Claire Sweeney Cast As Baroness Bomburst in CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG

From August 3, Claire Sweeney will play the role of Baroness Bomburst in Music & Lyrics and West Yorkshire Playhouse's production of the much-loved Sherman Brothers musical CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG. The production is touring across the UK and Ireland until February 2017. Michelle Collins, who currently plays Baroness Bomburst, leaves the production on July 30.

Sweeney joins Lee Mead (Casualty, Legally Blonde, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat) as Caractacus Potts, Carrie Hope Fletcher (LES MISERABLES, War of the Worlds) as Truly Scrumptious, Shaun Williamson (The Railway Children, EastEnders) as Lord Scrumptious/Baron Bomburst, Matt Gillett (Jersey Boys, Top Hat) as the Childcatcher and Andy Hockley (The Phantom Of The Opera) as Grandpa Potts.

Michelle Collins said: "I will be really sorry to leave the fantastic Chitty Chitty Bang Bang tour after my dates at the New Wimbledon Theatre and six months on the road. I love playing the all-singing and dancing Baroness Bomburst, but have been advised that the knee problem I have been managing along the way will not fully recover if I carry on for the rest of the 12-month tour. I wish Claire Sweeney every success when she takes over the role this summer."

John Stalker, Executive Producer of Music & Lyrics, said: "I would like to thank Michelle Collins for being a brilliant Baroness in our production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. I am thrilled that Claire Sweeney will be joining us in the role in August. We are lucky to be working with two such talented actresses as part of our wonderful cast."

On television, Claire Sweeney began her career as Lindsey Corkhill in Channel 4's Brookside and appeared in the first ever Celebrity Big Brother in aid of Comic Relief. She also appeared in the very first Strictly Come Dancing on BBC1 and has been a regular panellist on ITV's Loose Women. She could also recently be heard hosting her very own weekly musical theatre-themed show on Magic FM. In theatre, her many roles have included Roxie Hart in Chicago in the West End, Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls at the Piccadilly Theatre with Patrick Swayze, The Girl in a national tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black's musical Tell Me on a Sunday, Paulette in the first UK tour of Legally Blonde, and she played the eponymous role in the UK tour of Educating Rita with Matthew Kelly. Claire is currently starring as Velma Von Tussle in the UK tour of Hairspray.

Jason Manford (The Producers, Sweeney Todd) returns to the role of Caractacus Potts on 21 September 21. Phill Jupitus (The Producers, Hairspray) returns to the roles of Lord Scrumptious and Baron Bomburst on August 24.

Ewen Cummins plays The Toymaker/Mr Coggins, with Sam Harrison as Boris and Scott Paige as Goran, and Kathryn Barnes, Rosanna Bates, Alex Louize Bird, Abigail Climer, Jade Davies, Ewan Gillies, Joanna Goodwin, Nathan Vaughan Harris, Christopher D Hunt, Paul Iveson, Nia Jermin, Kelsie-Rae Marshall, Mollie Melia-Redgrave, Perry O'Dea, Matt Overfield, Ross Russell, Craig Turner and Robert Wilkes.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has music and lyrics by Richard M Sherman and Robert B Sherman, who were also responsible for Mary Poppins, The Slipper and the Rose, The Aristocats and The Jungle Book. The Sherman Brothers have won two Academy Awards with a further nine nominations, two Grammy Awards and they have received 21 gold and platinum albums. The film made from Ian Fleming's classic story has been adapted for the stage by Jeremy Sams, based on the MGM Motion Picture Licensed Script adapted by Ray Roderick.

This new production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is directed by West Yorkshire Playhouse Artistic Director James Brining, with new choreography by Stephen Mear. There is a live orchestra with musical supervision by Stephen Ridley. Set and costume design is by Simon Higlett, lighting design is by Tim Mitchell, sound design is by Ben Harrison and video design is by Simon Wainwright.

For more information and to book tickets, visit www.chittythemusical.co.uk

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