Doctor Who actor John Barrowman is releasing an album called ‘Music Music Music’.

The record is released on November 24 and features songwriting contributions from Take That’s Gary Barlow, including first single ‘What About Us’, out November 17.

Barrowman has played Captain Jack Harkness in Doctor Who and spin-off ‘Torchwood’ as well as pursuing a career in musical theatre, performing on both Broadway and the West End.

‘Music Music Music’ follows Barrowman’s debut, 2007’s ‘Another Side’.

source: http://livejournal.com/community/ohnotheydidnt

Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has been voted as the ‘Ultimate Gay Icon’, pushing Kylie Minogue to second place. The Manchester United player was revealed to be the favourite after the results of a poll of 3,000 gay men were revealed by a website.

“Ronaldo’s ripped body, slicked-back hair, shiny white teeth and jewellery swung the votes his way,” the Sun quoted a spokeswoman for www.gaygolddiggers.uk.com as saying. “He looks like any gay man or woman’s dream. What with being Footballer of the Year, scoring 42 goals last season and former girlfriends saying he is talented off the pitch, he seems to have everything going for him,” she added.

Wizard Of Oz screen legend and singer Judy Garland came out third, while English pop singer and pianist Elton John and Liza Minnelli rounded off the top five.

The Top 10 ‘Ultimate Gay Icons’ are: 1. Cristiano Ronaldo, 2. Kylie Minogue, 3. Judy Garland, 4. Elton John, 5. Liza Minnelli, 6. The Village People, 7. David Beckham, 8. George Michael, 9. John Barrowman and 10. Paul O’Grady.

In issue 8 of Torchwood magazine, Russell T Davies revealed that the title for the five part story which makes up Torchwood Series 3 will be called Torchwood: Children of Earth. It has not yet been confirmed if the episodes will have seperate titles or the episodes will have the same title. Confirmed to be in the series is John Barrowman (Captain Jack), Eve Myles (Gwen Cooper), and Gareth David-Llyod (Ianto Jones) and there are rumours of Noel Clarke (Mickey Smith) and Freema Agyeman (Martha Jones) also starring. The five part mini series, Children of the Earth will air next spring, a date TBA

Despite having a shortened upcoming third season, episodes of Torchwood continue to be made. This next one, however, will be on the radio rather than television. The episode is called “Lost Souls” and was written by Joseph Lidster.

The episode takes place after the season two finale “Exit Wounds.” It will star the surviving members of that slaughter played by the actors John Barrowman, Eve Myles, and Gareth David-Lloyd. Freema Agyeman will also appear in the episode as former Doctor Who companion Martha Jones.

I managed to get my hands on a few of the Doctor Who audio adventures put out by Big Finish Productions and have enjoyed them tremendously (particularly since they give me a chance to hear what Paul McGann would have been like as the Doctor had he continued in the role). With that in mind, I’m looking forward to what an audio adventure of Torchwood has to offer.

The episode will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on September 10th.

Doctor Who writer Russell T Davies is among a host of famous names appearing at this year’s Cheltenham Literature Festival, organisers have announced.

He will be joined by Torchwood star John Barrowman in a discussion about the hit sci-fi shows.

Dawn French will talk about her life as a comedy star, while actress Julie Walters will unveil her life story.

The literary festival is due to take place in the Gloucestershire spa town from 10-19 October.

source: bbc.co.uk

Andrew Lloyd Webber, who celebrated his 60th birthday March 22, will belatedly mark the occasion publicly Sept. 14 with an all-star gala outdoor concert that will be held in London’s Hyde Park. The 6 PM concert is entitled Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Birthday in the Park.

John Barrowman, who starred in the West End and Broadway runs of Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard (in which he took over the role of Joe Gillis) as well as in the West End production of The Phantom of the Opera (in which he played Raoul), will host the evening.

The concert will feature performances by Steve Balsamo (Jesus Christ Superstar in the West End and Broadway), Duncan James (Chicago in the West End), Lee Mead (currently playing the title role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), Idina Menzel (Wicked in the West End and Broadway), Elaine Paige (original Eva Peron in Lloyd Webber’s Evita and original Grizabella in Cats, who also took over as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard in the West End and on Broadway), Rhydian (”X-Factor”), Joss Stone, Julian Lloyd Webber (the composer’s brother, and a classical cello player), Hayley Westenra, stars of BBC One’s “I’d Do Anything” and the 100-voice Crouch End Festival Chorus. They will be accompanied by the 70-piece BBC Concert Orchestra.

