As long as you’re picking up the tab, I’m inviting two people to dinner. The first person I’d choose would be my gran, Murn, who loved a good laugh, appreciated a good meal, and relished a good blether. She died when I was a teenager; given how close she and I were when I was growing up, I know she’d be bursting with pride for all that I’ve accomplished. I’d love to take Murn out to a fabulous restaurant and let her have the run of the entire menu – especially the desserts. I’d also let her wrap in her napkin as many rolls as she could fit in her handbag for later.
My second person would have to be one of my musical muses, Cole Porter. I imagine he’d be great company and I’d enjoy flirting a little with him. One of the areas of musical theatre that I’d like to learn more about, and perhaps even attempt to tackle some day if the right project should arise, is the art of writing lyrics. Cole Porter was the master at packing irony, double entendres, colourful details and pointed generalities into a song’s lyrics without them losing their heart. Cole and I would order champagne and caviar, and I’d make sure we got a table near the piano. How delightful!
‘What would you eat for your last supper?’
Honestly, if I knew I was facing the end and I had enough energy to eat a last meal, I probably wouldn’t. I’d find another organ to exercise and go out a different kind of satiated.8
Oh, if you insist. I’d gorge myself on shellfish, from prawns to shrimp to scallops to lobster. I’d dip them in butter, in olive oil, or in a sweet Thai sauce – and I’d hope that death would come swiftly before my allergy to all of them killed me slowly.
‘Do you and Scott have the same taste in fashion? And do you share your clothes with him?’
Don’t get me started. This subject is a bit of a touchy one in the Barrowman–Gill household. Scott and I have quite different tastes in fashion. He tends towards plain Ralph Lauren T-shirts and his favourite pair of tan Lucky jeans that I bought for him years ago in New York, and that he plans to wear until there’s no thread count left. He’s coming close.
Yet this man, who’s colour-blind and hates to shop, has no problem borrowing9 my flashy clothes, particularly my pink polo shirts and my trainers. This likely wouldn’t bother me if I’d already worn the shirt or the shoes, but sometimes I’ve not even taken the price tags off. I like to be the first person to wear an item I’ve purchased. I have a similar issue10 with books and magazines. Please don’t crack the spine or flick the folios before I get the chance to be the first one into the pages.
‘If you were invisible for a day, what would you do?’
I’d hide out in the locker room of the Welsh rugby team, or any professional male sports team for that matter. I love a man in a uniform.
‘Why do you wear your watch on your right wrist?’
I know now that most people who are right-handed wear a watch on their left wrist, but when I got my first watch – a birthday present from my mum and dad when I was in primary school – I put the timepiece on my right wrist without knowing that detail. My reason was a logical one. When I was writing papers or taking notes in school, I could easily flip my wrist, sneak a peek at the time, and know exactly how long before the bell. Wearing a watch on my left wrist feels clumsy to me now.
‘Do you still enjoy going to see shows in the West End?’
Whenever I can, I go to the opening nights of my friends’ productions. The thrill of going to see a show has never faded for me. I love to be in the audience, and although I usually try to be a bit inconspicuous, it doesn’t always work out. I went to see Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, with Jason Donovan,11 and towards the end of the second act, the safety curtain dropped. Having been in this situation before myself in a number of productions, I knew something had gone awry with the set mechanics.
Once, when I was playing Joe Gillis in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard, the stage mechanics shut down and wouldn’t rise up, leaving the floors of the set stuck at unsafe levels for the actors. When the safety curtain had been down for over fifteen minutes, a couple of us from the cast crawled underneath and led the audience in a singalong until the glitch was repaired.
After about ten minutes, the Priscilla audience was growing restless. I was hoping I hadn’t been spotted.
‘John, give us a song!’ called someone from the other side of the balcony.
I laughed and called back, ‘It’s against theatre rules for another professional to perform in the audience.’
It didn’t matter. The woman who’d called to me began to sing ‘Any Dream Will Do’ – and pretty soon the entire balcony was crooning a cappella.
‘Do you like to entertain at your home, and if so, what was the last occasion when you played host?’
