I Am What I Am, John Barrowman [smart ebook reader .txt] 📗

I Am What I Am

Praise for John’s first book, Anything Goes

‘Anything Goes is a refreshingly honest, funny and engaging read that hooks readers from the opening chapter.’

Woman’s Way

‘John Barrowman, the immensely likeable actor behind Captain Jack, has written his autobiography … Charmingly lurid, the book has the right saucy, sassy, somewhat overexcited quality for an afternoon on the sofa with a box of violet creams.’

Daily Telegraph

‘Multi-talented John Barrowman, the star of the Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood, tells of behind-the-scenes celeb high jinks, hilarious memories and the sometimes moving story of his two decades of work in the film, TV, music and theatre industry in this open and entertaining autobiography.’

The Herald

‘Charting his rise to superstardom from humble beginnings in Scotland to life in LA, Torchwood star John Barrowman reveals how he has become one of the best-loved stars of the stage and screen. Four stars.’

OK!

‘Gossipy, fun and endlessly entertaining, buy this out of curiosity, buy it for the insight into the worlds of stage and television, but most of all, buy it for his absolutely hilarious stories of a Glasgow childhood with a granny you’ll just adore.’

Daily Record

‘John Barrowman is on a bit of a roll at the moment. Everything he touches seems to turn to gold and his heartfelt autobiography is no exception … This is a charming read that really gives us insight into John Barrowman.’

Beige

I Am What I Am

JOHN BARROWMAN

with Carole E. Barrowman

Michael O’Mara Books Limited

First published in Great Britain in 2009 by Michael O’Mara Books Limited

9 Lion Yard

Tremadoc Road

London SW4 7NQ

This electronic edition published 2010

ISBN 978-1-84317-512-4 in EPub format

ISBN 978-1-84317-513-1 in Mobipocket format

Copyright © John Barrowman 2009, 2010

The right of John Barrowman to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All pictures courtesy of John Barrowman, and reproduced with his kind permission, apart from: Plate 27, Plate 31 & 32, Plate 34 © BBC.

With additional thanks to Ben Sayer (Plate 50, all but bottom); Rhys Livesy (Plate 50, bottom); Dan Hallman at Pearson Lyle Management (Plate 74, left); and Simon Turtle (Plate 74, right).

Every reasonable effort has been made to acknowledge all copyright holders. Any errors or omissions that may have occurred are inadvertent, and anyone with any copyright queries is invited to write to the publishers, so that a full acknowledgement may beincluded in subsequent editions of this work.

You may not copy, store, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Designed and typeset by E-Type

Plate section and cover designed by Ana Bjezancevic

Cover photography: Dan Hallman at Pearson Lyle Management

www.mombooks.com

Contents

Author’s Acknowledgements

1 ‘Promenade’

2 ‘We Are What We Are’

Table Talk #1: ‘You People Can’t Go in There’

3 ‘Where Do We Go From Here?’

4 ‘I Can Do That’

Table Talk #2: ‘We Have a Hostage Situation – Send in the Clowns’

5 ‘I Know Him So Well’

Table Talk #3: ‘Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang!’

6 ‘I’d Do Anything’

Table Talk #4: ‘There’s an Iguana in the Toilet and He’s Grinning at Me’

7 ‘Make the Dirt Stick’

Table Talk #5: ‘Blame It on the Flip-Flops … and the Harveys’

8 ‘Mr Saturday Night’

9 ‘Joints and Jam’

Table Talk #6: ‘Was That Captain Jack Racing a Rickshaw?’

10 ‘O Canada’

Table Talk #7: ‘Oh No, You Didn’t!’

11 ‘On the Road Again’

Table Talk #8: ‘Two Men and Their Dogs’

12 ‘A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square’

Table Talk #9: ‘Zaza, Elphaba, Tottie and Me’

13 ‘Destination Anywhere’

14 ‘I Am What I Am’

Table Talk #10: ‘Goodnight and Thank You’

Index

List of Plates

Author’s Acknowledgements

I’ve approached this book from a slightly different angle than the first one, Anything Goes. Rather than covering the panorama of my life, I’ve zoomed in on a few key events and experiences of the past few years, and sprinkled among them family stories that give you a chance to get a little closer to me. The brief vignettes scattered among the chapters are called ‘Table Talks’ – because when I was growing up, these more intimate, funny, quirky stories were the ones that made up the conversation at the Barrowman dinner table, as in, ‘That’s a story for table talk.’ When you turn the page and enter my house in Sully, you’ll see what I mean.

Wait! Not yet. This part’s important too. I’ll be quick.

Once again, Carole and I collaborated on this book and, once again, we have people to thank. We owe a great debt – to be repaid (we promise) in books, golf, shoes, purses and a slap-up meal or two – to Scott, Kevin, Clare (‘Oh, my, there’s a jewellery store’), Turner, and especially to our parents, John and Marion Barrowman (the Harveys and the Glenmorangies are on us, Mum and Dad). Our lives would be very boring and this book would be very short without each one of you. Both of us are grateful for your love, your support, and your sense of humour (even when it’s mocking us).

To Gavin Barker (aka Patricia), my manager and our friend – you’re the tops, and indispensable when it comes to remembering details and returning emails.

Hugs and kisses to the rest of Team Barrowman: Rhys Livesy, my personal assistant, and Michelle, Steven and Katie at Gavin Barker Associates.

We would like to sing the praises of everyone at Michael O’Mara Books, especially Alison Parker, Sarah Sandland, and our patient and stalwart editor, Kate Gribble – we owe you a karaoke night … or two, Kate.

Also thanks to Andrew, Dot, Andrew, Yvonne and Bridgett, and the Barrowmans in Scotland, for letting us share with the world how bloody barmy we all are.

Finally, and most importantly, this book is dedicated