Minchin chooses robotic sex doll as desert island companion

The composer, musician and comedian, who wrote the music and lyrics for hit stage show Matilda The Musical, told the show's host Kirsty Young he would struggle to decide whether to take the doll or his piano.

Speaking on the Radio 4 show, which invites guests to choose the eight records they would take to a desert island, Minchin said: "I assume lots of people say a robotic sex doll? But if it wasn't something to occupy me in that way I'd take my piano."

Despite that unusual choice, Minchin told Young he was "absolutely conservative of lifestyle".

"I don't think I'm intellectually conservative or socially conservative. I'm quite politically conservative I guess, I'm a pragmatist," Minchin said.

"I don't take drugs, I like jogging, I've been mostly with one girl since I lost my virginity, I like my family, I don't swear in front of kids ... I'm quite boring."

Minchin picked tracks including Waterloo Sunset by The Kinks and I Want You (She's So Heavy) by The Beatles among his choices to play during the radio program.

Minchin has also confirmed he will play Judas Iscariot in a new version of Jesus Christ Superstar, but denied he will star alongside Nicole Scherzinger as Mary Magdalene.

The Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber and Sir Tim Rice musical is being revived this year with a TV talent show to find a lead ahead of an arena tour starting at London's O2 this summer.

Australian musician and comedian Minchin confirmed he would play Judas via Twitter after his teasing interview on Desert Islands Discs, in which he proclaimed his love for the musical, written in 1969.

The 36-year-old said: "I reckon I sang this song standing in my parents' living room, to the vinyl original recording, about 500 times, and subsequently got to understudy the role of Judas in two separate Perth productions of JC Superstar but I never played the role and I keep thinking one day I'm going to play Judas. I just love it because it is just pain and rock."