Working for characters in Sunderland (5)

I believe the answer is:

under

'working for' is the definition.
(I've seen this in other clues)

'characters in sunderland' is the wordplay.
'characters in' says the answer is hidden in the clue.
'UNDER' is hidden in the letters of 'sunderland'.

(Other definitions for under that I've seen before include "Less than" , "One prepared to take over from leading actor" , "In a state of unconsciousness" , "Covered" , "Anaesthetised" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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