancashire-born actress said, “Cilla would need an outrageous send-off. Since we went to Africa for a special DVD episode, maybe she could meet her end by being eaten by lions.”
Wendi has kept a few souvenirs from her time on the show.
“I kept my wedding script signed by Status Quo, who performed at Les and Cilla’s wedding. I also have Cilla’s jewelry and silver bag. One day, my daughter will inherit them and probably wonder what they are,” she laughed.
Though open to returning to soaps, Wendi’s passion remains with theatre. She’s inspired by her comedy hero, Patricia Routledge.
She added, “I’d love to work on a British sitcom like Alma’s Not Normal. I’ve never done a sitcom or British comedy, and it’s something I’d absolutely love to try.
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