Former chart star Jason Donovan is returning to the West End more than a decade after his triumphant role as Joseph, it was announced today.
The Aussie actor - who rose to fame in TV soap Neighbours - will take the lead role in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Donovan, 35, will play Caractacus Potts for 40 performances while Gary Wilmot takes a break.
The star famously dated Kylie Minogue in his Neighbours days and scored a chart-topper with her on the track Especially For You.
He went on to have three more number one singles including Any Dream Will Do from his run in London stage hit Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
But his career faltered in the Nineties and he turned to drugs. At one stage he was belting out his hits in pubs around Britain.
However he got his life back on track with film roles and a major part in hit Australian series MDA. He takes over at the London Palladium on January 12.
Chitty producer Michael Rose said: "We wanted somebody who was a good musical theatre star who had played leading roles, could sing, dance and act.
"The last big hit at the London Palladium was Joseph and it seemed like a natural choice for us to try to persuade him to come across and do it.
"Luckily there was a two-month gap in his schedule so it was the perfect solution to find a stand-in for Gary.
"He's a good family entertainer and he was a big draw the last time he appeared."
Donovan's last UK stage appearance was in The Rocky Horror Show.
He will appear alongside Victor Spinetti, Sandra Dickinson, Wayne Sleep and Russ Abbot in Chitty, which has played to full houses since opening 18 months ago.
