John Barrowman is one of the most versatile performers currently working in the UK moving from music, to theatre, acting to TV presenting.
And he is back with his new album The Very Best of John Barrowmanin which he revisits some of his best performances from previous records as well as showcasing a couple of new tracks.
I caught up with his to talk about hit latest release, the new series of Torchwood; which sees him reprise the role of Captain Jack Harkness, and what lies ahead.
- You have just released your new album The Very Best of John Barrowman so what can we expect from the album this time around?
The album is The Very Best of John Barrowman: Tonight’s The Night and so it is a grab back of songs that I have previously performed and record and I have put them on to what is a best of album really.
I didn’t want to just put songs on there that people had heard before so I went into the studio and recorded two new tracks, one of the being Tonight’s The Night; the Rod Stewart classic, people might think that it has something to do with the TV show but it’s not - I have done an electronic version of that.
Plus the number one track is I Owe It All To You and I had that written because I wanted to say that you to all the people that have supported me, the fans, to the people who buys the albums and watch the TV shows - because I owe it all to you I am where I am today because of the people that have supported me.
- You have touched on my next question really you cover Tonight's The Night by Rod Stewart so what drew you to those song?
Rod Stewart is Scottish, and I was born and raised in Glasgow, but also it is an iconic and classic British pop track and it’s something recognisable to everybody - there might have been a slight play on the words because people will know the show Tonight’s The Night - I did sing the song on the show but it is nothing to do with the show.
- You have covered some great songs on your previous albums and there are more on this new album such as Can't Take My Eyes Off You and Your Song so how did you decide what made the record?
Well these were all, and I am quoting what I said in the sleeve - because I wanted to make it a very personal approach to the choice of songs - and it says that ‘each one of these songs has a little piece of my heart’. People may read that and say ‘oh what does he mean by that?’
Each of those songs has a relation to me personally or to some particular moment in my life and career or family member and so what I tried to do in the sleeve was give them that story, or as much of it as I possibly can, to let them know where that song came from.
- Over all of your previous records you have covered pop records and theatre songs so do you have any ambition to write an album of your own?
I am not that talented in that way (laughs). I don’t have that gift I would love to… I am being totally honest… I can hum a tune because there are certain arrangements of songs that I do on my tours and I sit down with my musical director and I hum or sing how I want it to go and he goes away and he arranges it and writes.
So I don’t think that I have the gift or the talent to sit down and write an original track, I might be able to hum a line, but no I am not gifted.
- You are also heading back on out on tour later this year - so how excited are you about that? And what can we expect from the show this time around?
Well I love going on tour because it is a chance for me to get out there and see the faces of the people who support me. I am putting the show together at the moment, I have four dancers with me; I have the same dancers every year because the thing that the audience can expect is a bit family night of entertainment.
Mum and dad are involved in the show, they have been every year, and the audience expects them to be in - but they don’t know in what context so every year it is a surprise for people. I have a nineties band and we really do have a lot of fun.
I always make the joke about the men and that they have been dragged to the show and a lot of them write to me afterwards and say that yes we were dragged but we just wanted to let you know that we had a really good time - so it’s really nice to see that.
I take the mickey out of myself, I laugh at myself and we have a good laugh - it’s a really fin night of entertainment.
- Also you are currently on the Beeb with a new series of Torchwood so what's on the cards for Jack in the new series?
Oooohhh, I can’t tell you because there are a couple more episodes to go but it is going to be a shocker - that’s all I am going to say.
- Yourself and Eve Myles are the only two remaining characters left so how strange was it for you going back to a whole new set of co-stars?
It actually wasn’t strange at all because the show really is myself and my co-star Eve - without either of us there really is now show; and I don’t think that the fans would like it if either Jack or Gwen disappeared.
But having new stars in the show is a nice thing because it makes if fresh for us; it ups the game a bit and chances things.
Also the show has gone more international so all of a sudden we have got Bill Pullman involved and Mekhi Phifer from ER and Lauren Ambrose from Six Feet Under, these are all shows that I have watched; for goodness sake I use to fancy Bill when I was younger and he was on Space Balls. It was not strange it was more exhilarating to have a new cast.
- So how have you found working alongside the likes of Mekhi Phifer and Bill Pullman?
They are great - I know that you guys would love us to say that they are awful and there are tantrums and they are mean spirited - but again when I do a show I always lay the ground rules, in a quiet way so people don’t really know that I am doing it, but I like people to be well behaved and treat each other nicely.
It’s a good family atmosphere and you can bring your kids on, if it’s an appropriate day to bring them to meet everyone. We all sit down to lunch together so it really is a big family atmosphere and that’s good.
- This time around the show is a co-production between Britain and the US so how have you found that - and shooting in America?
The co-production between the BBC and Starz is probably the best thing that has really happened to Torchwood this year, a lot of people may disagree with me, but the main reason I say that is because without the collaboration there would not have been another series of Torchwood - there just wasn’t the money there for it.
So that is the reason that we are existing and thank goodness because Starz are allowing us to continue down the route that we have always gone down; being edgy, unique, different.
