Everybody just wants to put the last two years behind them
John Barrowman tells MARION McMULLEN he’s ready to move on from his flashing controversy and sing again
How has it been for you dealing with flashing claims made last year that you exposed yourself when you were working on the set of Doctor Who in the past?
Really I’m over it. I’m past it. People who know me know it is all bull **** and I’m ready to move on. It’s been like a pack of hyenas wanting to tear the flesh from my bones. People getting involved who know nothing about it and weren’t there. It has been a difficult time for me the last year, the last nine months, to be honest and I want to move it on.
If people cannot take a joke any more then that’s their problem.
The people who were there and around me at the time laughed at it and never thought it was sexual at all.
Do you regret it all?
It happened 15 years ago and it was silly behaviour that I would never do again.
I never made a big secret about anything. I’ve told stories about what happened on set in interviews for years.
I feel now like I have been thrown under the bus and people have taken just one piece of my life.
They are the real bullies and have the problem, and the issues, and they probably should go out and get therapy. All these sort of things happen all the time, but for some reason a few people just wanted to attack me for something I did as a joke.
Has it been difficult for your family?
My family and friends have just been so supportive and my fans. But my fan base, myself and family members have been attacked online as well.
Some of the accounts mention things that never actually happened. They weren’t there. There are a lot of secrets in my industry.
Everyone has secrets, something in their past that has never come out. I’ve always been up front about that sort of thing.
Are you excited venues are opening again and you can take your I Am What I Am tour on the road?
I’m so pleased shows are coming back and pleased for everyone in the West End. Doors are opening. My husband Scott and I went to see a show every night when we were in London in support of the theatre.
I want to go back on tour just to see people’s faces again, to sing, to do what I do.
I was OK financially during the pandemic, but it’s been hard for a lot of people in the industry and we took in friends to live with us who had lost their jobs. We just opened up our house and helped people the best way we could.
I think everyone just wants to put the last two years behind them – to get back to normal, to get the vaccine. Performances are vital to people’s mental health. It’s emotional watching theatre, it changes you, and I feel it’s really important people feel safe about returning and go out and watch a show.
I have never done a tour like I Am What I Am. It focuses on my musicals generally from Miss Saigon and Sunset Boulevard to Aspects Of Love and tells my story.
I am also going to be singing iconic female songs from the musicals. (Laughs) There are a lot of songs to fit in.
I’m also working on a musical theatre album.
Someone once said, ‘Do you realise how many names you have just dropped?’ and I said ‘But you’ve got to understand I have worked with so many great people – Andrew Lloyd Webber, Trevor Nunn, Sondheim, Sam Mendes’.
It’s hard not to drop names.
Any musicals you are still yearning to do?
There are lots of shows I’d love to do. Mack And Mabel some day.
When I did Albin in La Cage aux Folles I thought I was too young, but they said ‘John we wrote that part for someone of your age’.
You’re shortly going to be seen hosting ITV’s All Star Musicals with Elaine Paige heading up the panel of mentors. How long have you known Elaine?
She gave me my big break in 1989 in the Cole Porter musical Anything Goes and we’ve been friends ever since. She calls me ‘Her boy’.
(Laughs) I’m probably too old to be called that now. I’ve just turned 55 – what we call a double nickel birthday in the States.
Elaine recently came to LA and stayed with us.
She’s always been there for me for advice and if I want to call for anything. She’s very supportive... and has the most infectious giggle. You can’t help but join in.
[Elaine Paige] calls me ‘Her boy’. I’m probably too old to be called that now John Barrowman
The I Am What I Am tour runs visits Symphony Hall, Birmingham, on May 18.