Andrew Lloyd Webber describes 2012 Olympics as West End Bloodbath

In an interview with the BBC Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber described the period of the 2012 Olympics as causing a "blood bath in London's West End".

"Nobody's going to go to the theatre at all" the composer told Radio 4's Today programme, predicting that "most of the theatres in London will shut. It's going to be very tough" he said, revealing advance bookings were "about 10%" of their normal level."

With moving around the capital being very difficult and tourists not buying theatre tickets over that period,  he said he knows of three large musical which will close during the Games and only the established "must sees" and "oldies" like Les Miserables, War Horse and Phantom of the Opera should attract enough business be able remain open.

On a more positive note  Lloyd Webber said a host of new musicals would arrive in the West End after the 2012 games including Viva Forever about the Spice Girls which has been written by Jennifer Saunders, Bridget Jones the Musical which stars Sheridan Smith with music by Lily Allen and the Tony award-winning The Book of Mormon.