Andrew Lloyd Webber admits Starlight Express is "not the greatest musical I've written"

What did you miss?

Andrew Lloyd Webber has admitted Starlight Express is "not the greatest musical" he's written but he hopes it will get more people interested in the theatre.

The 76-year-old musical producer has revived his 1984 show about trains, performed on roller skates, as an immersive theatre experience at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, reteaming with Dame Arlene Phillips who is doing the chorography. But Baron Lloyd-Webber said he thought of the musical as an homage to Thomas the Tank Engine, which he wanted to be a gateway to the theatre for people who had never been.

What, how, and why?

Lloyd Webber and former Strictly Come Dancing head judge appeared on The One Show to talk to hosts Alex Jones and Anita Rani about the return of Starlight Express. They were joined by 17-year-old up and coming star Jeevan Braich, who was discovered on TikTok and plays Rusty in the show.

Lloyd Webber said: "The great thing about Starlight is is that it was a show that was really written about my two kids at the time, and it's really a version of Thomas the Tank Engine, but it's evolved into something quite different. It's really a show about,'Come to the theatre for the very first time.'

"It's not about, 'This is the greatest musical that I've ever written.' But it's a a fantastic show if you've never been to a theatre before. I think one of the things that I was most proud about when it happened was is that we had more people of colour in the cast in our first production in the whole of the West End at the time. And it's about just saying, 'Come to the theatre, have a great time' and hopefully you go see other things."

Braich learned to skate especially for the role. Asked if he had seen the show before he auditioned he said, while sitting next to musical theatre writer Lloyd Webber: "My parents had. So when I asked them 'What's Starlight Express?' My dad said it's the only musical he's ever watched that he's not fallen asleep in."

What else happened on The One Show?

Michael Sheen was also a guest on the show and revealed it had been his dream since he was a teenager to star in a Lloyd Webber musical.

The Good Omens star said of considering a musical role: "I've considered it many times, it doesn't really consider me. That's the problem. I wish I had been blessed with the voice to play Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar.

"I remember listening to Jesus Christ superstar over and over again in my bedroom when I was a teenager on my record player and just thinking, 'If only I could sing that song.' And whenever I hear that there's nothing more thrilling."

Lloyd Webber recommended the Welsh actor consider a role "a little bit less demanding". But when he revealed "my roller skating is surprisingly good", Lloyd Webber and Phillips said they would have to find a role for Sheen in Starlight Express.

The One Show airs on BBC One at 7pm Monday to Friday.

Read more: Andrew Lloyd Webber

• Cancelled Phantom of the Opera helps Andrew Lloyd Webber’s empire return to profit (CITY A.M., 2 min read)

• Steam engines, injuries and a train called Brexit: The mad story of Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express (Independent, 6 min read)

• This Video Of Andrew Lloyd Webber's First-Ever DJ Set Is An Unexpected Joy (HuffPost, 2 min read)