Interview: John Barrowman on "Glee" Rumors, His New UK Show, Having Kids and More!

In the UK, traditionally the most successful television stars have been those that could ‘do it all’. In fact, until not too long ago, to even get on the BBC, you had to be able to dance, sing, act and present – complete with a smile and a well executed catchphrase.

John Barrowman is one of the few current celebrities that could still lay claim to the job description of ‘Entertainer’ in this great British tradition. He has A-list acting credits under his belt with Doctor Who, Torchwood and Desperate Housewives. He has a musical theater pedigree having performed in West End shows as well as joining Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber as a judge on reality shows searching for the next ‘Joseph’ and ‘Maria.’

Most Brits grew up watching him present various light entertainment shows and of course there have also been the top 40 albums, best-selling memoirs and entries in AfterElton.com’s Hot 100 as well his second place finish in the Gay/Bi Men of the Decade. Quite frankly Bruce Forsyth has been a hopeless under achiever in comparison.

Next on Barrowman’s Curriculum Vitae is the second series of BBC Scotland’s primetime Saturday night entertainment show Tonight’s The Night which started airing this past Saturday.

We caught up with John as he spent the day in his birth-land of Glasgow and grilled him on the new show, going to British Prime Minister David Cameron’s big gay party, those Glee rumors and of course Torchwood.

AfterElton.com: Tell us a bit about your new show - Tonight is the Night starting on BBC One Scotland this Saturday?
John Barrowman: Well, in a nutshell we make people’s lifelong wishes come true. We have everything from people getting the chance to perform on Broadway to competing against their favorite sports star and we take it to a Saturday night performance level.

AE: How did you choose what people were to appear on the show?
JB: When I was out in L.A. we filmed a snippet that aired on the BBC asking people to write in and nominate people to take part. Most of the contestants were nominated by friends and family or work colleagues and they only found out they had been chosen for the show then I revealed it to them dressed up in full hair and make-up disguises.

Some of the things we do with them are very funny and some are very heart-warming and the people often don’t know exactly what is going to happen to them. There was a lady who thought she was just going to come to the studio to sing a song in front of the nation who ended up doing a duet with West End star Lee Mead.

AE: Were there any there any particular stories this series that touched you most?
JB: I would like to give you the full ins and outs of them but I don’t want to spoil it! There are so many amazing stories, for instance a mum-of-three who devotes herself to charity work gets to duet with Michael Bolton. At times I get quite emotional in front of the camera.

AE: When you were younger what dream would you have asked to be fulfilled?
JB: Without sounding sycophantic I am living my dream now. What I am living in my life is what I dreamt about when I was a kid – to be able to do what I do in television, drama, singing and dancing. When I was eight-years-old there was a show on British television called Opportunity Knocks and one night I saw Lena Zavaroni perform and all I wanted to be was Lena.