The evening’s repertoire is set to include the following songs: “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “I Don’t Know How To Love Him,” “Another Suitcase in Another Hall,” “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,” “Memory,” “Pie Jesu,” “Music of the Night,” “All I Ask of You,” “Love Changes Everything,” “No Matter What,” “As If We Never Said Goodbye” and “Any Dream Will Do.”

The concert, for which tickets are £25, will close with a fireworks finale.

The concert will be recorded and subsequently broadcast on Radio 2’s “Friday Night Is Music Night” on Oct. 10.

source: playbill.com

Hey everyone!  I just added scans of John from the August issue of Attitude to the gallery:

To think of Torchwood as simply a spin-off of Doctor Who would be doing both the show and the people behind it a huge disservice. True, it does inhabit the same fictional universe as its parent series, but that would be where the similarities end. Torchwood is decidedly a much more adult narrative, certainly darker, but that may not mean what you think it does. Over the next couple of days we will be presenting two conversations with the creators and cast of the series. First up is a couple of interviews with John Barrowman (Captain Jack Harkness) and Gareth David-Lloyd (Ianto Jones), whose characters have a relationship that arguably forms the heart of the show. I literally stumbled into these interviews while on the convention floor and they focus mainly on each actor’s view of their characters’ relationship with each other and their thoughts on the success of Torchwood in America.

John Barrowman

PCZ: How do you feel about the reception of Torchwood in the States?

JB: I’m totally ecstatic about it and overwhelmed and excited. We had no idea that was going to happen. It’s actually turned out that Torchwood is more popular than Doctor Who, which is really cool.

PCZ: Are you pleased with the way that the relationship between Jack and Ianto has been handled in the show and progressed?

JB: Yeah. We haven’t really thought about how to handle it, we’ve just done it because - I guess I’m speaking on behalf of the writers here - because we don’t look at that as being something wrong or out of line. We don’t look at it as being off or weird. So, It’s how the public accepts it and they’ve totally accepted it. Women, actually, are the ones who want to see more of it.

PCZ: I think it goes a long way as to how you guys have handled it in the show. You haven’t made it gratuitous or…

JB: No, you’re right, that’s absolutely the way it is.

PCZ: Will we see it continue in series three?

JB: I hope so.

PCZ: Excellent. Considering Jack is from the 51st Century and is now immortal, do you think perhaps the relationship with Ianto keeps him grounded and focused on the little people and what’s going on?

JB (thinks for a moment): I guess it…yeah! It probably does. It brings out the “human” in him, it brings out more of the empathy because he’s actually fallen for someone and he really cares about somebody. So, it’s really great and I think that’s what makes him warm to other people. It makes him more approachable.

PCZ: Will we ever, in Torchwood, get to Jack’s missing two years?

JB: You might, you might.

PCZ: Keep watching?

JB: Yeah, keep watching, but there are other things you’ll get to with Jack.

PCZ: What was your reaction when you found out that Jack was destined to become the Face of Boe?

JB: I was so excited. David Tennant and I jumped up screaming. It was probably the most excitable moment we had during the shooting of that series of Doctor Who. It was amazing.

PCZ: How’s everything going with your book?

JB: Really well. It was twelve weeks in the number one bestseller list in the UK and it’s been released here and it’s selling out in bookstores everywhere. It’s great.

PCZ: In 2010 for series five of Doctor Who if they want you back are you willing to return?

JB: I’ll always come back to the TARDIS to help out the Doctor. Jack will always be at the Doctor’s side, no matter who he is.

PCZ: Well, thank you very much for your time.

JB: Thank you very much, I appreciate it.

Gareth David-Lloyd

PCZ: What is your reaction to the reception of Torchwood in America?

GDL: Overwhelming and very flattering. It’s been tremendous really. I did a panel yesterday and the ballroom was just absolutely packed and it was a really good, positive feeling.

PCZ: You start filming series three soon. Where do we find Ianto at the beginning of series three having lost a couple of friends and also having helped save the universe?

