Lloyd Webber will search for Dorothy in 2010

Andrew Lloyd Webber has ruled out doing another BBC One West End talent search next year, but in 2010 will find a Dorothy, and possibly Toto the dog, to star in The Wizard Of Oz.

Lord Lloyd Webber also told Closer magazine that political correctness is stifling the arts and said some of his most famous musicals might not have been made today for fear of offending minorities.

He enjoyed hits with two shows that were inspired by accounts in the Bible - Jesus Christ Superstar and Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat - both written with Tim Rice.

But he told Closer: "I'm lucky to have had such a successful career. I'm actually lucky enough to have always done as I want. I look back at when I was younger and ask myself - would I have written an opera with Tim Rice?

"So many people nowadays are obsessed with things offending people. Today people say you can't do this because it will offend that community, and then you can't say this because the Muslims will be offended by it and we'll end up being talked out of it. Talked out of ideas.

"Whereas when I was 20 I didn't think about those things - you could just do it."