Scots star John Barrowman says his “life and career” were ruined after accusations he had repeatedly exposed himself on the set of the BBC One sci-fi series Doctor Who and its sister show Torchwood.
Barrowman, 57, claims the last three years have been “devastating” and that he’s been “blackballed” from showbiz.
The former Dancing on Ice judge said he can’t get into a room for an audition since the allegations surfaced in 2021.
But he’s hoping the second leg of his Laid Bare tour will “catch people by surprise” and help revitalise his career.
Barrowman said he’s excited about returning to Wales next month for the shows, where fans will see a side of him previously unseen.
“For Laid Bare I really wanted to get around Wales and do some of the regional theatres and feel closer to the audience. Laid Bare is exactly that – we’re stripping it back. You’re going to be entertained, going to learn things about me you might not expect me to talk about. I think it will catch people by surprise a little bit. In the tradition of what I was brought up with in musical theatre when I can’t speak anymore I add a song to it which then helps express how I feel. It’s sort of stand-up with music. But it’s a bit of everything really. There is a question and answer session with the audience and they can ask anything they want to ask. I’ve had the most frivolous to really the hardest questions but I’ll answer them all.”
Following the flashing accusations, former I’m A Celebrity star, John said: “My high-spirited behaviour which was only ever intended in good humour to entertain colleagues on set and back stage has been well-documented, including in my autobiographies and even in song. There were a couple of times during filming where I’d resort to tomfoolery, but none of this was ever intended nor interpreted as being sexual in nature.
“With the benefit of hindsight, I understand that upset may have been caused by my exuberant behaviour and I have apologised for this previously. Since my apology in November 2008, my understanding and behaviour have also changed. At no point was I ever made aware of any sexual harassment, bullying, or sexually predatory behaviour on set.”
Despite his hopes that would be the end of it, Barrowman said many people who worked with him “turned their backs on him.
He told Wales Online: “I think I’ve been badly treated, definitely.”
“I’m disgusted at the way my Doctor Who and Torchwood family turned their backs on me – 99 per cent of the things that were said about me were bulls*** and I’m under the impression that the person who started it all, the journalists who ran with it and the online judge and jury who think they can say what they like, seem to have a privilege to ruin someone’s life and career. No-one was offended, no-one was upset. It was created by ‘a source’. It was crap.
“I ended up being good clickbait and it has lasted for three years. It’s been devastating – to the point I was blackballed. I can’t get into a room for an audition or a meeting anymore. That’s why I’ve decided to talk about it and lay it bare on stage because it’s quite disgusting how people have treated me. I have always been up front and honest and talked about everything and for people to take that and manipulate it is disgusting. Only the truth comes out of my mouth.”
He added: “If I was naked on set it’s because it was written into a script and if I was wiggling it or being stupid it was to make myself feel comfortable because I’m standing there stark b****** naked. And to be blunt, when I did that stuff, everyone came down from the office to watch it because they knew John Barrowman was naked on set.
“I wouldn’t do it now. I’d never do it now. It’s a different time. We’d now have coordinators to make everyone feel comfortable, including myself. I’d think about things more now. Sometimes rather than going back to my trailer I decided I’d stay naked on set so we could get the scene done quicker.”
Barrowman, who lives in Palm Springs with husband Scott Gill and his parents, said he’s still a big fan of Doctor Who.
“I’m not bitter. Bitter is very different to upset. I’m upset about what happened. I’m still a big fan of Doctor Who. I love watching it and I enjoy Torchwood too. That’ll never change because of what happened. I can still watch Dancing On Ice. I’m good friends with Colin Grafton and I loved watching The Vivienne. What was upsetting at the time when I left Dancing On Ice was only Ashley Banjo and Holly and Phil reached out to me at the time. No-one else did. There is a double standard in the industry which needs to be addressed I feel.
“I don’t think I’ll ever be at peace because I don’t think I deserved what happened to me. But I’m content with where I am at. I’ve seen a therapist. I’ve done everything I needed to but what I’ll never get over is how people turned their backs on me because I’m loyal.”
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