CORRIE CILLA: PANTO JOB WAS JUST PANTS

Stars demand unpaid wages

FORMER Coronation Street star Wendi Peters is owed thousands of pounds in unpaid wages after a musical she starred in collapsed.

Wendi,who played Cilla BattersbyBrown, last year had rave reviews as the Queen Of Hearts.

The show was based on

Lewis Carroll’s Alice In Wonderland.

But now the producer Neil Eckersley is being pursued for more than £30,000 in alleged unpaid wages.

Wonderland The Musical collapsed after its sound equipment was recalled by a supplier due to a financial dispute.

Actors’ union Equity says Wonderland The Musical

Ltd – of which Eckersley is sole director – owes money to 10 actors. Spokesman Paul Fleming said: “We remain hopeful that a resolution can be reached, but are more than prepared to take the case through the courts if necessary.”

Eckersley is now co-producing the Stephen Sondheim musical revue Putting It Together with Aria Entertainment and Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester.

Natalie McQueen, who co-starred in Wonderland, said: “I am truly disgusted. How are people still working with him?”

Angry Peters, 50, then added on Twitter: “This has to stop.”

A spokesman for Eckersley said: “We dispute the allegations.” OUT OF POCKET: Wendi