Emma Thompson reveals Stephen Sondheim told her not to star in the Nanny McPhee musical

Emma Thompson has revealed that she will not be playing Nanny McPhee in the new West End musical, and that the advice came from none other than Stephen Sondheim.

Appearing on Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Zoe Hardman, Thompson explained that she had been asked to take on the role herself, prosthetic nose and all, but sought Sondheim's view before making up her mind. His answer was blunt. "You can't do that, you will die," she recalled him telling her, "because you are writing it."

Thompson, who has written the book for Nanny McPhee The Musical, said Sondheim warned her that it was simply not possible to write a show and star in it at the same time. In her words, he told her that "you just can't do both things and you will not be able to survive that". He also pointed out that once previews begin, a song might not land, and she would then spend the whole night writing a new one.

Thompson said the conversation had been "such a good lesson to do one job", and it is advice she has clearly taken to heart.

She created the character for the screen, writing and starring in Nanny McPhee in 2005 and returning for the 2010 sequel Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang. The stage version is directed by Katy Rudd, with music by Gary Clark and lyrics by Thompson and Clark, while Rob Howell is designing the set and costumes and Ellen Kane is in charge of choreography. Who will play the famous nanny has not yet been announced.

The musical will have its world premiere at the Aldwych Theatre, with performances from 6 November 2027. SoaplandTV has more on the production in our earlier look at how the Nanny McPhee musical brings Emma Thompson's magical nanny back to the West End.

With Thompson concentrating on the writing, attention now turns to the casting team and the question of who will step into her shoes, and that unmistakable nose, when the show opens at the Aldwych next November.