In the spring of 2009, I wanted to greet my Sully neighbours, and say thank you to the cast and crew of Torchwood now that the filming of ‘Children of Earth’ was completed. (Plus, I really wanted to show off my new house to family and friends.)
I ordered lots of everything, including enough fireworks to start my own Mardi Gras. The party was such a success that the next day I had to repaint all the interior walls, replace a few lamps, and accommodate a sprinkling of stay-over guests recovering from the festivities, who were stretched out across our couches.
In the morning, everyone who slept over helped Scott and me clean the house. As we did, Scott and I revelled in how much we enjoyed being hosts, and how proud we were finally to have enough space to throw such a bash.
We repeated the tradition again this summer, and marked the American Fourth of July celebration with a BBQ and fireworks. This time, the walls survived.
On your way out, make sure you touch the Dalek for good luck. Till next time, goodnight and – from the bottom of my heart – I thank you.
Index
(In subentries, the initials JB, JB Sr, MB and SG denote John Barrowman, John Barrowman Sr, Marion Barrowman and Scott Gill; italic n signifies a footnote.)
Agyeman, Freema (i)
Aladdin (i), (ii)
All Star Family Fortunes (i)
Animals at Work (i)
Another Side (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi)
Any Dream Will Do (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi)
Anything Goes (AG) (book) (i), (ii)n, (iii)n, (iv), (v)n
readers’ comments on (i)
signing tour of (i), (ii)
Anything Goes (show) (i), (ii), (iii)
JB’s debut in (i)
revival of (i)
‘Around the World in 80 Days’
(Children in Need) (i)
Atkinson, Rowan (i)
Avenue Q (i)
Balac, Mel (i), (ii), (iii), (iv)n
Ball, Michael (i)
Ball, Zoë (i)
‘Ballgate’ (i), (ii)
Barker, Gavin (‘Gav’) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii)n, (ix), (x), (xi), (xii), (xiii), (xiv), (xv), (xvi)
‘Ballgate’ and (i)
BBP formed by (i), (ii), (iii)
sobriquets of (i), (ii)n
Barks, Sam (i), (ii), (iii)
Barlow, Gary (i), (ii)
Barnum (i), (ii)
Barrowman, Alex (uncle) (i)
Barrowman, Andrew (brother) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi)
childhood of (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v)
emigrated to US (i), (ii)
family holidays and (i)
Barrowman, Andrew (nephew) (i), (ii)
Barrowman Barker Productions (BBP) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii)
Barrowman, Bridgett (niece) (i)
Barrowman, Carole (sister) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv)n, (v), (vi)n, (vii), (viii), (ix), (x), (xi), (xii), (xiii), (xiv), (xv), (xvi), (xvii), (xviii), (xix), (xx), (xxi)n, (xxii), (xxiii), (xxiv), (xxv)
All Star Family Fortunes appearance of (i)n
Anything Goes signing tour and (i), (ii)
birth of (i)
childhood of (i), (ii), (iii), (iv)
Comic-Con attended by (i), (ii), (iii)
emigrated to US (i), (ii)
family holidays and (i)
Hub convention and (i)
JB’s practical joking and (i)
Kevin marries (i)
sobriquet of (i)
Barrowman, Charlie (uncle) (i), (ii)
death of (i)n
‘Wee Jimmy’ and (i)
Barrowman, Dot (sister-in-law) (i), (ii)
Barrowman, Emily (‘Gran’) (paternal grandmother) (i)
Barrowman, John:
albums of (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v)
All Star Family Fortunes appearance of (i)n
Anything Goes (book) and (i)n, (ii), (iii)n
Anything Goes (show) and (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v)
Anything Goes signing tour and (i), (ii)
‘Ballgate’ and (i), (ii)
BBP formed by (i), (ii), (iii)
Bionic Woman incident and (i)
car accidents of (i), (ii), (iii)
charity work of (i), (ii), (iii)
child fans of Captain Jack and (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v)
