Andrew Lloyd Webber to launch 'Jesus Christ Superstar' show on ITV

Andrew Lloyd Webber is set to launch a televised search for the star of a Jesus Christ Superstar revival.

The 63-year-old composer is hoping to find a lead actor for a new arena tour of his musical, according to The Sun.

Sources say the show will air on ITV after the BBC feared that religious viewers could be offended.

"He has been wanting to get this off the ground for some time but the BBC just didn't want it," a source revealed. "They had issues about auditioning for Jesus. They feared Christians would get hot under the collar. The Beeb also kept getting flak for effectively promoting Andrew's commercial interests.

"ITV chief Peter Fincham is close to Andrew's people and has been desperate to do something with him for ages. Now it's finally happening."

Welsh singer Steve Balsamo, who played Jesus in the 1996 West End production, is apparently being sought to judge the competition.

Lloyd Webber previously fronted casting projects How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?, Any Dream Will Do and I'd Do Anything on the BBC.

The London run of his Phantom Of The Opera sequel Love Never Dies closed in August.

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