A POPULAR singer and actress will be waving her wand as the Fairy Godmother in The Anvil’s Christmas panto Cinderella.

Liverpudlian entertainer Sonia (left) will be helping Cinderella get to the ball this winter, joining Anna Williamson and Jamie Rickers – both from CITV’s children show Toonattik – as Cinderella and Buttons, respectively.

Sonia enrolled in drama school at the age of eight, setting her on the road to becoming an actress – starring in sitcom Bread and soap opera Brookside – but she was only 16 when she entered the music business, gigging around Liverpool until she was spotted by a record producer and secured a recording contract with Simon Cowell at BMG.

Her debut single – You’ll Never Stop Me From Loving You, released in 1989 – and debut album, Everybody Knows, sold hundreds of thousands of copies and she has toured the world performing her music.

She was the UK representative in the 1993 Eurovision Song Contest, with Better The Devil You Know, and has presented and appeared on a number of TV shows. She has also starred in West End musicals as well as a long list of pantomimes, including Dick Whittington, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Aladdin and Sleeping Beauty.

Sonia will be working her magic at The Anvil from December 10 until January 3. Tickets for the popular Gazette Newspapers-sponsored pantomime can be booked through the Anvil Arts box office, on 01256 844244, or online at anvilarts.org.uk.