Superstar creator Andrew Lloyd Webber has reportedly told a few of the remaining hopefuls that if they want the role of Jesus in his remake of hit musical Jesus Christ Superstar, they need to shed a few pounds!

Citing his reason for the direction, he said, “McDonalds didn’t exist in AD33.”

Oucha magoucha.

But according to the Daily Mirror, the finalists have had no qualms in taking the slim down order on board, and Nathan James has lost an incredible two and a half stones since auditions began. Tim Prottey-Jones, who was eliminated on Wednesday night, lost 18lbs.

It’s understood that finalist Jeff Anderson has also been told to watch his weight…

A production source told the paper, “Quite a few of the finalists are big-boned lads, and Andrew was worried three in particular were too large.

“He called them in and made the point that, in the production, Jesus needs to be mounted on the cross – and McDonalds didn’t exist in AD33.

“Andrew’s a big fan of Nathan, and put him in touch with a nutritionist. He has lost two and a half stone and is looking amazing – far more Jesus-like.

“The running joke among the cast was that Jesus has been ordered to forgo his daily bread and lay off the communal wine.”

Earlier this week, Lloyd Webber praised Nathan for taking on board his advice.

He said, “What I find exciting is that you have taken everything on board that we’ve said.

“You believed in the material and believed in the words and it really showed.”