Andrew Lloyd Webber reveals real reason why he signed up for BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are?
ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER was dubious about starring in Who Do You Think You Are? – until a straight-talking Aussie talked him into it.
The theatre guru has told me he only accepted the BBC’s offer to dig into his family tree after the late Barry Humphries told him it would be worth doing.
But the Dame Edna Everage comedian, who died last month, did warn Lord Webber that his own family turned out to be not that interesting when he appeared on the show himself.
Speaking exclusively, Lord Webber told me: “The late, great Barry Humphries encouraged me to do Who Do You Think You Are? Over lunch he told me that, after two weeks of filming, he had confirmed what he long suspected.
“He was, after all, the most interesting person in his family. But unlike Barry, I have to admit there were some rather fascinating characters in my family.”
Lord Webber discovered some of his ancestors shared his two big passions — music and architecture. He also found out, on his father’s side, that his grandfather and great grandfather were plumbers, while his two-times great-grandfather Henry Simmonds was a missionary dedicated to helping the poor.
Also in the episode, which airs next Thursday on BBC One, he learns his cello-playing five-times grandfather Henry Magito had an extended family of showmen and producers who made their living by staging the 18th-century equivalent of musical theatre.
On his mother’s side, Lord Webber’s 12-times great-grandmother Katherine Willoughby was a Tudor duchess and powerful player in Henry VIII’s court who was later threatened with death for her religious beliefs.
Just like his theatre shows, Lord Webber clearly had plenty of material at his disposal to make the episode sing.
Jason gets a pep talk
MANCHESTER CITY boss Pep Guardiola has at last tasted defeat, after bagging a cameo in TV comedy Ted Lasso.
The fictional AFC Richmond football coach, played by Jason Sudeikis, oversaw his side’s win at City’s Etihad Stadium, which Pep took in surprisingly good spirits.
In the penultimate episode of the AppleTV+ series, Ted’s team were inspired by striker Jamie Tartt (Phil Dinster) who played a starring role in his return to his former club.
But Ted left the episode on a cliffhanger, suggesting he was going to quit and return to the US to be with his young son.
His future will be determined in next week’s final episode, when viewers will find out whether AFC Richmond do the impossible and are crowned Premier League champions.
It will make a nice change from Pep’s City always winning the trophy.
COMIC AL GONG HO
ALAN CARR reckons he will finally appreciate winning an award after writing his own sitcom for ITVX.
Changing Ends, which launches on Thursday, follows the comic’s life growing up in 1980s Northampton.
He told The Sun’s TV Mag – free in tomorrow’s newspaper: “When I say, ‘In my sitcom, I’m a camp son and my dad is this tough-talking northern football manager’, people say, ‘Oh, it writes itself.’
“It does not! You know when people win awards and they burst into tears and thank everyone? I get it now.”
So awks for Lou
SHE shot to fame as a teenager playing Ruby Allen on EastEnders, but it wasn’t always an easy ride for Louisa Lytton.
The fan favourite, who first appeared on the BBC soap in 2005, has opened up on how, as a teen, she won a soap award for Sexiest Female.
She told the Working Class podcast: “I was so young, I was 16. My dad came with me to the awards because I needed a chaperone.
“I was up against Roxanne Pallett and, you know, the sexy soap stars of the time – and I won.
“I will never forget seeing my dad’s face. He was traumatised, horrified – his baby girl. I loved it at the time. But now, looking back . . .
“Anyway, it was the only soap award I won.
“So let me have it.”
Marcel’s not yet Theroux
LOUIS THEROUX’s brother Marcel will rival the documentary maker with a commission of his own.
In The Playboy Bunny Murders, for ITVX, Marcel investigates the unsolved murders of a group of glamorous girls in the 1970s.
The two-parter, landing later this year, will explore the deaths of Eve Stratford, a Playboy Bunny who aspired to be a famous model, Lynda Farrow, a croupier who worked nighttime London, and Lynne Weedon, a 16-year-old schoolgirl.
Marcel said: “This story has obsessed me for years. How could a serial killer in 1970s London remain unknown?
“As witnesses reach the ends of their lives and memories fail, this might be the last chance to get justice.”
Ronan flashes plastic
RONAN KEATING has revealed he has a raunchy hot of him and wife Storm on his . . . debit card.
The Boyzone singer and One Show host likes the pic of the pair in bed so much, he wants a constant reminder.
He said on BBC One’s Chris & Rosie Ramsey Show, which airs at 10.40pm tonight: “Certain banks allow you to have photos on your card, so I put that one.
“You want to see people’s faces in the shop.”
Ronan also admitted he’s having the snip, after wimping out the first time around.
He adds: “My brother got it done and he’s told me all sorts of stories. He was awake and he said it smells a bit funny. They burn it, allegedly.
“There is another option – you get knocked out and get it done. So I’m going to do it.”
Hopefully The One Show sofa will be soft enough the next day.
GLOSSY thriller Citadel, starring Richard Madden and Priyanka Chopra Jonas, will be back for series two after drawing Prime Video’s second-largest audience. Joe Russo returns as director. You can watch the launch episode for free on Prime from today.