Lloyd Webber’s next project – Profumo the Musical?

Andrew Lloyd Webber has revealed he is considering writing a new musical about the 1963 Profumo affair, to coincide with its 50th anniversary.

Speaking to Chris Evans on his BBC Radio 2 show recently, the 63-year-old composer said: “I’m looking for a subject at the moment and I think I’ve found one … Stephen Ward really intrigues me and was a fantastically interesting character. The most popular man in London who ended up with absolutely nobody after the trial.”

Ward was a central player in the scandal, an osteopath and artist who introduced Profumo to Christine Keeler – with whom he would begin his notorious affair – at a country house party. He committed suicide on the last day of the trial.

Lloyd Webber’s many hit musicals include The Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Starlight Express and Jesus Christ Superstar, which is soon to be revived for a stadium tour that will be the subject of a forthcoming ITV reality casting show.