Ore Oduba has come a long way in a relatively short space of time. Nine years ago he was best known as a TV presenter, a friendly face on our screens covering news, sport and even hosting the National Lottery draw. It all changed when he paired up with professional dancer Joanne Clifton and the two of them won Strictly Come Dancing, starting Ore out on a new career in musical theatre.
Ore Oduba with Charlie Banks (Jeremy) and Lara Simon (Jemima) in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Picture: Paul Coltas) Roles in UK tours of Grease, the Rocky Horror Show and Pretty Woman followed and now Ore is starring as Caractacus Potts in the musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang which is delighting audiences at Manchester’s Palace Theatre. “I just feel incredibly lucky that the roles I’ve had have allowed me to build up to do this mammoth role,” said Ore. “I do feel a lot of my life has been building up to this point and the first time I went on stage it did feel like I was playing out a dream.
” Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has proved to be a timeless treat. Originally a movie starring Dick Van Dyke released in 1968 it has become an essential part of the Christmas TV schedules. The stage musical has proved a major success, selling out around the country.
“I love the way that the story resonates with audiences today, probably more than ever,” said Ore. “It is very much the story of a modern family. There’s dad bringing up two children and a grandfather who sometimes loses his marbles and t.