GDL: Well, we’re going to find the team much more vulnerable then they were before. They’ve got two of the most important team members missing, so they’re weaker and between you and me - (glances at the recording device) well, it won’t be just between you and me (laughter). This can go on the record! Episode one, I’ve read it, and it’s just full of thrills and spills, high action and the stakes are a lot higher.

PCZ: We understand it’s going to be five episodes over five nights.

GDL: Yeah, absolutely. One big story.

PCZ: How was it getting to finally be in Doctor Who?

GDL: Amazing. I mean, I grew up with the Sylvester McCoy Doctor. I was eleven, a kid, so, eventually to get to be in it and fire a gun at a Dalek - fantastic.

PCZ: Much like you probably did as a kid.

GDL: Yeah, absolutely.

PCZ: What else have you been working on between series of Torchwood?

GDL: I’ve done some audios. I did another series shot in Cardiff [Editor's note - unfortunately, the audio dropped out for a second here and we missed the title of the series. We are researching and will include it as soon as possible.]. There’s really not a huge amount of time to do anything else as it [Torchwood] takes up seven months of the year. You only really have time for a couple of one-off episodes and before you know it you’re back filming again. It sort of takes you out of the loop as far as auditioning for things that overlap with the filming schedule.

PCZ: I think it’s fantastic how Torchwood has handled the relationship with Jack and Ianto. It’s handled pretty normal, not making a huge thing of it. Have you been pleased about the way it’s progressed?

GDL: Absolutely. It’s sort of one of the key character elements of the show, especially for the fans. There’s a lot of fan fiction out there with Jack and Ianto. I think they [fans] connect with them and empathize with them and it’s great, even young people from both sexes.

PCZ: I asked John this as well, Jack being from the 51st Century and being immortal and maybe kind of being in a mindset above everything, do you think that the relationship with Ianto keeps him grounded and aware of the little people?

GDL: Absolutely. I think Ianto’s always made him care and that is really the heart of the show. Ianto’s always bearing his emotional side and vulnerable side and keeping his feet on the ground. I think of all the characters, he’s the one who tries to keep everyone else’s feet on the ground. He brings everyone back to reality, often with a dry, witty remark or taking a dig at somebody just to sort of bring people back down.

PCZ: Well, thank you very much for your time.

GDL: No problem, you’re welcome.

THE winner of the search to find Nancy for the new West End production of Oliver! is the latest star to join the Faenol Festival line-up.

Jodie Prenger will join John Barrowman, one of the judges who voted for her on the BBC’s I’ll Do Anything, for the musicals gala at the Faenol Estate on August 24.

Bryn Terfel said: “This year’s musical theatre gala brings an incredible line-up of West End stars together - she is a welcome addition.”

After winning the role of Nancy, Prenger will perform alongside Rowan Atkinson, who plays Fagin, and Burn Gorman from BBC Wales series Torchwood, as love interest Bill Sikes.

Boyzone will open this year’s four-day Faenol Festival on August 22. There will also be an opera gala and the annual Tan y Ddraig concert, featuring the best of Welsh language rock and pop.

source: redorbit.com

Starting next week BBC One begins a short series of programmes in which three celebrities go on a mission to discover the source of their defining trait, talent or characteristic. What is it that makes them tick? That gives them what they need to be who they are? Combining science, psychology, brain scans and genetics, they attempt to answer the question we’ve all asked at one time or another: how have we been shaped by nature and nurture?

In the first programme, John Barrowman embarks on a journey of self-discovery to find out the truth about his sexuality. John is a successful actor, musical performer, dancer, singer and TV presenter. For as long as he has been aware of his sexuality, John has been convinced that he was born gay and firmly believes that homosexuality is not a choice. But did nature really mould him or did nurture have a part to play?

John undertakes a series of tests including a DNA examination that is compared with his straight brother’s, and he takes to the streets of LA to try out a theory that the origin of homosexuality is linked to events in the womb that may affect the foetus.

Throughout the programme, as well as picking up clues from psychologists and scientists, John also meets some celebrities and extraordinary people who help shed light on the origins of their traits. He’s also beginning to realise that as a high-profile actor in shows such as Doctor Who and Torchwood, he has a role to play in helping young people come to terms with their sexuality. He has said recently that he hopes the programme will also be watched by the parents of gay youngsters.

source: tvscoop.tv