News broke via Baz Bamigboye and West End Frame in the wee small hours of Friday 16 October that Lee would be swapping flying carpet (as Aladdin at the Birmingham Hippodrome), for flying car from 4 May 2016 when he took over the lead role of Caractacus Potts in the new UK tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Lee himself confirmed (following his first tweet below) that he would be leaving the tour at the end of the Birmingham dates on 18 September.It's out. Pleased to announce that I'll be playing Potts in Chitty. Absolutely loved the film as a kid and can't wait to play the role :)
— Lee Mead (@leemeadofficial) October 16, 2015This new production, choreographed by Stephen Mear and directed by James Brining, opened with a nine week run over Christmas at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds, followed by a UK & Ireland tour throughout 2016/early 2017. Jon Robyns played Caractacus in Leeds, while Jason Manford took on the touring role until 24 April and from 21 September. The tour is produced by Music and Lyrics Limited, a fairly new, award-winning consortium of the UK's major independent touring theatres - previous productions include 'The King and I' in 2011/12, 'Fiddler on the Roof' in 2013/14 and 'Oklahoma' in 2015.
Alongside Lee were Carrie Hope Fletcher as Truly Scrumptious, Michelle Collins (until 30 Jul) and Claire Sweeney as Baroness Bombast, Shaun Williamson (until 21 Aug) and Phil Jupitus as Baron Bombast, Andy Hockley as Grandpa Potts and Matt Gillett as the Childcatcher. Full dates for Lee's period in the cast are given on the main tour page - remaining dates can be found on the show's website.
Last updated: 19 September 2016