I know it so well... ABBA's musical Chess back in West End

Benny Andersson has revealed he and ABBA bandmate Björn Ulvaeus picked chess as the subject of their first ever musical because it was the most “boring” subject they could think of.

Chess, their first project after ABBA split in 1982, returns to the West End in April for the first time since its initial run here closed in 1989.

The show, with lyrics by Sir Tim Rice, is set against the background of the Cold War as superpowers try to manipulate a chess championship. It features songs I Know Him So Well and One Night In Bangkok. Andersson, 70, said: “Chess — it is such a boring subject! But that’s what turned Bjorn and I onto it. We thought, ‘That must be impossible to write a musical about, let’s do that.”

Originally a concept album, it opened in the West End in 1986 starring Elaine Paige. The new show will be at The Coliseum, with cast to be announced.

Sir Tim said: “It’s basically an operatic concert.” Andersson added: “There’ll be 120 people on stage, a 47-piece orch-estra, 50 choir, the principals. I’m very proud of what we did. The corpse is still moving! It’s still being performed. It is because it is a very powerful score.”

Last week Ulvaeus’s plans for an ABBA-themed restaurant in Waterloo, Mamma Mia! The Party, were approved by Lambeth council.