Christmas with a bang for Cilla and Les

TV

09:30 10 October 2005

Cilla Brown will blow up the fish 'n' chip shop where she works in 'Coronation Street' this Christmas - after trying to deep-fry her turkey.

The larger-than-life character, played by Wendi Peters, tries to make a special festive lunch for soon-to-be husband Les Battersby, played by Bruce Jones, in the Yule tide special of the popular soap.

However, Cilla fails to defrost the huge bird properly and when she drops it in the boiling hot fat it sparks a massive explosion.

A 'Street' insider said: "Only Cilla and Les would fancy a deep-fried turkey.

"Her plan is to sneak in to the chip shop, fry the turkey and take it back for her and Les to tuck into. But she doesn't follow the right procedure and it ends with a bang and Cilla covered in chip fat and debris from the explosion.'

Bosses are confident the comical festive storyline will prove popular with viewers and help the soap win the ratings battle against its BBC rival 'EastEnders'.

(c) BANG Media International