JACK'S BACK

Scots actor John Barrowman returns to Doctor Who and he couldn't be happier working with his neighbour
By Brian Mciver
WITH eyes shinier than a Cyberman's energy bolt and a smile wider than Tom Cruise, John Barrowman is used to being the centre of attention.
The Torchwood actor is never off the telly, is the most in-demand stage performer in the country and is negotiating a record deal. And he's one of the most popular guests on just about every chat, talent and even cookery show around.
But if the dashing 40-year-old has to share the limelight with anyone, he's just glad it's his favourite neighbour.
The Glasgow-born actor is preparing to step back from his lead role in Torchwood to rejoin the cast of Doctor Who next month.
And he said that even though returning to the programme that made his name as heroic alien-buster Captain Jack Harkness meant stepping back from the Torchwood spotlight, he was delighted to be teaming up with his countryman - and neighbour - David Tennant.
Both series are filmed in Cardiff by the same production team and the Scots boys live in the same block of flats in the city centre.
So by the time they began filming earlier this year, they had already become firm friends, even if their bizarre mixture of Scottish, English and American accents confused some of their neighbours.
John is also a judge on the BBC talent show Any Dream Will Do and said fitting that in with Torchwood and Doctor Who was keeping him busier than he's ever been, but he's loving every minute.
"I have no free time at the moment," he said. "I have no time to do anything, but that's by choice because I love the work I do, and it's actually fun and pleasurable.
"I'm not one of those actors who goes: 'Oh my God, I can't turn it off'. "I just like being on television. "There's a lot of John in Captain Jack and there's a lot of Captain Jack in John. He's a great character.
"It's brilliant writing by Russell and the other team of writers. I've been given a gift.
"I've been handed a part on a platter. It's just great getting up in the morning and doing it every day."
John's new series of Torchwood will be screened later this year, but he's back in the Tardis next month.
THERE he will make his first appearance with David, having previously worked with Christopher Ecclestone in the first of the revived Doctor Who series.
"David is a bit more fun and he laughs a lot more, while Christopher was very serious," said John. "And David and I have socialised prior to working together.
"It's different because when I go back into Doctor Who, I'm one of three, whereas in Torchwood, I'm No. 1. When I go back to Doctor Who, I have to readjust and do things differently because Jack is not the leader, he's just part of a team.
"Jack is the brawn in that organisation, whereas in Torchwood, he's the brain and the brawn.
"I can't tell you anything about the plot, but with Doctor Who coming up, Jack will return to Torchwood.
"A lot will be revealed about that, and the audience will love what they hear about Jack.
"And then when he comes back to Torchwood, the only thing I can tell you is that, without giving too much away, Jack will not be as angry or as dark this time.
"He's a bit more fun than he was before."
One of the unusual things about the friendship between the two sci-fi Scots is their accents.
Paisley-born and bred Tennant has a broad Scots voice off screen but plays the Time Lord as an eccentric Englishman.
John was raised in Illinois after emigrating when he was eight, and switches effortlessly between his American accent and his Scottish brogue, which he naturally starts speaking in the company of, or on the phone to, other Scots.
"What's really strange is that Captain Jack always speaks to the Doctor as an American and David spoke to me in English," said John.
"But when we come off set, David spoke to me in Scottish, and I would go into Scottish.
"But I'd then feel weird because I was thinking I would need to talk to him in American, so I would end up talking to him in what I call a 'w****r mid-Atlantic' accent.
"And he would look at me and go: 'What are you speaking?' So now I just speak to David in a Scottish accent. We've got two Scots boys leading the forefront of two iconic British TV series and there's nothing wrong with that."
In addition to saving the world with his Paisley pal, John is also one of the best-loved musical theatre figures in the country.
After helping Andrew Lloyd Webber pick an actress for the Sound Of Music in last year's How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?, he is now judging Any Dream Will Do, the search for a new leading man to take over in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
AND after working his way to the top in the theatreland, he hopes the contestants realise just what an opportunity they have.
"They are being handed a career on a platter," he said.
"There are friends of mine who are working their butts off trying to get into shows and are struggling.
"These boys need to realise they have been given a gift.
"It is an incredible group of people and I'm not just saying that because I'm on it.
"Bill Kenwright has produced more West End shows than any other producer, and Andrew is the most prolific composer of musical theatre in the world.
"To be able to be judged and be looked at by Andrew Lloyd Webber on a weekly basis is incred
"There are some people who try out for Lloyd Webber shows and don't see him in an audition. And these boys are working with him every week.
"I've worked my ass off in the business, and for me a working actor is a successful actor.
"I came into the business to work as an actor. I didn't come into it to be a celebrity, but I love it.
"I don't understand all the celebs who go: 'Oh, I hate being famous and I don't like using the word celebrity'.
"I just think: 'Well, s****w you'. It's wonderful, and the public have put me here and I'm so grateful and thankful to them. I just like being on television.
"I love theatre, and I will go back to the stage. I've been offered about 10 West End shows in the last year but can't fit them in. But I will go back to it."
One thing the versatile singer won't be doing is entering the pop charts.
Recent reports that he had launched plans to start a pop career are untrue, but he did admit to having talks with a record company about albums deals.
"I am in negotiations with a record company, talking about record deal and a possible four albums," he said.
"I am not going to be a pop star. I am not going to release a pop single.
"But I will, as I have always done, release albums relating to things thatldo.
"A mixtures of show tunes, covers and new stuff, but am not releasing a pop single."
'I've been handed a part on a platter. It's just great getting up and doing it every day'
'David is a bit more fun and he laughs a lot more while Christopher was serious'