GOSSIP: Helen Fielding rejects Lily Allen's Bridget Jones the Musical score

Sheridan Smith

According to WhatsOnStage, Lily Allen has been dropped from Bridget Jones the Musical. It was previously believed Allen was writing the music and lyrics for the show. 

Based on Helen Fielding's novel, the musical has been workshopped several times with Legally Blonde star Sheridan Smith starring as Bridget. In April 2012 it was suggested Smith had quit the project due to film and TV commitments.

It has been reported that Fielding asked for Allen's music to be axed. Speaking to The Sun, Lily Allen said: "I wrote some great music for it but Helen Fielding wants to go back and write a whole new story. It's been a long-term project and I was happy to do my bit but I'm now out of the picture."

Interview: Alice Fearn, currently playing Gingy/Sugar Plum Fairy in Shrek The Musical

Alice Fearn is currently playing Gingy and the Sugar Plum Fairy in Shrek The Musical at the Theatre Royal Dury Lane. She also understudies Princess Fiona. Alice's many theatre credits include The Woman In White, Les Misérables and the Regent’s Park Open Air's production of Into The Woods. She also recently played Shazzer in the workshops for Bridget Jones the Musical. Alice will appear in the upcoming film adaptation of Les Misérables. Throughout her career she has worked as a vocalist on many feature films including Sweeney Todd, Mamma Mia, Alice in Wonderland, How to Train Your Dragon and Pirates of the Caribbean. Alice talks to West End Frame about all things Shrek, what it was like working on the film adaptation of Les Misérables and what we can expect from Bridget Jones the Musical...

You have been playing Gingy/Sugar Plum Fairy in Shrek The Musical for nearly a year and a half now, are you still enjoying it?

To play such a loved part is always going to be enjoyable! If I'm ever having a trying day or feel in need of a break I can guarantee there will be a child in the audience that day who laughs so loud and so clearly at that puppet that it can't help but bring me back to realising how special the part is and how much joy it brings. It's lovely to get the reaction I get so it's been a really wonderful opportunity for me. Having said that, by the time my current contract is up I will have played the role for almost 2 years and I think that will be enough. It can, quite often, be very tiring on my voice and a rest will be on the cards when January 2013 comes round.