One Direction's Liam Payne being tapped up for new West End run of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat?

According to The Sun, Andrew Lloyd Webber wants One Direction pop star Liam Payne to play the titular role in the next West End run of his musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

A source told the tabloid that "Andrew has told those involved that his dream signing is Liam. He thinks he can bring so much to the role of Joseph, he’s a natural performer," adding "there was talk of other pop stars being approached but he wants to keep the bar high and they don’t come much bigger than One Direction."

Payne rose to fame when he auditioned for Simon Cowell's talent show X Factor as a soloist in 2010 and was put into the band One Direction. The boy band have been on hiatus since last year to focus on their own work, and Liam has since been working on his debut solo album.

If the singer was to take to the stage, he would join a host of X Factor alumni to make the transition including Lucie Jones (Les Miserables, Rent), Alexandra Burke (The Bodyguard, Sister Act), Matt Cardle (Memphis) and Joe McElderry, who has played Joseph in Bill Kenwright's UK touring production.

Other celebrities to take on the role include Jason Donovan, Phillip Schofield and Stephen Gately.

A new West End production of the musical has yet to be announced.