STAGE star Peter Karrie has leapt to the defence of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber after critics savaged the composer's follow-up to hit musical Phantom of the Opera.

Love Never Dies opened in London's West End this week to a string of poor reviews.

But Welsh star Mr Karrie, who played the Phantom for the longest in the show's history, believes the critics are being too harsh.

"People are going to be overly critical with Andrew simply because of how much a big name he is.

"But it's not critics who make a show a hit, but the fans."

Meanwhile, Mr Karrie is putting the finishing touches to his latest album — My Funny Old, Lovely Old Wales.

Proceeds from the first single, My Welsh Little Home, will go to Bobath Children's Therapy Centre in Cardiff.