Anything Goes

I've just finished motoring through John Barrowman's autobiography Anything Goes, which hits bookshops on 24 January (Michael O'Mara books, £18.99). It's a breezy read, full of well-honed theatrical anecdotes and fond childhood reminiscences, and there isn't a huge amount about his time on Doctor Who and Torchwood.

For Barrowman fans, here are a few facts I gleaned from my reading:

* He’s got a phobia about having his face or neck touched, which is a bit tricky for make-up artists - they have to distract him with magazines and treats.

* He came out to his family in 1992, and none of them were remotely surprised.

* He’s got an allergy to shellfish. Because of it, he once pooed his pants on stage 20 seconds before the curtain rose...

* His favourite classic Doctor Who story is “Terror of the Autons”.

* He found Christopher Eccleston more "angsty" than David Tennant - no surprise there!

* On the Torchwood set, Burn Gorman is nicknamed “Binny Bots”, and Naoko Mori is “Ping Pong Buckaroo”.

* As a kid, he once accidentally munched on a load of hash brownies, which made watching Scooby Doo a whole lot more interesting...

* He was an extra in The Untouchables. You need to be pretty eagle-eyed to spot him, though.

* He’s never done it with a lady.

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