...but Tim Minchin did a great job

Bill Bailey has revealed that he was asked to write the Matilda musical – but turned it down.

The comic says he was too busy to work on the songs for the show, which were subsequently written by Tim Minchin.

Bailey said: ‘I was approached to write the music for a musical called Matilda. But I couldn't do it because I was doing something else, so, I passed it over.

‘He [Minchin] did it great, and that turned out all right for him.’

The critically acclaimed musical, produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company and with a script by Dennis Kelly has proved lucrative. It has been running in the West End since 2011, where it gas won seven Olivier Awards, and opened on Broadway in April – with US and Australian tours ahead.

In the interview to promote his Qualmpeddler tour (Dates) Bailey also said he was now at a crossroads in his career, as his contract to produce live DVDs has ended, reducing the pressure on him to tour.

He said: ‘I've no more DVDs to make. So I can do what the hell I like.

‘I think I'm gonna take a slight break and then a new show, a TV show. I've been writing a TV show for the last year, so that's in the offing. And I'm very pleased with it and the way it's turned out. It's nearly there.

‘But I'm not going to go and blab it around until it's finished. But yes, I'm very pleased with it. It's a comedy drama. And it's very funny, I think. And it's something I've been working on for the best part of a year now.’

– by Vicky Nangle

Published: 27 Aug 2013