Andrew Lloyd Webber has expressed his disappointment after Nicole Scherzinger quit her role in Cats to join The X Factor. Nicole was rumoured to be returning to Simon Cowell's show but it hadn't been confirmed until now.
Speaking to The Economist Radio, Andrew admitted that he was "furious" at losing the female lead. The composer also revealed that Nicole had agreed to take part in the Broadway production, but pulled out just a week before rehearsals.
He said: "A week before we were going to go into rehearsal with Cats on Broadway, which luckily I'm not producing, she calls me and says she's decided she wants to do X Factor, having agreed everything."
Andrew Lloyd Webber branded Nicole Scherzinger "crazy" for quitting
"I mean, she's crazy," Andrew, 68, said. "But the American producers just took a view, 'Well, fine, we'll get somebody else', because she's actually not very well known in America amazingly. She's much better known here.
"I'm furious because I really believe she's the most fantastically talented girl and I went out on a limb to get her for the London Palladium here, and it makes me look like an absolute twot with them all.
"But never mind, there'll be another girl on Broadway and Nicole will not get her Tony Award."
Nicole played Grizabella in Cats in London
Nicole starred on The X Factor in 2012 for two series, alongside Gary Barlow, Louis Walsh and one year with Tulisa and the other with Sharon Osbourne. She also acted as a guest judge in 2010.
The 37-year-old appears to be reclaiming her judging spot for the 2016 series, alongside Simon and Louis, who quit the show in 2014. Other reports claim that Sharon will also return this year.
A source told the Daily Mail: "Nicole was a huge success when she was on The X Factor a few years ago and has long been a part of The X Factor family. She provided fun and entertainment and a huge personality to the show. She is the definite favourite to get the seat next to Simon."