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Jason Donovan | |
|---|---|
 Donovan performing at theHere and Now Tour in 2011 | |
| Born | (1968-06-01)1 June 1968 (age 57) Malvern, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, singer |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Television | |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3, includingJemma Donovan |
| Parent(s) | Terence Donovan (father) Sue Menlove (mother) |
| Relatives | Stephanie McIntosh (half-sister) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | Pop |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Labels | |
| Website | jasondonovan |
Musical artist | |
Jason Sean Donovan (born 1 June 1968) is an Australian actor and singer. He initially achieved fame in the Australian soapNeighbours, playingScott Robinson, before beginning a career in music. In 1988 Jason was signed to PWL and has sold estimated 3 million records. His debut albumTen Good Reasons was the highest-selling album in the UK in 1989, with sales of over 1.5 million. He has had four UK No. 1 singles. He has also appeared in several stage musicals, most prominently in the lead role ofJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in the early 1990s.
Jason Donovan was born on Saturday, 1 June 1968 in the Melbourne suburbMalvern, Victoria. He is the son of Australian actressSue McIntosh (née Menlove) and British-born veteran stage and television actorTerence Donovan (who also appeared inNeighbours) who has English and Irish heritage.[1][2] Following his parents' separation and divorce, his father was awarded full custody of him in 1973 and brought him up on his own.[3] He attendedDe La Salle College Malvern.
Donovan made his first television appearance at age 11 in a guest role on the Australian seriesSkyways in 1980.[4] In the episode, his on-screen sister was played by futureNeighbours co-starKylie Minogue. He also appeared in the seriesI Can Jump Puddles (1981) andGolden Pennies (1985),[4] before entering the cast ofNeighbours in 1986 asScott Robinson (replacing actorDarius Perkins, who had played the role for the first year of the series). His character's story arcs included anonscreen romance and wedding toCharlene Mitchell (played by Minogue), and helped boost the show's popularity with British as well as Australian audiences.
He won his firstLogie Award for "Best New Talent" in 1987 and received a commendation in the category "Performance by a Male Actor In a Series" from theTelevision Society of Australia'sPenguin Awards. In 1988 he was awarded the Silver Logie for the "Most Popular Actor" on Australian television.[5]
In addition to his regular role inNeighbours, Donovan appeared as "Happy Houston" in the 1988 AustralianWorld War II mini-seriesThe Heroes, based on the historical novel byRonald McKie. He won the 1990 Logie Award for "Most Popular Actor in a Mini-Series".[6]
Donovan leftNeighbours in 1989. Twenty years later, he said that he had been asked to return to tie in with the show's 25th anniversary in 2010, but was unable to do so due to other work commitments.[7]
While he was still appearing inNeighbours, Donovan followed Minogue (who had already left the series by this point) by pursuing a pop career. His early exploration of music included recording a demo written by pub rock bandNoiseworks, and he was offered the chance to record the song "Waiting for a Star To Fall", later a hit forBoy Meets Girl.[8]
However he followed Minogue by signing a recording contract withMushroom Records in Australia, and withPWL in the UK. Although the production team ofStock Aitken Waterman (SAW) initially resisted working with Donovan, fearing recording with a secondNeighbours star would be "too tacky", the trio quickly warmed to him, recording his first single, "Nothing Can Divide Us", after it was rejected byRick Astley.[9] The track was released in 1988, reaching number five in the UK and number three in Australia.[9]
Donovan's next single, a duet with Minogue, "Especially for You", was released in late November 1988. While the idea for a duet was at first rejected by SAW, who felt it too commercial, the producers changed their minds when retail chainWoolworths ordered 250,000 copies of the record.[10] Donovan agreed to the duet with Minogue without reservation, feeling it would be good for his career.[8] After spending four weeks at No. 2 in the UK, it hit No. 1 in January 1989. It was the fourth-highest selling single in the UK in 1988, and 17th in Australia for 1989. The track became SAW's biggest ever hit in the UK, ultimately selling in excess of one million copies.[10][11] The issue of UK pop magazineSmash Hits that featured Minogue and Donovan on the cover to promote the release also sold one million copies.[10] The song was accompanied by a widely noted image change for Donovan, who shed his trademarkNeighboursmullet for a contemporaryundercut.[10]
Donovan's next single, "Too Many Broken Hearts", reached number one in the UK in March 1989.[12] The singer said he initially had no idea the song would go on to be so successful, and thought it might just be an album track.[12] He confessed to at first being underwhelmed by the video, and was surprised by the ecstatic response it earned at his label.[8] However, he now regards the track as one of SAW's best songs, as well as being his defining hit.[12]
He released his début album,Ten Good Reasons, in May 1989, which also reached number one (for three weeks). For two weeks, Donovan held the number one positions in the singles chart and the albums chart simultaneously, when his next single, a cover ofBrian Hyland's "Sealed With a Kiss", entered the UK charts at number one.
