Boyzone's Stephen Gately will be Chitty Chitty Bang Bang's new Child Catcher. He will begin performances on September 7, the same day Jason Donovan returns as Caractacus Potts.
Gately made his theatrical debut in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Liverpool Empire. He starred in the show from December 16, 2002 to January 11, 2003. The production then transferred, with Gately in the title role, to the West End in February 2003. Despite his stage success, Gately is still best known for his recording career. Boyzone was one of the United Kingdom's most successful boy bands. The group had six number one singles and four number one albums in seven years. Gately was the first Boyzone member to embark on a solo career and released his first solo recording, New Beginning, in 2000.
The current cast of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang features Gary Wilmot as Caractacus Potts, Scarlett Strallen as Truly Scrumptious, Tony Adams as Grandpa Potts, Christopher Biggins as Baron Bomburst, Louise Gold as Baroness Bomburst and Lionel Blair as he Child Catcher.