And filming in American the only thing that is different is there is more fun on set (laughs) - the ironic thing is it’s all the crew that eat the food and drink the drinks but the actors and actresses don’t really do it because everyone want’s to stay slim and not put on any weight (laughs).
- And how have you found the response to the new series - particularly in America?
In the States it has gone down really really well - we just have to keep our fingers crossed to see if there is another series on the cards - but again that’s not my decision it’s a decision by the powers that be at Starz and the BBC.
But I have had a great experience filming in the States; it allowed me to see my parents every weekend, so it worked out well for me.
- Obviously Captain Jack originated in Doctor Who so are there any plans to see you meet Matt Smith's Doctor?
Captain Jack to meet Matt Smith’s Doctor I have no idea - all the fans seem to want it and they have all thought it would be a good boost in things for the show. But I have heard nothing from BBC drama and no one seems to be talking about it so I don’t know if it will happen.
- Last time we spoke they were in the process of casting the role of the Doctor so what do you think of Smith so far?
I think he is very good he does what he is supposed to do and he has put his stamp on the tin (laughs). He is very different from David Tennant and Christopher Eccleston and that is the whole point each Doctor should be different and make their own mark and he has done just that.
- Finally what's next for you - are there any acting plans away from Captain Jack and Torchwood?
Yes I am doing a guest starring role BBC show Hustle, which I am filming at the moment. I have been offered a couple of TV series in America but I cannot say if I can do those because of my commitment to Torchwood - but I have to wait to find out what will happen with Torchwood.
And I was offered a movie, well I shouldn’t say that, they checked my availability for a movie, it’s directed by Drew Barrymore and shoots over Christmas, because of my pantomime commitments I can’t do it.
- How much are you interested in expanding into movies and American TV?
Listen I am always game for it - I am my business and I am my product in the business and if work takes me to America, as I have always said, to do a movie or TV show I will go there and do the work but then I will come back home to the UK. So I am not adverse to it and I am always looking to challenge myself in new ways.
The Very Best of John Barrowman is out now.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
John Barrowman is one of the most versatile performers currently working in the UK moving from music, to theatre, acting to TV presenting.
And he is back with his new album The Very Best of John Barrowmanin which he revisits some of his best performances from previous records as well as showcasing a couple of new tracks.
I caught up with his to talk about hit latest release, the new series of Torchwood; which sees him reprise the role of Captain Jack Harkness, and what lies ahead.
- You have just released your new album The Very Best of John Barrowman so what can we expect from the album this time around?
The album is The Very Best of John Barrowman: Tonight’s The Night and so it is a grab back of songs that I have previously performed and record and I have put them on to what is a best of album really.
I didn’t want to just put songs on there that people had heard before so I went into the studio and recorded two new tracks, one of the being Tonight’s The Night; the Rod Stewart classic, people might think that it has something to do with the TV show but it’s not - I have done an electronic version of that.
Plus the number one track is I Owe It All To You and I had that written because I wanted to say that you to all the people that have supported me, the fans, to the people who buys the albums and watch the TV shows - because I owe it all to you I am where I am today because of the people that have supported me.
- You have touched on my next question really you cover Tonight's The Night by Rod Stewart so what drew you to those song?
Rod Stewart is Scottish, and I was born and raised in Glasgow, but also it is an iconic and classic British pop track and it’s something recognisable to everybody - there might have been a slight play on the words because people will know the show Tonight’s The Night - I did sing the song on the show but it is nothing to do with the show.
- You have covered some great songs on your previous albums and there are more on this new album such as Can't Take My Eyes Off You and Your Song so how did you decide what made the record?
Well these were all, and I am quoting what I said in the sleeve - because I wanted to make it a very personal approach to the choice of songs - and it says that ‘each one of these songs has a little piece of my heart’. People may read that and say ‘oh what does he mean by that?’
Each of those songs has a relation to me personally or to some particular moment in my life and career or family member and so what I tried to do in the sleeve was give them that story, or as much of it as I possibly can, to let them know where that song came from.
- Over all of your previous records you have covered pop records and theatre songs so do you have any ambition to write an album of your own?
I am not that talented in that way (laughs). I don’t have that gift I would love to… I am being totally honest… I can hum a tune because there are certain arrangements of songs that I do on my tours and I sit down with my musical director and I hum or sing how I want it to go and he goes away and he arranges it and writes.
So I don’t think that I have the gift or the talent to sit down and write an original track, I might be able to hum a line, but no I am not gifted.
- You are also heading back on out on tour later this year - so how excited are you about that? And what can we expect from the show this time around?
Well I love going on tour because it is a chance for me to get out there and see the faces of the people who support me. I am putting the show together at the moment, I have four dancers with me; I have the same dancers every year because the thing that the audience can expect is a bit family night of entertainment.
Mum and dad are involved in the show, they have been every year, and the audience expects them to be in - but they don’t know in what context so every year it is a surprise for people. I have a nineties band and we really do have a lot of fun.
I always make the joke about the men and that they have been dragged to the show and a lot of them write to me afterwards and say that yes we were dragged but we just wanted to let you know that we had a really good time - so it’s really nice to see that.
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