In December 1989, he took part inBand Aid II's version of "Do They Know it's Christmas", which also included Minogue, whose exit fromNeighbours had by now been shown on screen in both Australia and the UK. His own exit from the show had by this stage been shown on Australian television, although it was not aired on British television until several months later.
Donovan released his second album,Between The Lines, in May 1990, again produced by Stock Aitken Waterman. He had greater creative input on the record, asking for more material that was within his range, after he struggled with some of the vocal requirements of certain songs on his debut album.[8] He has stated that he believes the album's consistent lyrical themes of heartbreak and relationship breakdowns were references by songwriters SAW to his then recent split from Kylie Minogue.[8]
Although the album reached Platinum status in the UK, it was less successful than his debut a year before, peaking at no. 2 and selling only a fifth as many copies. Assessing the performance of the album, Donovan concluded that while it was artistically a much stronger record than his debut album, he felt it was impossible to match the very high UK sales ofTen Good Reasons.[8]
Five singles were released from the second album, and although they all reached the UK Top 30, they also signalled a decline in his popularity. Between 1988 and 1992, Donovan garnered 16 Top 40 hit singles in the UK.
Speaking of the album's commercial performance, Donovan said: "Between the Lines wasn't the successful record thatTen Good Reasons was, but how do you match that?Ten Good Reason's was just a moment in time."[8] He also added that he accepted at the time that "every bubble has to burst", and he knew he'd have to prioritise evolving his career.[13]
Donovan then embarked on an extensive world tour in 1990, The "Doin' Fine Tour", against the wishes of his label, which wanted him available for promotional duties. The tour covered the UK, Ireland, mainland Europe, Australia, Singapore and other parts of South East Asia. The Dublin concert was recorded and released on VHS in 1990; and released on DVD in 2010.
While the decision to tour upsetPete Waterman and Donovan's record label, the singer credits the live shows with ensuring his longevity as a stage performer, afterAndrew Lloyd Webber attended one of the shows and was impressed with his performance.[13]
Donovan continued to act alongside his pop career, and in 1990 he appeared in his first feature film,Blood Oath (released in some countries asPrisoners of the Sun).
With his 1991 single "R.S.V.P." underperforming on the charts, and his wish to evolve his music towards a more adult,Happy Mondays-inspired sound rejected by Pete Waterman, Donovan was keen to find a new path forward.[14] Donovan's management felt a return to acting was a way to transition, as his "shelf life as a pop star was coming to an end."[14]
He accepted the lead role in the restagedLondon Palladium version ofJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, directed bySteven Pimlott. Donovan had his third solo UK No. 1 single with one of its songs, "Any Dream Will Do".[14] Donovan left the production in early 1992.
In 1992, Donovan launched alibel action againstThe Face magazine which had published allegations that he washomosexual. Donovan won £200,000 in damages and the magazine had to pay a further £100,000 in costs, but the lawsuit created a backlash with some people accusing him of beinghomophobic.[15] Although he had been a mild drug user who had smokedcannabis joints up until this point, in the months after his libel action Donovan began using cocaine.[16] In a 2007Marie Claire interview, and also in his 2007 autobiographyBetween The Lines: My Story Uncut, Donovan stated that suingThe Face was the biggest mistake of his life.[16]
Donovan moved toPolydor Records and released his third album,All Around The World (1993). The recording sessions had been fraught, with the record company unhappy with its initial production style, and Donovan's new theatrical singing style, requiring significant re-recording.[17] The album was unsuccessful, failing to reach the UK Top 20 and was not released at all in his native Australia. His contract with Polydor was not extended and it would be Donovan's last album for 15 years.
