“We are all praying”: Andrew Lloyd Webber’s family heartbreak
Andrew Lloyd Webber has shared the devastating news that his eldest son, Nicholas, is “critically” ill with gastric cancer.
The composer, known around the world for his award-winning musicals, revealed that he and his family are “absolutely devastated” about the 43-year-old Nicholas’ diagnosis, and brave 18 month fight.
In a statement to People, Andrew gave the update that “as my friends and family know, he has been fighting gastric cancer for the last 18 months and Nick is now hospitalised.
“I, therefore, have not been able to attend the recent previews of Bad Cinderella and, as things stand, I will not be able to cheer on its wonderful cast, crew and orchestra on opening night this Thursday.
"We are all praying that Nick will turn the corner," Webber continued. "He is bravely fighting with his indomitable humour, but at the moment my place is with him and the family."
Bad Cinderella is Andrew’s latest Broadway creation - the 21st to his name - and is loosely adapted from the classic Cinderella story, with the titular character seeking to "create her own happily ever after.”
It is set to open in March, and prior to the devastating news about Nicholas, he was to attend its associated press events. It’s also Andrew’s first production since School of Rock closed in 2019.
Like his father, Nicholas Lloyd Webber - who is the son of Andrew and his first first, Sarah Hugill - has made a name for himself in the composing world.
He scored BBC One’s Love, Lies and Records, the 2021 film The Last Bus, and the original cast recording album for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cinderella - from which he received his first ever Grammy nomination.
Nicholas’ first production came in 2011, when his musical adaptation of The Little Prince was performed. In light of the milestone event, Nicholas admitted that he was “very nervous”, as he knew there would be attention on him as the son of Andrew.
“But I’d like to think that the show will be judged on its own merits,” he continued, “that’s all anyone can ask for.”
And in 2011, he told The Times that he’d actually opted to drop the Lloyd part of his name for a while, just to see how attitudes toward himself and his work would shift.
“I got some stuff on the radio,” he said, “so I thought ‘okay, I’m obviously not a complete idiot’.”
From there, he came to realise that if people were happy to work with him regardless of his surname, then “maybe I should just get on with it.”
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