AN 80s legend has been chosen to star in this year’s festive panto at The Brindley.

Sonia plays the role of fairy superior at Cinderella from December 12 to January 15.

Starting drama school at the age of eight set her on the path to becoming a professional singer and actress.

After leaving school she appeared in the Bread and Brookside.

At 16, she was spotted by record producer Pete Waterman and an impromptu audition secured a recording contract with Simon Cowell.

Her debut single You’ll Never Stop Me from Loving You was released in 1989 and shot to number one in the UK selling 350,000 copies.

Everybody Knows, her first album sold half million copies and included top singles such as Can’t Forget You, Listen To Your Heart and Counting Every Minute.

In 1991 she released the album Sonia and presented Wetter the Better, a Saturday morning children’s TV show.

Her UK entry in the 1993 Eurovision Song Contest saw her come second with Better The Devil You Know which went on to hit the charts.

Sonia is a veteran panto performer appearing in Dick Whittington, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty and Jack and the Beanstalk.

In 2003 she starred in Granada’s ITV1 Saturday night project Reborn in the USA. Her other television appearances include Trisha, Celebrities Under Pressure, The Weakest Link, The Paul O'Grady Show and Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.

Panto tickets are available from the box office on 0151 907 8360 and online at thebrindley.org.uk.