A four-wheeled diva and her 100-strong entourage will be flying into Brad-ford's Alhambra Theatre for a two-month run in the new year.

After four years enchanting audiences at the London Palladium, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is taking flight on a UK tour and Bradford is the only stop in Yorkshire.

It lands in February, with a cast and crew of more than 100 - including ten dogs and three sets of 12 children - and spectacular special effects, not least the world-famous flying car.

The show stars Kevin Kennedy as Caractacus Potts, Ken Morley as the Baron and former Crossroads actor Tony Adams as Grandpa Potts. Kevin and Ken are best known as Coronation Street double act Curly Watts and Reg Holdsworth.

The show is essentially about a derelict racing car discovered by two children, Jeremy and Jemima, who persuade their father, eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts, to restore it.

Together with Truly Scrumptious and Grandpa Potts, they're taken on an amazing adventure by the car and, along the way, they try to outwit the creepy Child Catcher and dastardly Baron Bomburst of Vulgaria.

Nominated for three Olivier Awards, Chitty became the longest-running show at the London Palladium. After opening on Broadway it was nominated for five Tony Awards.

Based on the 1968 movie by James Bond creator Ian Fleming, the show features such numbers as Truly Scrumptious, Hushabye Mountain and the Oscar-nominated title song.

It was brought to the cinema by James Bond producer Albert R Cubby' Broccoli and, with a screenplay by Roald Dahl, was the largest, most expensive musical ever filmed in England. The stage show opened in 2002 as the largest-ever musical in London's West End. Taking centre stage was the magnificent flying car.

Chitty weighs in at a tonne-and-a-half so touring her is clearly a challenge. Producer Michael Rose won't reveal how she's flown - "It's magic," he says, simply - but reveals she can be a temperamental leading lady.

"She's the grand dame of the show, she has an uncanny ability to play up when you least expect it - she's a diva on four wheels!" he smiles. "The car is certainly the trickiest thing - if there's no car there's no show."

He recalls the night Chitty had a hissy fit just a few nights into the West End run. "There was an electrical hitch and she wouldn't fly so we had to send everyone home. Thankfully she was back up and running the following night," says Michael.

"It's such a thrill to see a flying car on stage. You will believe that a car can fly, it takes audiences' breath away. You hear gasps as she rises into the air, there's something emotional about seeing it take off, I've seen grown men with tears in their eyes.

"I've seen the show about 150 times and it still amazes me. This is the most intimate theatre it's playing at - the audience will almost be able to touch the car!"

Chitty isn't the only mechanical feat on stage. "Caractacus Potts is an inventor and there are all kinds of machines whirring and clanking, not least a rather intricate breakfast-making machine. Timing is crucial," says Michael.

"Chitty represents event theatre, it's the biggest show for any producer. There's so much equipment - miles of electric cables, sets, costumes and props delivered in 24 40ft lorries, and a huge cast and crew. It hasn't been trimmed down too much, you'll be getting the Palladium show."

So, apart from the flying car, what's the enduring appeal of this rather strange family story?

"Chitty represents an era of loyalty, of tight family units. It's two-and-a-half hours of escapism, an antidote to the six o'clock news," says Michael. "It deals with two emotive subjects; the ability to fly, which is a primeval thing - who doesn't dream of being able to fly? - and the protection of your children. The Child Catcher is terrifying. Fleming wrote the novel for his son after he'd complained that he loved James Bond more than he loved him. The story is about being made whole again; it's about a broken car and a broken one-parent family.

"The car is initially a wreck but Caractacus puts it back together. As a father he had been pre-occupied with his inventions but, through the family's adventures and their encounter with the Child Catcher, he becomes more protective of his children. Chitty brings the family back together.

"It's a show that has something for everyone; children love the colour, the car, the adventure, the spectacle of it, and there's enough humour for adults to enjoy. The love story makes it a good date audience' show too.

"It's a hugely uplifting show," adds Michael. "People leave singing the songs, it's cheaper than therapy!

He added: "During the Palladium run we arranged for a terminally-ill girl whose wish was to fly in the Chitty car to come along to the show with her family. She came on stage and got into the car and Michael Ball, who was Caractacus, and the cast sang to her. The child's face was pure joy.

"Theatre has a potent effect on audiences, when you start getting letters from people about how it has raised spirits and changed lives you really become aware of that."

West Yorkshire actress Emma Williams, who went to Idle theatre school Stage 84, played Truly Scrumptious in the original West End production, starring opposite Michael Ball. Emma was 18 when she landed the role and became the youngest-ever leading lady in the original cast of a West End show.

"She was marvellous," says Michael. "Off-stage she had this wonderful Yorkshire accent but as soon as she put on Truly's costume she was transformed into an Edwardian lady, speaking the Queen's English."

  • Chitty Chitty Bang Bang runs at the Alhambra from February 11 to April 5, 2008. For tickets ring (01274) 432000.