Forget the scandal. I’m grateful to my pal John for helping me to shine
Sunshine on leith stage performer cherishes barrowman’s friendship
Theatre star Keith Jack has vowed to always stand by his mentor John Barrowman in the wake of the entertainer having to apologise for being mired in scandal.
The Doctor Who star was one of the judges who championed the young actor when he first found fame as a runner-up in the BBC’s Any Dream Will Do.
Keith, 34, who is about to star in a production of Sunshine On Leith, said he will always support his friend, who has had to apologise for his behaviour to castmates on set.
The Dalkeith actor said: “John is one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet and I’ll always stick by him. He has been incredible with me and a great person. We’re great friends.
“I go to him when I need advice or if I have a decision to make. He’s there for me as a friend. I stay at his home in America and I love it over there. People love him. He is doing a tour and has a new album out and people are still supporting him.”
He added: “I am massively behind John on all that stuff. A long time ago he spoke about everything that was brought up and it was brought up at a different time by the wrong person.”
Last year a 2014 video resurfaced of fellow Torchwood actor Noel Clarke accusing Barrowman of inappropriate behaviour. It coincided with Clarke being accused of sexual harassment allegations.
Keith said: “Obviously, Noel Clarke was dealing with a lot of terrible stuff himself and he brought up that story and people put together two and two but that whole thing was done years and years before that.”
Clarke, who worked alongside Barrowman on Doctor Who and spin-off series Torchwood, claimed Barrowman got away with his behaviour because “he’s a gay man”.
In May 2021 Barrowman was forced to issue a statement after two former Torchwood runners alleged that, while on set, he would “get his genitals out on a regular basis”.
Barrowman called it ‘tomfoolery’ and added: “Cancel culture tried to strip my career away after 35 years.”
Barrowman, who played Captain Jack Harkness in Torchwood, was dropped as a Dancing On Ice judge.
But Keith said he will back his friend up at every turn and believes a lot of people are still behind the actor.
Keith had been competing for the chance to star in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s production of Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat when he met Barrowman, who was a judge on the show in 2007.
He was even compared to “a young John Barrowman” by fellow judge Denise Van Outen.
Despite losing out to Lee Mead, Keith has enjoyed a successful career as a stage actor.
And he credits Barrowman with helping him land his latest role in a production of Stephen Greenhorn’s hit Proclaimers musical Sunshine On Leith.
Keith said: “A lot of people think I look like John, funnily enough, and he has remained a very good friend ever since the programme.
“I’ve been over to America and I spend a lot of time with him. He’s been a great mentor in my life.
“He’s guided me along the way and has helped me do
stuff. He is one of the reasons I got Sunshine On Leith because he helped me with my audition for the play.
“I was in America with John when I did the audition for Sunshine On Leith and he helped me prepare for it and I’ve been on one of his tours.
“He has been a massive mentor in my life and has always been there for me.
“He has been an amazing friend ever since Any Dream Will Do.”
The pair are so close that Keith said he will be centre stage if he is ever to walk down the aisle.
He added: “If I ever get married, he’ll be one of my ushers. I’m not planning to get married at the moment. He doesn’t need to buy the tails yet but there’s a bond and an amazing friendship came out of that show.” Sunshine On Leith is on at the Pitlochry festival until June 2 before the play heads to Edinburgh ’ s K ing’s Theatre from June 7 to 18. It then returns to Pitlochry theatre from June 24 to October 1. Keith is thrilled to be part of it because he is a huge fan of the brothers who wrote the soundtrack. He said: “It’s an amazing show. It follows the lives of two lads who come out of the Army and settle back into family life in Leith.
“It’s about betrayal, family, friends, love and loss.
“I love The Proclaimers’ music. I’vee never been to see them but I was broughtt up on The Proclaimers when I wass younger.
“I watched the play years ago whenn it was first on the stage and when thee movie came out.
“It’s not just that the songs are fun. Thee lyrics are incredible. I can’t wait.”
And he’s happy with how his careerr has panned out since coming secondd on Any Dream Will Do.
He said: “I came runner up back in 2007.7. It was crazy.
“Everyone thinks it was yesterday butt it was a few years ago now. I couldn’t evenn grow a beard back then.
“Coming second was the right thingg for me. Five years after I did the show, I got to don the coat and the loincloth for Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
“Andrew Lloyd Webber is incredible. He is phenomenal, so intelligent and smart and full of ideas and it was great to work with him every day.”