Andrew Lloyd Webber has admitted he is a recovering alcoholic in a bombshell health confession. In a new interview with The Times, the West End legend explained that despite claims he had a "very strong will" when he sold off his wine collection in 2016, he "started to drink secretly" and began struggling with alcohol addiction.

He said in 2016 that he had given up drinking "completely", after drinking wine every day since he was 15 years old. Now he admitted that he stopped drinking for 18 months, doing "what they call 'white-knuckling', without any backup", but worried being sober was stopping his creative juices flowing. He told the publication: "And I thought, ‘But I’ve said to everybody that I’m not drinking.’ So I started to drink secretly.”

He added: "I am a recovering alcoholic. Sixteen months ago I decided that I needed help and it’s the best thing that ever happened to me."

Lloyd Webber is auctioning off his expensive wines once more – this time for good. He's also attending Alcoholics Anonymous and going through rehab, and working with a sponsor to help him stay sober.

He explained that while he thought he was being discreet, "everybody knows". He got into a "downward spiral" and left his family "desperate", with his beloved wife Madeleine Gurdon "feeling she couldn't go on".

He checked into rehab, but his first try "didn't work" – but it did inspire him to attend AA meetings.

The star says he "loves" the meetings and has made good friends. His fame doesn't seem to get in the way, with Lloyd Webber admitting: "Of course [I get recognised], but it’s not an issue. I did the meeting in New York on the day I was opening Cats: The Jellicle Ball last week, and nobody said a thing."

The star said he considers himself "lucky that nothing did go very wrong", but he has had several near misses. He concluded: "I am deeply sorry and I can only apologise to people if I made a mess.”