Corrie legend makes soap return as Cilla Battersby actress returns to TV after 9 years

Former Coronation Street legend Wendi Peters will be returning to our TV screens very soon.

The actress - who played the loud and brash Cilla Battersby-Brown on the ITV soap - has joined the cast of Doctors, and is set to appear in the show in the New Year.

Wendi, 54, will first grace television screens on the BBC soap in February 2023 as Dr Nina Bulsara, almost nine years on from last enjoying a stint on the cobbled streets of Weatherfield.

The Blackburn-born actress quickly became a soap icon when she took began portraying the role of Cilla Battersby-Brown in Corrie in 2003, where she starred in several comical storylines until her first departure in 2007.

Wendi Peters is best known for her role playing Les Battersby's second wife on Coronation Street (ITV)

Fans of the long-running soap opera will remember how Cilla bid farewell to her son Chesney Brown to enjoy the bright lights of Las Vegas. Wendi briefly reprised the role of Cilla in 2014 for six weeks after a seven-year absence from the show.

Since leaving the soap world behind, Wendi has appeared in multiple touring productions and pantomimes across the country but will be back on our TV screens regularly once again soon after almost a decade away.

Dr Nina Bulsara, Wendi's new character in Doctors, is described as a chatterbox who has an opinion on everything and everyone. She can be overbearing and inappropriate, but her cup is always half full and she’ll always find the positive in any difficulty or situation.

Wendi starred in some of Corrie's funniest storylines during her time on the soap (Unknown)

Speaking of her new role, Wendi said: "I am thrilled to be joining the wonderful Doctors team to play Dr Nina Bulsara - a woman on a mission who always seems to get what she wants!"

Executive Producer, Mike Hobson, added: "We are absolutely delighted to welcome Wendi to the Doctors cast. She is a familiar face every soap fan will recognise, and we know she will be brilliant in this role.

Wendi joins as Dr Nina Bulsara who is a feisty busybody who wants to be respected, she is bound to ruffle a few feathers at The Mill."

Wendi is looking forward to her second stint as a soap star on the BBC series (Getty Images Europe)

The actress has been appearing on the stage since leaving Corrie (Dave Benett/Getty Images)

The daytime BBC soap sees doctors and staff at the Mill Health Centre and Campus Surgery try to save the lives of their patients while dealing with the ups and downs in their personal lives.

Over the years, a number of soap icons and huge names have made cameos on the series - with Oscar-winning Eddie Redmayne even enjoying a small cameo in one episode back in 2003.

Lisa Riley may be best known for her role as Mandy Dingle in Emmerdale, but the actress has played two roles on Doctors since making her name for herself on the rival ITV soap - most recently as Sandra Reynolds in 2012.

Wendi isn't the only former Corrie star to swap the cobbles for the BBC doctor's surgery (Unknown)

Strictly Come Dancing contestant Kym Marsh actually kicked started her acting career on Doctors after initially finding fame with the pop band Hearsay'.

The star's one-episode stint in the BBC series came before she enjoyed stints on Hollyoaks in the City and her big role as Michelle Connor in Coronation Street.

*Doctors is made by BBC Studios and airs every week day at lunchtime Monday - Friday at 1.45pm on BBC One.