Donovan later admitted that by 1995 he had a serious drug problem, taking around three grams (1/10 oz) of cocaine a day. In early 1995, he attended modelKate Moss's 21st birthday party atThe Viper Room in Los Angeles, where he suffered a drug overdose.[18]
Later in 1995, Donovan starred in the Australian TV filmThe Last Bullet withKoji Tamaki, directed by Michael Pattison, which was set in World War II on the Pacific island ofBorneo.[citation needed]
In 1998, Donovan took the lead role ofDr. Frank N. Furter in the UK touring production ofThe Rocky Horror Show, where he met stage manager Angela Malloch.[19] After the pair had a brief relationship, Malloch became pregnant and gave Donovan an ultimatum that he had to stop using drugs if he wanted to be part of their child's life.[20][better source needed]
In late 1999, Donovan said that he still used cocaine, stating: "I still have a joint and I still take coke, but not as much as I did two years ago."[21] In 2011, he stated that he has been drug-free since 2000, the year his first child was born.[22]
Donovan's daughterJemma Donovan was born in March 2000. Since then, with his drug problems now under control, he continued to act on stage and television, and had a role in the medical-legal television dramaMDA (2003–05), on Australia'sABC network. Since 2003, Donovan has also lent his voice to theBuzz! series of quiz video games.[citation needed]
In late 2004, he was headlining in the stage musicalChitty Chitty Bang Bang at theLondon Palladium. He finished his original run on 13 March 2005, but was then invited back from June onwards to play in the final two months of the show, until its closure on 4 September 2005. Following this, he has toured the UK performing a few gigs and returned to the stage in January 2006 to star in a UK tour ofStephen Sondheim'sSweeney Todd. After this, he returned to Melbourne to star in David Eldrige's Australian transfer of the London dramaFesten.[citation needed]
Donovan took part inI'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in 2006 and finished in 3rd place. He took part in many Bushtucker Trials, which included wearing a helmet full of insects and playing a giant game ofOperation. Donovan lost out on the King of the Jungle Crown to Matt Willis. Despite his loss, during an interview onThe Steve Wright Show on BBC Radio 2 (January 2008), he said that his appearance onI'm a Celebrity... had revitalised his career.[citation needed]
Donovan performed a medley of songs fromJoseph along with other actors who have played the eponymous role (Donny Osmond andLee Mead) at theConcert for Diana in July 2007.[23]
In early 2008, Donovan had a role in ITV's post-watershed soap operaEcho Beach; the series was cancelled after 12 episodes. He also presentedSunday Night with Jason Donovan, a programme onThe One Network of British local radio stations.
On 25 September 2008, Donovan performed in the canteen at the head offices ofTesco inWelwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire. He was promoting his forthcoming album,Let It Be Me, which was released on 10 November 2008. The album, his first for 15 years, reached No. 28 in the UK.
In 2009, Donovan performed as Tick (Mitzi) in the London stage musical production ofPriscilla Queen of the Desert at thePalace Theatre. Also in 2009, Donovan began appearing in television commercials (withKerry Katona andColeen Nolan) for the frozen food supermarket chainIceland in the UK.[citation needed]
In September 2010, Donovan took part in the BBC television seriesWho Do You Think You Are?, tracing his family tree back several generations. Donovan's fifth studio album,Soundtrack of the 80s, was released in October 2010. The album is composed of cover versions of well known 1980s hits such as "Drive" (The Cars), "(I Just) Died in Your Arms" (Cutting Crew) and "Sign Your Name" (Terence Trent D'Arby) and several others. The same year, Donovan played the role of The Artilleryman in the 2010–2011 stage showJeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds. The show toured the UK and Europe, starting in November 2010 and finished in Germany in January 2011.[citation needed] Donovan also voiced the part of Toby the Kangaroo in the environmental animated filmAnimals United.
In February 2011, Donovan appeared on the BBC seriesReady, Steady, Cook. Later in 2011, he performed on theHere and Now Tour, and also toured in a production ofThe Sound of Music playing Captain Von Trapp. The production co-starredVerity Rushworth as Maria. From September 2011, Donovan took part in the ninth series of the BBC'sStrictly Come Dancing.[24] He was partnered with dancerKristina Rihanoff and finished third in the competition. Donovan presented avoice-tracked radio show onHeart each Sunday from 10 am to 12 noon. Donovan temporarily left the station in 2013[25]
In March 2012, Donovan released a new album ofcovers,Sign Of Your Love, which peaked at number 36 in the UK Albums Chart. In May 2012, Donovan was interviewed byPiers Morgan on theITV seriesPiers Morgan's Life Stories, in which he talked openly about his career, his past, his former relationship with Kylie Minogue, and his battle with drugs. During the interview, Donovan also said that he had undergonehair transplantation to counteract his thinning hair. In summer 2012, he appeared as a judge on ITV's talent search showSuperstar. In late 2012, Donovan again toured the UK and Europe in a new version ofJeff Wayne's War of the Worlds, this time playing Parson Nathaniel.
In 2013, Donovan reprised his role as Tick/Mitzi in the UK national touring production ofPriscilla, Queen of the Desert. On 5 May 2013, Donovan was heard narrating Pick TV's budget version ofRude Tube, entitledVideo Surf. Donovan said in January 2015 that he was invited to return toNeighbours for the show's 30th anniversary celebrations, but he declined the offer, adding "it's just not something I want to do".[26] However, he agreed to take part in the documentary specialNeighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite, which aired in Australia and the UK in March 2015.[27][28]
Since 2015, Donovan has presented Jason Donovan's 80s Rewind (known as All 80s from 2015 to 2017) onHeart Radio, which airs on Sunday evenings from 7 pm until 10 pm.[citation needed]
In 2016, Donovan toured the UK with hisTen Good Reasons and Greatest Hits Tour.
