MORE than 40 years since the hit film, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is still flying high — in every sense of the word.

It is twee, there’s no denying it. But it must be doing something right, attracting footballers Wes Brown and Shaun Wright-Phillips and the cast of Hollyoaks and their families, for the opening night earlier this week.

It’s a no-expense-spared experience from a huge cast (more than 30 adults, 20 kids and a family of dogs) with dancers that knock your socks off.

The child catcher wasn’t half as scary as I remember. He didn’t live up to his reputation somehow. Maybe I’m just past it.

The flying car still did it for me though. It was like magic. Singing along to ‘chitty bang bang chitty chitty bang bang’ I was open mouthed, much like the 10-year-old to my left, when Chitty flew around the stage.

Mr Potts, had the children in the audience eating out of the palm of his hand and Jeremy and Jemima were adorable, and showed no sign of the fact it was way past their bed time when the final curtain arrived.

For me, and the other adults in the crowd, the characters, whose sole role was to keep the parents amused, were the real stars of the show.

Baroness Bomburst was brilliantly wicked and her spies kept the laughter circling, with the smaller of the ‘chuckle brothers’ Goran a particular crowd pleaser.

l CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG — The Palace Theatre, Manchester until May 15. Tickets 0844 847 2277.