Tony Cowell
Actor and former EastEnders star John Partridge, 47, talks about his battle with cancer and reveals why he totally reinvented himself after the death of his beloved mum, Bridget. Now sober and enjoying life, John is preparing for his one-man show at the Edinburgh Festival and Celebrity MasterChef.
You’ve never stopped working since leaving EastEnders. Are you a bit of a workaholic?
I don’t think so, but I do like to try to lead a balanced life – I’m still a jobbing actor, so I have to take what work I can get! I’ve been very lucky with the opportunities that are still being offered to me. My life has taken a different turn since last year, and I’m very grateful for that.
You’ve made huge changes in your life recently, what motivated you to do that?
My mother died last year from Alzheimer’s, and it had a profound effect on me. I was always a mummy’s boy and proud of it – but I had mixed feelings about whether or not it was a blessed relief she went when she did. So, in October last year, I stopped everything that was detrimental to me – drinking, smoking and taking drugs. I don’t know why I decided to stop, or whether the decision was caused by Mum’s death, but I just finally listened to myself – and I’m so glad I did, because I knew it was something I had to do.
Was such a dramatic turnaround very hard?
Yes, because there have always been two Johnnys. Big Johnny, who always wanted to go out and trash himself. And little Johnny, the boy who went to The Royal Ballet School at 10 years old and gritted his teeth, determined to succeed. I think the more successful you become, the more insecure you become. I think I had lost sight of ‘ little Johnny’ and, for 30 years, I hid from my real self. The funny thing is, I don’t miss drinking, and I still do everything I did before but without the drink.
Did you have a happy childhood, would you say?
I think so, but as a six-year-old boy, I would put a tea towel on my head and dance around the kitchen to Wuthering Heights and pretend to be Kate Bush – much to my father’s dismay. But my mum would laugh at me, she loved it and always encouraged me. So, yes, my early life was extremely happy. Unfortunately, my father died when I was only 17 – but I loved him for all the things he taught me.
You have battled testicular cancer, but only revealed this on TV show The Real Full Monty in March – what was behind that decision?
The decision to talk about it was all part of my recent
lifestyle change. I thought if I was giving up drinking, I need to be open about everything that has happened in my life. I was diagnosed in 2004, so it was about time I was open about it, and helped raise awareness of cancer.
Of course. In EastEnders, you played Christian Clarke, do you miss that?
I do, because I played him for over four years. I have some very fond memories. I’m also extremely proud that we could have a gay character on screen at 7.30pm in the evening.
You’ll be on Celebrity MasterChef next month. Are you a good cook?
I like to think I am! I left home at 16, so I had to get good at cooking from a very early age, and I have always enjoyed it. In fact, when I first got sober, I would go to the supermarket and grab a load of ingredients and go home and cook all day – because it was a distraction. So I was really happy when they asked me. It’s an insanely popular show, but what I didn’t realise was just how I would react to the time pressure. I found that aspect very hard – as you’ll see!
You’re up against other contestants, such as Gemma Collins, Spencer Matthews and Anita Harris – did you make any firm friendships with anyone?
Actually, I did make friends with a few people, who – on paper – you would think I had nothing in common with. So that was an added bonus.
Tell us more about your debut show at the Edinburgh Fringe next month...
I’m doing a one-man show called Stripped, which is basically a semiautobiographical musical theatre show. I tell my story, alongside the soundtrack of my life, which includes the music of David Bowie, Boy George and, of course, Kate Bush! When I first decided to create this show, I wasn’t sober – but now that I am, I want to stay that way. So it’s a very personal project. l Stripped is showcasing at the Assembly at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from 1 August. For tickets, visit assemblyfestival.com.
Celebrity MasterChef airs on BBC One in August.
‘I think the more successful you become, the more insecure you become’