Sir Tim Rice and Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber write new songs

Oscar-winning lyricist Sir Tim Rice has said he has not ruled out teaming up again with former musical partner Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber to create a brand new musical, but warned it would have to be an idea he was “really turned on by”.

The pair, who penned a trio of theatrical smashes in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Evita, have written songs for a new comedy entitled Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas.

It premieres at The Birmingham Rep Theatre in November.

Sir Tim told BBC South East: “He and I have written a few songs and it has been great fun.”

The lyricist, who went to school at Lancing College in West Sussex, said: “It’s a comedy all about a serial killer who is murdering people linked to the song The Twelve Days of Christmas.

“It’s primarily a comedy – a laugh a minute!”

Asked about the chemistry of working with his former writing partner again, he said:

“We have always done the odd thing here and there, the odd album track for somebody.

“We did an extra song for Madonna in Evita, so we were always in touch here and there but there was no great musical idea that appealed to the both of us.

” I think it [the chemistry] is always there.”

Sir Tim Rice and Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber were one of theatre’s most successful writing partnerships but went their separate ways in the 1980s to pursue different projects.

Lloyd-Webber went on to write musicals like Cats, Starlight Express and Phantom of the Opera.

Meanwhile Rice worked with Abba’s Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus to create the musical Chess.

He went on to team up with Disney, writing songs for Aladdin and The Lion King amongst others.

He won Oscars for Best Original Song for A Whole New World from Aladdin, Can You Feel The Love Tonight from The Lion King and You Must Love Me from Evita.

Sir Tim has worked with a number of collaborators over the years including Elton John, Rick Wakeman and Burt Bacharach.

One of his biggest regrets though, he said, was not working more with the late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury.

He said: “I did a couple of songs with Freddie.

“It’s a tragedy he died. I feel we could have written something really great.”

Sir Tim Rice is touring the UK from April in a show entitled: My Life In Musicals – I Know Him So Well.

Amongst other places he comes to Guildford, Worthing and Eastbourne.