childhood of (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v)
childhood dreams of (i)
Comic-Con attended by (i), (ii), (iii)
conventions attended by (i), (ii), (iii)
DIY and (i)
education of (i)
emigrated to US (i), (ii)
family holidays and (i)
fans of (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi)
film career of (i)n, (ii)
flirting by (i)
ill health of (i), (ii), (iii)
‘Jinny Baza’ sobriquet of (i), (ii)
love of animals of (i)
love of cars/driving of (i), (ii)
love of dogs of (i)
media critics and (i)
‘Mr Saturday Night’ sobriquet of (i)
motto of (i)
other sobriquets of (i)
panto performances of (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v)
paranoia suffered by (i), (ii)
parts played by, see Barrowman, John, parts played by
on playing Captain Jack (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix), (x), (xi), (xii)
practical joking of (i), (ii), (iii)
prized memorabilia of (i)
sex and (i), (ii)
sexuality and (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix), (x), (xi), (xii)
SG’s civil partnership with (i)
SG’s holidays with (i), (ii)
SG’s ‘ill health’ and (i)
SG’s sister’s death and (i)
stray cat taken in by (i), (ii), (iii)n
tabloid hysteria and (i), (ii)
talent-show judging of (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii)
Torchwood promoted by (i)
touring and (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix), (x)
trivia supplied by (i), (ii), (iii)
‘Unckie John’ sobriquet of (i)
university education of (i), (ii), (iii)
‘Wee John’ sobriquet of (i), (ii), (iii)
Barrowman, John, parts played by:
Bobby (Company) (i)
Crocker, Billy (Anything Goes) (i), (ii)
Gillis, Joe (Sunset Boulevard) (i)
Harkness, Captain Jack (Doctor Who, Torchwood) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv)
Barrowman, John (father) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix), (x), (xi), (xii)
All Star Family Fortunes appearance of (i)n
‘Ballgate’ and (i)
Comic-Con attended by (i), (ii), (iii)
emigrated to US (i), (ii)
‘Faither’ and ‘Big John’ sobriquets of (i)
family holidays and (i)
MB marries (i)
MB meets (i), (ii)
Second World War and (i), (ii)
Barrowman, John (‘Papa’) (paternal grandfather) (i)
Barrowman, Marion (née Butler) (mother) (i), (ii), (iii)n, (iv), (v)n, (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix), (x), (xi)n, (xii), (xiii), (xiv), (xv)n
All Star Family Fortunes appearance of (i)n
birth of (i)
childhood of (i)
Comic-Con attended by (i), (ii)
dancing skills of (i)
emigrates to US (i), (ii)
family holidays and (i)
JB’s childhood and (i)
JB’s practical joking and (i)
JB’s TV car crash and (i), (ii)
JB Sr marries (i)
JB Sr meets (i), (ii), (iii)
‘Miriam’ sobriquet of (i)
Barrowman, Neil (uncle) (i)
Barrowman, Yvonne (niece) (i), (ii)
Barrowman Casey, Clare (niece) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix), (x), (xi), (xii), (xiii), (xiv)n, (xv), (xvi), (xvii), (xviii), (xix)n
childhood of (i), (ii)n, (iii)n
Comic-Con attended by (i), (ii), (iii), (iv)
sobriquets of (i), (ii)
Barrowman Casey, Turner (nephew) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix), (x)n
childhood of (i)n
‘Barrowmans’ Excellent Adventure’ (i)n
Baxter, Stanley (i)
BBC (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix), (x), (xi), (xii), (xiii), (xiv), (xv)
‘Ballgate’ and (i), (ii)
BBP logo and (i)
licence fee and (i)
‘Sachsgate’ and (i)
Tonight’s the Night and (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii)
BBC America (i)
BBC Breakfast (i)
BBC Entertainment (i)
BBC In-House Entertainment (i)
BBC iPlayer (i)
BBC Radio 1 (i), (ii), (iii)
BBC Radio 2 (i), (ii)n, (iii), (iv)
BBC Radio 4 (i), (ii)
BBC Switch (i)
BBC Television Centre (i)
