Andrew Lloyd Webber to work with Nicole Scherzinger again

Andrew Lloyd Webber wants to work with Nicole Scherzinger again.

The composer was left "furious" with the 38-year-old singer when she dropped out of ‘Cats’ on Broadway just one week before rehearsals to re-join ‘The X Factor’, but insists she is an "extraordinary performer" and he will team up with her if he can find the right project.

Speaking at the launch of West End show ‘School of Rock – The Musical’, he told BANG Showbiz: "The thing about Nicole is that she’s a wonderfully talented actress and singer. If I could find the right thing for her to work on then I’d love to.

"She really is an extraordinary performer and I in many ways understand why she chose not to do ‘Cats’.

"In many ways I’m sad because it would’ve been a great opportunity for her to be seen in America but at the same time I do understand and we are friends.

"We’ve both moved on and I have worked with her a few weeks ago at a concert in Austria. And do you know she’d be absolutely a number one person for me to call for a lot of roles."

Leona Lewis, 31, replaced Nicole as Grizabella in ‘Cats’, and Andrew, 68, admitted he is "very pleased" with how the former ‘X Factor’ winner has performed.

He added: "She’s doing great. She’s been great fun to work with. She came very much in the last moment and I’m very pleased with what she’s done."

The cast for Andrew’s latest production, ‘School of Rock’, was announced yesterday with David Fynn set to star in the lead role as guitarist-turned-teacher Dewey Finn, who was played by Jack Black in the 2003 movie.

Florence Andrews will portray Rosalie Mullins, Oliver Jackson is to star as Ned Schneebly – the teacher friend who Dewey pretends to be – and Preeya Kalidas will be Patty Di Marco.

Andrew has written the score and Julian Fellowes has penned a script for the show, which will preview at the New London Theatre on October 24.