I'D RATHER JACK!

John Barrowman is Captain Jack Harkness

What’s it like being back in the world of Doctor Who?

It’s amazing. If I’m asked, I will always go back at the drop of a hat. When I did the first episode [in season 12], I knew I was going to be in the festive episode. I knew the storyline of part of that before I knew what I was doing in the series. The thing that’s brilliant for me as the person who plays him, because I know him so well, is how he reacts to these new people on the TARDIS – because the one thing he does know is they’re there for the Doctor, they’re there because they love the Doctor and they love the adventure. So therefore he has an immediate connection with them – there’s not a battle or anything untoward that happens.

Will Jack finally get to meet the Thirteenth Doctor?

I’m not gonna tell you how they meet. But they do meet. That’s one thing, I think, that everybody’s waiting for. When you watch this, it’s going to be an epic rollercoaster ride of emotion – it’s going to be one of the biggest. There’s going to be a lot of happiness, a lot of sadness, there’s going to be surprises, there’s going to be excitement. And that’s one of the moments, when Jack meets 13. But I’m not going to tell you how…

What’s it like being on set with another Doctor?

It was amazing working with Jodie – we had a laugh. It was really interesting for me to see how the show had developed and was different from what it was when it was being led by somebody else. She leads it now, and she did a great job. It was actually a great team atmosphere, which is very Doctor Who-esque, a family atmosphere.

What was the most notable difference, coming back?

Well, number one, I’m older – look [points at impressive mane of grey hair]. We had to colour it. I think if ever he did come back, I’d love to do it with the grey hair and work it into the story that something scared the crap out of him. The Cybermen could try to convert him and make him silver!

What about the rest of the fam?

I’ve known Bradders for a long time – years and years. So he and I had rapport right away. Mandip said to me, “You’re iconic in our world, because you’re Captain Jack, and you’re one of the biggest characters, and to have you here is just incredible”. I remember at one point, when we were doing a sequence that involved a villain, my reaction was like [reacts big]. Tosin looked at me and he went, “Do we have to match that energy?” And I’m like, “Yes!” [laughs] I learned a couple of dance moves from Tosin. I’d be doing my to-camera lines, and they were all off-camera and they would be dancing.

You didn’t meet her on Who, but you have worked with Jo Martin…

I was on the set of Holby City, and Jo Martin and I had a little scene together. I asked the writers and producers, “Can I call her ‘Doctor’?” and I did the Jack salute. She said, “If nobody else gets it, my son, he loves you, he will get it”. So I did that. I looked at her when we were done with the conversation in the scene. She said, “You understand?” and I went [salutes] “Aye aye Doctor” and I walked away!

What else can you tell us about the festive special?

This is an episode where you need to sit down and get yourself prepared, because it is going to be shocking. There’s going to be some very big surprises. And there’s also going to be some, yes, sad things happening. It’s almost like they’ve gone to a retro feel for this with the epic feel of it.