Andrew Lloyd Webber pulls his tunes from new Tim Rice show as lyricist says musical giants may never work together again

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s music will not be used in the upcoming revival of *Sherlock Holmes and the 12 Days of Christmas*, a show he created with Tim Rice. Rice says Lloyd Webber withdrew his score and suggests they may never work together again; the disagreement marks a new rift in a partnership behind several celebrated musicals.

Lloyd Webber disputes that account, saying the producers decided against using his Birmingham score because the show needed further work and his schedule made that impossible. He also says he was asked to grant five years’ rights without approval over a production he had not seen. Rice is reworking the songs with composer Howard Goodall ahead of the revival at Alexandra Palace next month; the pair’s best-known collaborations include *Joseph*, *Jesus Christ Superstar* and *Evita*.