BBC Wales (i), (ii), (iii)
BBC Worldwide (i)
BBP (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi)
Bender, Alex (i)
Bennett, Joe (i), (ii)
Berkeley, Busby (i), (ii), (iii)
Bionic Woman, The (i)
Black, Cilla (i)
Boabie Stroaker see Kelly, Brian
Boys, Daniel (‘Danny’) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v)
Bradley, Lewis (i)
Brand, Russell (i)
Brind, Matt (i), (ii), (iii)
Broadway (i), (ii), (iii)
Brooks, Mel (i)n
Buckley, Jessie (i), (ii)
Burnett, Carol (i)
Butler, Andrew (‘Andy’) (‘Papa’) (maternal grandfather) (i), (ii), (iii)
Second World War and (i)
Butler, Murn (maternal grandmother) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix)
emigrated to US (i), (ii)
Second World War and (i)
stroke suffered by (i)
Cam’s Kids (i)
Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC) (i)
‘Captain Jack Harkness’ (Torchwood episode title) (i)
Captain Jack (‘CJ’) (dog) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi)
Captain Jack Harkness (character), see Harkness, Captain Jack Cardiff Dogs Home (i), (ii)
Casey, Donald ‘Bud’ (i)
Casey, Kelley (i)
Casey, Kevin (brother-in-law) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi)
Carole marries (i)
JB’s practical joking and (i)
Casey, Lois (i)
Caterpillar Inc. (i)
Catherine Tate Show, The (i)
CBBC (i)
CBS (i)
Central Park West (i)
CERN (i)
Chalmers, Craig (i)
Charlie (dog) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v)
Chess (i), (ii)
Children in Need (i)
‘Children of Earth’ see Torchwood, ‘Children of Earth’ Chris Moyles Show, The (i)
Clarke, Noel (i)
Clarkson, Jeremy (i)
C
ollinson, Phil (i)
comic-book heroes (i), (ii), (iii)
Comic-Con, San Diego (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v)
Company (i)
Costco (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi)n, (vii)
Crockford, Paul (i)
Crystal Cove Hotel (i)
Daily Mail (i)
Dancing on Ice (i), (ii)
David-Lloyd, Gareth (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii)
Davies, Russell T. (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix)
De-Lovely (i)
Doctor Who (i), (ii), (iii), (iv)
exhibition, Cardiff (i)
fans of (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v)
future of (i), (ii)
Jack’s character traits in (i), (ii)
Series One (i)
Series Four (i)
Series Five (i)
spin-off of (i), (ii)
Doctor Who characters/names/terms:
Captain Jack Harkness, see Harkness, Captain Jack Daleks (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi)
Davros (i), (ii), (iii)
Doctor (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix)
Face of Boe (i)
regeneration (i), (ii)
Smith, Sarah Jane (i), (ii), (iii)
TARDIS (i), (ii), (iii), (iv)n, (v), (vi), (vii), (viii)n, (ix)n, (x)
Time Agent (i)
Dogs Trust (i), (ii)
Domaine, Paul (i), (ii), (iii)
Donovan, Jason (i)
Doris, Marie (‘The Doris’) (i)
Eccleston, Christopher (i)
Elliott, Paul (i), (ii)
Ellis, Ben (i), (ii)
Evans, Sean (i), (ii)
‘An Evening with John Barrowman’ tour (i), (ii), (iii), (iv)
Evening Standard (i)
Fay, John (i)
Fifth Gear (i), (ii), (iii), (iv)
Firth, Bob (i)n
Firth, Ruby (i)n
Fisher, Connie (i), (ii)
Five (i)
For Me and My Gal (i)
Forsyth, Bruce (i)
‘Friday Night is Music Night’ concert (i)
Fulton, Rikki (i)
Gardner, Julie (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi)
Garland, Judy (i), (ii)
‘gay gene’ (i)
gay rights (i)
Gill, A. A. (i), (ii)
Gill, Sandie (sister-in-law) (i)
Gill, Scott (partner) (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v)n, (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix)n, (x), (xi), (xii)n, (xiii), (xiv), (xv)n, (xvi), (xvii), (xviii)n, (xix), (xx), (xxi), (xxii), (xxiii), (xxiv)
All Star Family Fortunes appearance of (i)n
‘Ballgate’ and (i), (ii)n
I Am What I Am Page 22
