Andrew Lloyd Webber 'shattered' as he confirms his eldest son Nicholas has died aged 43

Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber has confirmed that his eldest son Nicholas has died aged 43, following a battle with gastric cancer.

The 75-year-old Oscar-winning composer shared the news on Twitter on Saturday, writing: ‘I am shattered to have to announce that my beloved elder son Nick died a few hours ago in Basingstoke Hospital.

‘His whole family is gathered together and we are all totally bereft. – ALW’

It comes after Lord Lloyd-Webber recently revealed that Nicholas, who was also a composer, had been moved to a hospice where he was ‘battling’ gastric cancer.

The star shared a heartbreaking update on his son’s condition earlier this week, saying he had been moved to a hospice due to a bout of pneumonia. 

Lord Lloyd-Webber revealed Nicholas (left), whom he shared with ex-wife Sarah Hugill, has died after suffering from the disease for the last 18-months

Lord Lloyd-Webber revealed Nicholas (left), whom he shared with ex-wife Sarah Hugill, has died after suffering from the disease for the last 18-months 

Tragically, Lord Lloyd-Webber explained in a video that Nick was ‘over the worst of it’ regarding this first bout and shared his hopes for his son’s recovery.

There has been an outpouring of support for the composer since he revealed that his son had passed away on Twitter earlier this evening.

Stars from the world of musical theatre, politicians, celebrities and close family friends paid tribute to Nicholas as the sad news emerged.

Nicholas followed in his father’s footsteps and was a successful composer in his own right, having written Fat Friends The Musical.

He was married to musician Polly Wiltshire, who appeared on the soundtrack of his father’s 2019 movie Cats.

During his career, Nicholas also scored music for an adaption of The Little Prince as well as composing numerous TV and film scores, including for the BBC1 drama Loves, Lies, and Records.

Nicholas previously spoke about making his own way in the theatre world away from his famous family name in a 2011 unearthed interview.

He said he wanted to be ‘judged on his own merits’ so dropped his surname when working to see what the reaction would be. 

Nicholas followed in his father's footsteps and was a successful composer in his own right, having written Fat Friends The Musical

Nicholas followed in his father’s footsteps and was a successful composer in his own right, having written Fat Friends The Musical 

'Nick' was Lord Lloyd-Webber's eldest son. The pair are pictured together at an event in 1989

‘Nick’ was Lord Lloyd-Webber’s eldest son. The pair are pictured together at an event in 1989

In 2011 and 2012, Nicholas saw his musical adaptation of The Little Prince performed at the Lyric Belfast. 

At the time, he said he was ‘very nervous,’ and aware that there’d be some ‘attention’ on him.

‘But I’d just like to think that the show will be judged on its own merits,’ he said. ‘That’s all anyone can ask for.’

‘For a long time, I dropped the Lloyd bit – to see what the reaction would be,’ he told The Times in 2011. 

‘I got some stuff on the radio, so I thought, “OK, I’m obviously not a complete idiot”.  

‘Then I thought, “Hang on, if other people are prepared to work with me without the surname, then maybe I should just get on with it.”‘

Lord Lloyd-Webber with his then-wife Sarah Brightman (right) and their daughter Imogen and son Nicholas in 1990

Lord Lloyd-Webber with his then-wife Sarah Brightman (right) and their daughter Imogen and son Nicholas in 1990

What is gastric cancer? 

Gastric cancer is cancer that’s found anywhere in the stomach. 

It is not very common in the UK, but symptoms can be hard to spot.

Between 2017 and 2019 there were around 4,200 stomach cancer deaths in the UK every year, or 12 every day according to Cancer Research UK.

Here, MailOnline reveals the six warning signs to look out for.

As pictured, having no energy, unintentionally losing weight, constant indigestion, difficulty swallowing, feeling sick and a lump at the top of your tummy are all warning signs and symptoms of stomach cancer

As pictured, having no energy, unintentionally losing weight, constant indigestion, difficulty swallowing, feeling sick and a lump at the top of your tummy are all warning signs and symptoms of stomach cancer

He went on to be nominated for a Grammy for musical theatre album alongside his father, Greg Wells and David Zippel for Lord Lloyd-Webber’s Cinderella.

The tragic news today follows a video posted to Lord Lloyd-Webber’s Instagram account on Thursday, in which the composer said his son was ‘over the worst of this first bout of pneumonia’ which he caught as a result of his ‘ghastly’ cancer.

Lord Lloyd-Webber – who wrote the music for hit shows such as Cats, The Phantom Of The Opera and Jesus Christ Superstar – said in a video on Instagram: ‘We’re all here and the family here has gathered around and it was the right place for us all to be I think.’

In the video he also thanked the people of Ukraine who sent him a Cats T-shirt following the announcement that his son was ‘critically ill’.

He said: ‘I know that they’ve been performing Cats there in a bunker, a makeshift production.

‘It’s incredibly moving… everything they’re going through they have been so incredibly thoughtful about dearest Nick.

‘I’m going to go and see Nick in a minute, and I’m going to pass on all of the fantastic wishes that I’ve had for him all the way from everywhere all around the world.’

Lord Lloyd-Webber also sent his best wishes ‘to the other families I have around the world in theatre’ on the opening night of his new show Bad Cinderella in New York.

Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber with daughter Imogen Lloyd Webber (left), as well as his son Nicholas and his then-wife Charlotte Windmill (right) in 2010

Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber with daughter Imogen Lloyd Webber (left), as well as his son Nicholas and his then-wife Charlotte Windmill (right) in 2010

Lord Lloyd-Webber revealed his son's illness recently, saying: 'I am absolutely devastated to say that my eldest son Nick is critically ill' (Nick pictured in 2010 with ex-wife Charlotte Windmill)

Lord Lloyd-Webber revealed his son’s illness recently, saying: ‘I am absolutely devastated to say that my eldest son Nick is critically ill’ (Nick pictured in 2010 with ex-wife Charlotte Windmill)

He said: ‘I’m absolutely gutted not to be able to be there but my place is really here in England at the moment.’

The Broadway show is a retooled version of London West End’s Cinderella, which takes its name from a key song in the show and has new songs, leading lady and title.

Lord Lloyd-Webber’s first wife, Sarah Hugill, is the mother of Nicholas. They also share a daughter, Imogen, who is 44.

The acclaimed composer is also father to Isabella, 26, Alastair, 30, and William, 29. 

source: dailymail.co.uk