Clash of musical titans over Lloyd Webber's plans for television search for 'Jesus' The most promising prospect will perform on stage in front of Lord Lloyd Webber and a panel of celebrity judges with the winner decided by public vote before starring in an arena tour opening at London's O2 Arena. Lord Lloyd Webber is believed to be pursuing Nicole Scherzinger, the pop singer, to play the role of Mary Magdalene and act as a judge on the show. Sir Tim said that Lord Lloyd Webber had ignored his requests not to cast a new production of the musical via a television contest. He said: "I've had several meetings with Andrew and said that I don't want this done, but now it appears it's been signed and sealed. Andrew wants to rehash things all the time, but I really don't think Superstar needs that tasteless reality television treatment. Those shows are relentlessly downmarket, which is fine if the show is a lightweight bit of fluff. I am fully behind an arena show, but I just don't think you need another television series to do that. The musical, which Sir Tim and Lord Lloyd Webber wrote in 1969, features Mary Magdalene expressing her desire for Jesus. In another scene, Jesus is shown being whipped by Roman soldiers and the musical ends with Christ's crucifixion. Sir Tim said that the musical's religious and political themes could become a source of ridicule in a television talent show, with the judges telling hopeful contestants: "You could be Jesus." He said: "It opens up a lot of opportunities for spoofs and I think it would be ill-advised to have people voting for who should be Jesus. It's just possible that it might be the most sophisticated, tasteful show hosted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, but I doubt it. It sounds tacky and I really don't think Andrew should do it. Sir Tim added that he is prepared to veto the winning contestant. They can't cast the show without my approval. I have the right to veto casting so if Andrew casts it on tv and I didn't like the person, I could say so. He has also written to ITV, saying he "does not feel comfortable with the concept of the show." Sir Tim, 67, and Lord Lloyd Webber, 63, began working together in 1965 on their first musical, The Likes of Us, and have since jointly written several hit musicals, including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and Evita. They originally wrote Jesus Christ Superstar as an album in 1969, which became a hit a West End musical in 1972. The show has since had many successful runs around the world, with recent productions opening in Chile, Bulgaria and Siberia. A new production will open on Broadway in New York in March. Sir Tim has since enjoyed a lucrative career writing for Disney film productions, including Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King, for which he won an Oscar. He is currently working on a musical adaptation of the 1953 film From Here to Eternity. Lord Lloyd Webber's most recent projects include Love Never Dies, the sequel to Phantom of the Opera, and his series of BBC talent competitions. While there has long been speculation about tensions between them, the duo have until now been careful to stress their amicable relationship. Lord Lloyd Webber said in a recent interview: "There has never been a feud. We have been great friends for a very long time. Theu most recently worked together in 2010 on two new songs for a West End production of The Wizard of Oz, which Lord Lloyd Webber also launched with a television contest show, Over the Rainbow. Lord Lloyd Webber's previous musical talent shows on the BBC came under attack as critics claimed they unfairly promoted Lord Lloyd Webber's commercial interests. Regional auditions for Superstar will begin next month. The programme, which may also include a public vote to find a Judas character, will air every night for three weeks on ITV1 during June and July. Lord Lloyd Webber - who last week said "the public lead the casting process and they've got it absolutely right four times already" - declined to comment on Sir Tim's concerns.