Flamboyant and androgynous, 80s pop star Boy George is instantly recognisable.

And as his band Culture Club made a recent comeback and the singer debuts as a new judge on the BBC’s talent contest The Voice this month, the man behind the band’s new image is Worthing photographer Dean Stockings.

He has become Boy George’s first port of call whenever a new video or photo shoot is needed ever since he took magazine cover photographs featuring Boy George in 2010.

So it was no surprise when Dean was commissioned to take shots of Culture Club as the original band members reformed to record their new album Tribes, set for release in early 2016.

Dean says, “George loved the way I made him look. He’s very down to earth and ‘ordinary’ in his everyday life and he doesn’t come across as a ‘star’ at all - until he puts on a bit of eye shadow and one of his famous hats!”

And Boy George says, “Dean is great photographer, collaborator and friend and we have so much fun working together. I hate him!"

Boy George, real name George O’Dowd, joins singers Paloma Faith, Will.i.am and Ricky Wilson in the red chairs on the new-look judging panel of the fifth series of The Voice. Hosted by Emma Willis and Marvin Humes, filming for the series began late last year.

He says, “I'm thrilled and excited to be a coach on The Voice UK. I'm a huge fan of the show and have watched and engaged with it from series one. If I can help someone to win, I will be delighted. What a wonderful opportunity to share my experiences and help someone move forward with their musical career. I can't wait to sit in that chair!”

Culture Club was one of the biggest pop bands of the 80s – and made instant headlines over Boy George’s androgynous image when the band appeared on Top of the Pops in 1982 with their first hit Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?

They followed up the huge No 1 hit with a series of Top 10 hits including Karma Chameleon, Time (Clock of the Heart) and Church of the Poison Mind, as well as albums including 1982’s Kissing to be Clever and Colour By Numbers in 1983. Cultuire Club was the first band since The Beatles to score three Top 10 hits from their debut album. In 1984, they won the Brit Award for Best British Group and have sold more than 50 million records.

“Culture Club is a living soap opera and at times I have to pinch myself because it is beyond madness,” Boy George said in 1999.

The band, reformed with the original line up of Mikey Craig, Roy Hay, Jon Moss and Boy George, have already received top reviews for their national tour and their new album is expected to be just as popular.

Dean says, “It was fantastic to be working so closely with people whose work I’d admired from afar since I was a teenager.”

He recalls being flown out to Ibiza as Boy George was on holiday there and wanted Dean to take photos for the cover of his 2013 solo album This is What I Do.

“I ended up spending 20 minutes shooting the album cover in the evening light on the terrace outside the villa and the rest of the week lounging on the beach or by the pool!

“I’ve always found George to be very sweet and generous - if he likes someone, he’ll go out of his way to help them. He’s lucky in that he can almost turn fame on and off. If he dresses down and wears some glasses and a baseball cap, he can go about his daily business without being noticed, but as soon as he puts on a bit of make-up and a hat, everyone instantly recognises him.”

Not only is Boy George a great performer but, according to Dean, he’s a keen photographer and film maker too, and they often work together on projects.

“We made videos together for some of his contacts in the music industry under the name Stockings & Suspense. We didn’t make much money - but we had a lot of fun!”

Dean was an A level photography student in Brighton who bluffed his way backstage at a music festival at Worthing Rugby Club with his portfolio in his hands and left with a commission from Toyah Willcox.

He has now shot over 300 magazine front covers and several videos, working with famous names such as singers Beverly Knight, Steve Strange and Samantha Fox, as well as comedian Julian Clary, guitarist Robert Fripp, actress Billie Piper and cage-fighting Celebrity Big Brother winner Alex Reid.

Recently, he has launched a new business called Marryoke, a play on the words ‘marry’ and ‘karaoke’, where he films music videos at weddings with the happy couple and their guests miming to a song.

He has already received enquiries from Turkey and Northern Ireland and his first Marryoke this year takes place in Virginia, USA. In June, he has been booked for the wedding of DJ Fat Tony, a friend of the model Kate Moss.

Dean explains, “Kate Moss is actually the wedding planner - so it should be a blast. There’ll be lots of celebrity guests too, including Marilyn and Naomi Campbell, so I’ll be getting as many as possible to take part!”

* For more information, visit www.idomarryoke.com and www.deanstockings.co.uk.