Diddy bids for Lloyd Webber's West End empire

Rap mogul Sean 'P Diddy' Combs is in negotiations to buy four of British composer Andrew Lloyd Webber's legendary theatres in London's West End.

Lord Lloyd Webber - the creator of musical blockbusters The Phantom of the Opera, Starlight Express, Cats and Evita - is selling the Apollo, the Garrick, the Duchess and the Lyric, all major names in the capital's theatre district.

And hip-hop star, Combs is obsessed with the stage - following his Broadway debut last year in Raisin in the Sun - so is keen to expand his Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment business empire by adding the theatre to his $285m (€218.1m) clothing brand, two restaurants, music publishing and

product marketing.

Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group has confirmed it has received one firm bid for the four playhouse theatres.