Abba duo linked to Torchwood musical

The pair wrote the music for the stage show Chess

Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus from Abba were lined up for a musical version of Doctor Who spin-off show Torchwood, according to a new book.

In it, head writer Russell T Davies reveals that he was asked about the concept and told: "They have the two chaps from Abba on board."

Davies said after he had finished laughing he asked for clarification.

He was told: "Yep. Bjorn and Benny love Torchwood." But the idea never progressed beyond the early stages.

Other revelations in The Writer's Tale: The Final Chapter include a conversation between Davies and the Prince of Wales in which the first in line to the throne said he would "love to" appear in Doctor Who.

'Are those ears real?'

However the prince said he was unable to because he "gets too many requests like that".

Davies, who was being made an OBE for services to drama at Buckingham Palace, said he replied by asking the prince: 'Never mind that, are those ears real?'

According to the book, which is released later this month, the team behind the show had wanted Prince Charles to make a cameo appearance in the programme's 2007 Christmas Special, Voyage of the Damned, which starred pop star Kylie Minogue.

The Writer's Tale is made up of two and a half years of e-mails between Russell T Davies and journalist Benjamin Cook.

They discuss the process of producing Doctor Who and its associated programmes Torchwood and the Sarah Jane Adventures.