In 2017, Heart 80s Radio was launched and he began presenting Sunday Mornings from 9 am to 12 noon in addition to his 80s Rewind Sunday Evening Show on Heart. In December 2017 it was announced that in the new year Donovan would be taking his second break from his radio shows.[citation needed]
In summer 2019, Donovan returned to theLondon Palladium in a new production ofJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, this time playing the Pharaoh alongsideSheridan Smith as the Narrator andJac Yarrow as Joseph.[citation needed]
For Christmas 2020, Donovan was due to make hispantomime debut as The Evil Ringmaster inGoldilocks and the Three Bears at theBirmingham Hippodrome, however due to theCOVID-19 pandemic the panto was postponed to Christmas 2021.
In 2021, Donavan competed in thethirteenth series ofDancing on Ice, paired withAlexandra Schauman. However, he withdrew from the competition in week 6 due to a back injury.[29]
In July 2022, Donovan returned as Scott toNeighbours for a one-off cameo appearance (alongside Kylie Minogue as Charlene) for what was believed (at the time) to be the show's final ever episode.[30] Subsequently, Amazon announced that they had picked up the series for their Freevee streaming service, and Amazon started filming the revived series in April 2023.
From August 2024 Donovan started playing the role of Frank-N-Furter in a touring UK stage performance ofThe Rocky Horror Show.[31][32]
Donovan is married to Angela Malloch, with whom he has three children.[33] They live inwest London andOxfordshire.[34] Donovan's half-sister is formerNeighbours starStephanie McIntosh.[35] Although he is estranged from his mother, he is close with his maternal grandmother and other relatives.[36]
Donovan was the subject of an episode of the BBC TV seriesWho Do You Think You Are? on 30 August 2010 in which he discovered he is a descendant of the pioneerWilliam Cox, who built the first road across Australia'sBlue Mountains in 1814. Donovan confirmed he isJewish through his maternal great-grandmother, Eileen Dawson (née Lyons).[36]
Donovan was in a relationship withKylie Minogue from 1986 to 1989. They have remained friends after the breakup.[37]
| Year | Title | Format | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Skyways | TV series | Robin's Brother & Trevor Kirk |
| 1981 | I Can Jump Puddles | TV movie | Freddy |
| 1983 | Home | TV series | Unknown |
| 1985 | Golden Pennies | TV series | Sean |
| 1986–1989, 2022 | Neighbours | TV series | Scott Robinson |
| 1989 | The Heroes | TV mini-series | Happy Huston |
| 1990 | Prisoners of the Sun | Film | Private Talbot |
| Shadows of the Heart | TV movie | Alex Fargo | |
| 1991 | Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat | TV special | Joseph |
| 1993 | Galleria | Short film | Duane |
| 1995 | The Last Bullet | TV movie | Stanley Brennan |
| Rough Diamonds | Film | Mike Tyrell | |
| 1996 | The Sun, the Moon and the Stars | Film | Pat |
| 2000 | Sorted | Film | Martin |
| 2002 | Tempe Tip | Film | Max |
| 2002–2003 | MDA | TV series | Richard Savage |
| 2003 | Horseplay | Film | Henry |
| Ned | Film | Father Thompson | |
| 2004 | Loot | TV movie | Jon Peregrine |
| 2005 | Vietcong 2 | Video game | Australian Officer |
| 2005–2010 | Buzz! | Video game series | Buzz |
| 2008 | Iracing.com | Video Game | Default Spotter |
| Echo Beach | TV series | Daniel Marrack | |
| 2010 | Animals United | Film | Toby (voice) |
| 2011 | Evil Calls (The Legend of Harrow Woods) | Video film | Gary |
| Back2Hell | Video film | Gary | |
| 2012 | PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale | Video game | Buzz |
| 2014 | Boj | TV series forCBeebies | Pops (voice) |
| Watch Dogs - The Suspect Man | Mission: Big Brother | ||
| 2019 | Dial M for Middlesbrough | TV series | Darren |
| 2021 | Not Going Out | TV series | Prince Charming |
| 2025 | Emmerdale | TV series | Himself |
The Australian Entertainment Mo Awards (commonly known informally as theMo Awards), were annual Australian entertainment industry awards. They recognise achievements in live entertainment in Australia from 1975 to 2016. Jason Donovan won one award in that time.[38]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result (wins only) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Jason Donovan | Australian Showbusiness Ambassador | Won |
