TV comedian and author Ben Elton didn’t need another string to his bow when he turned his attention towards musicals, but it seems there’s no end to his talent.

Not content with collaborating with the musical theatre legend that is Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber on football-themed The Beautiful Game in 2000, he then decided to enter the arena of jukebox musicals.

With his first attempt in 2002 he penned We Will Rock You, based on a compilation of Queen songs. When that show closes at the West End’s Dominion Theatre on Saturday, May 31, it will mark the end of a record-breaking 12-year run at that venue.

Setting the bench so high could have risked a weak follow-up but not so for high-achiever Ben, 54. His next creation, just a year later in 2003, was another hit – Tonight’s The Night, based on the songs of Rod Stewart.

The show has toured extensively since and, currently starring Jade Ewen from the pop band Sugababes, comes to Kent twice this year; firstly to Bromley’s Churchill Theatre next week and later to Canterbury’s Marlowe Theatre.

What came first for you – musical theatre or pop music?I played the Artful Dodger in Oliver! twice as a kid and my first real musical theatre experience came when I was about 12 or so and I was taken to see Grease at the Dominion Theatre where We Will Rock You is still playing. I love musical theatre and always have done.

What was the attraction of writing an original story as a vehicle for the existing Rod Stewart songs?Well, let’s face it, it’s difficult to think of anybody more famous in the world of pop music than Rod Stewart. There may be people as famous like Bono and Paul McCartney, but there aren’t many out there who can surpass what Rod has achieved. And what’s great is that when you listen to Rod’s music and then look at his life, he always seems so fabulously good-humoured as well. I thought what would work might be a story that brought to the stage his grace and good humour and something of his devilish side while also recognising that he sings about heartache as well as anyone.

The plot involves a geeky young car mechanic who gets offered a deal by the devil to ‘soul swap’ with Rod Stewart. How did you come up with that?I spent a week listening to Rod’s music intensively, which of course was no hardship. As I listened I tried to identify the over-riding spirit of the songs, which were all about love and good times, winning and losing girls and all the things that quite frankly make for good stories. The point became that you’ll do better in life if you try and build on your own strength and personality rather than being jealous and wishing you were somebody else.

What does Rod think of it?Rod came to our workshop and turned to me at the end and said, “Well, you’ve made me a legend, haven’t you?” Which was, of course, hilarious because he’s been a legend all along!

Is there any band or singer that you couldn’t write a jukebox musical about?There are. I don’t think Bob Dylan’s music would necessarily work in this way – his music is too eclectic. You can’t sit down and say, “What’s Bob’s vibe”? It’s just too crazy. And I’m just not that interested in writing the biography of someone set to their music. I was approached to do that as regards Tina Turner but I prefer to write an original story embodying the spirit of the artist or band.

Was Tonight’s The Night the obvious choice for the title?No, and the jury’s still out on that one. Phil McIntyre, our producer, still thinks it should be called Hot Legs!

Tonight's The Night is staged at Bromley's Churchill Theatre next week, from Monday, April 14, to Saturday, April 19. Tickets from £15. Call 0844 8717620. It later comes to Canterbury's Marlowe Theatre, from Monday, July 28 to Saturday, August 2. Tickets from £15. Call 01227 787787.