Andrew Lloyd Webber 'furious' as Nicole Scherzinger ditches Cats for X Factor

Andrew Lloyd Webber has confirmed that former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger has pulled out of Cats on Broadway to return to The X Factor judging panel – and admitted he is 'furious' about it.

Andrew revealed that the singer pulled out of the production just before rehearsals began.

Nicole Scherzinger attending the Olivier Awards at the Royal Opera House

(Ian West/PA)

He told The Economist Radio: “A week before we were due to go into rehearsal for 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.

“I mean, she’s crazy. 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.”

The musical theatre supremo said Nicole’s move had made him look foolish.

Lord Lloyd Webber arrives for the funeral of Cilla Black at St Mary's Church in Woolton, Liverpool.

(Pete Byrne/PA)

He said: “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 t*** with them all.

“But never mind, there’ll be another girl on Broadway and Nicole will not get her Tony Award.”

Simon Cowell attending the auditions for Britain's Got Talent at the Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre

Simon Cowell (Joe Giddens/PA)

The news seemingly confirms that Nicole will rejoin The X Factor when the show returns to ITV later this year.

She will be joined by fellow judge Simon Cowell and it is rumoured the other seats will be filled by Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne.

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