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Damon, 46, will start work on the West End show in September.

The Gorillaz frontman told me: “It’s funny for me to say ‘I’m writing a musical’, but, yes, that’s what I’m doing next.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do because musicals are great when they’re done well.”

Damon was tight-lipped about the details of the show but said he didn’t expect to be taking on Andrew Lloyd Webber until recently.

“It started out with the same subject matter but was going to be a left field, experimental opera,” he explained. “But it’s lurched into a mainstream musical for families.”

Paying tribute to the writer of hit musical Oliver!, Damon laughed: “I’m trying to summon up the spirit of Lionel Bart.” Damon spoke of his plans before an emotional headline show at Latitude, where he showcased his first solo album, Everyday Robots.

Bizarrely, it was the first time he hung around to enjoy a festival as a regular punter, staying with his artist partner Suzi Winstanley and their daughter Missy, 14.

He said: “I’ve played at festivals since 1990 but never had time to stay. I was sceptical and bad-tempered ­after an 18-hour coach journey from a Swiss show but it’s been really nice.

“It’s pretty, the music is great and the cynic in me struggles to find any negatives.”

As well as his musical, Damon is thinking of reviving Gorillaz after reuniting with artist bandmate Jamie Hewlett, 46.

“I’ve found myself writing a lot of uptempo songs that sound like Gorillaz,” he said.