John Barrowman

(On Birmingham where he performed his panto "Robin Hood") John: I love Birmingham, I think the best thing about it is its people. And it has such diversity. Where else can you be in Chinatown one moment and Little India, as I call it, the next?

(On his 2008 panto "Robin Hood" before the start of its run) John: I am thrilled to be returning to the Birmingham Hippodrome this Christmas in a production full of surprises and packed with entertainment for all ages. I am particularly looking forward to taking on Titan - with my experience of battling futuristic baddies, I don't think it'll prove much of a problem!

(Apologizing for exposing himself in radio in December 2008) John: I was on a radio show on Sunday evening which I was told was going to be fun and edgy and I went on and was fun and edgy and I took it a step too far. I don't know if there was a (webcam) - the webcam apparently was not on. I made a mistake, I learned from that mistake and it's been a difficult week. But that's it. Move on, get on with it. I apologise in that sense if I offended anyone - I put an apology out so my mistake, my bag, let's move on.

(On the Republicans in America anti-gay sentiments and especially responding to things Anne Coulther has said) John: What gives them the right to say that I should not have the same rights as she does. I do exactly the same things as she does. She puts a dick in her mouth, she goes down on her husband and her husband probably goes down on her. Like I do it to my partner, right? What's the difference? There's no difference. I do it with a man, she does it with a man, so we have a lot in common.

(On being a little sexually charged on telly) John: The programs I go on, where I get a little saucy, are adult programs after the hours of nine o'clock, now if someone puts that on YouTube and it's accessible, that's not my problem. I am very aware of that but I always say to people who do things and say things about me, 'Please remember that my nieces and nephews read this stuff about me, please remember that other children read this.'

(On his being so busy and never out of work) John: I could lie to you and say it's been a struggle, but I've never had to struggle. I've worked very hard but I've never had to wait tables. I've always created work for myself because I treat myself as a business. I'm the product and although I'm still human and personable, I know that I have to promote myself and create work for myself.

(On his good looks) John: I know I'm not ugly, I'm not going to lie to you and say I don't know that. All I can say is I know I'm not ugly. I see flaws in myself, I have my problems like everyone else. But ya, I know when I get up, when I walk on stage, I have the face for a camera. So I'm not going to be one of those people who go, 'I don't think I'm good looking. I don't know what people see.' I may have said that in the past, but I would never say that now.

(Jesting - or was he? - about the kind of toys could be developped from "Torchwood") John: We can't make Torchwood toys. We can't market to children because it's an adult show. Maybe we could do Torchwood sex toys. I will suggest it.

(Responding to an interviewers doubts about "Torchwood" series 3) John: It's going to be a different feel because we're doing five days. Julie (Gardner) wants to make an impact on BBC1, and in order to do that we need to do a really exceptional episodic piece. Every episode is just going to be like a punch in the face. It'll be exciting, dramatic and tragic all at the same time.

(Dicussing if we might expect a new show in the vein of "How Do you Solve A Problem Like Maria?", "Any Dream Will Do" and "I'd Do Anything") John: Ooh I don't know, you will have to watch. They are talking about it. I would like to see a year hiatus before there's another one. You need to put a pause on something when you have such a good thing going rather than flog it like a dead horse.

(On the success of "The Making of Me" and the repercussion it has had) John: It was the highest rated show on the BBC that evening. I've had a huge response to people saying they're more open-minded now. Teenagers have written to me and said they're more comfortable with coming out now. Some were on the brink of suicide but changed their minds. I'm really pleased with that. There's nothing wrong with who I am or being gay and I wanted people to see that. There are always people who won't like me but all I ask is people respect me.

(On having Jodie Prenger winner of "I'd Do Anything" perform with him at the Faenol Festival) John: When I was contacted by Bryn (Terfel) about performing at the festival I said I would like whoever won the Nancy role to sing in concert with me. I think it's important that we help promote the people we choose to win. I backed Jodie really quietly for the whole time as I really believed in her. When people see her do other things they will realise what a star she really is.

(On Gary Barlow's reaction to John recording "What About Us" for his CD "Music, Music, Music") John: He said it was fantastic. I hope in future Gary will play when I sing. Funny enough, we didn't even meet each other. When I did my first album I said that when I did a second I wanted Gary to write for me. I think he is a great songwriter – one of Britain's best songwriters. I love Take That so it was always a dream of mine that he'd write for me.

(Commenting on his appearance at the Faenol festival in 2008) John: I really love Wales so it's great to have the chance to play at a big festival here. Instead of taking the motorway we took the road up through the Brecon Beacons. I feel at home here.

(On how he thinks he could teach a thing or two about men to women) John: I would love to lecture to women on men. I'd tell them everything about men: gay, straight, bi, how we're all the same, how we're all bastards. Men know what men want. In and out of bed. Some women are afraid to go to regions that are especially sensitive to men because they think it's dirty. I'd love to be able to tell women this. I think it would open up their sex lives. Experimentation is incredibly healthy. Men love it when their partner dresses up. My mother even advocates it. Unless you are going to get physically hurt, you should give it a go. Before you start, you need a panic word in case you feel uncomfortable. Ours changes depending on the situation but you can't shout 'stop' because it might fit into the role-play situation a little too well.

(On rumours that the third series of "Torchwood" would be milder and directed at families) John: It's not going to change, it's not a family show. We're still going to be on after 9 pm. Torchwood's a family show if you think it's appropriate for your children to watch it. We just deal with issues of life. But no, it's not going to be toned down. We're still going to be edgy, because that's what we are.

(Talking about his solo album "Music, Music, Music") John: There are three distinct styles on this record: Musical theatre, country and western, and straightforward pop. I wanted to sing songs I've always loved, songs like Bette Midler's From A Distance, Joni Mitchell's Both Sides Now and Dusty Springfield's You Don't Have To Say You Love Me, alongside things like Keith Urban's fantastic You'll Think Of Me. Another Side did better than I ever expected so who knows, maybe this one will do even better…

(On his habit of dropping his pants on set and the reason behind it)
John: I'm a true believer that sex is not dirty, it's not bad, and that we should all lighten up a bit. We're all brought up to think that it's naughty, but it's not. That's why I get my balls out on set.

(On his role in "The Fix" a play directed by Sam Mendes in 1998)
John: I played a coke-sniffing, heroin-obsessed, sex-addicted politician. It was extreme stuff, and there was a scene where I had to inject drugs directly into my crotch. People would pass out in the audience, I swear they really did.

(On how he doesn't see himself as a hero like Jack Harkness, but people see him as such)
John: I'd love to be a hero and that's why I love playing him, because he is a hero. But then, funnily enough, people have written to me and said I am their 'hero' because of standing up for what I believe in.

(On why he thought doing "The Making of Me" was important)
John: I never thought I would be like this, I never thought I'd be someone who would stand up for 'the cause'. I don't want to be a militant gay, because that's not me.

There are some days that I sign, like, 400 pictures, autographs and stuff. And among those I generally get a bunch of, say, four, five emails and some written letters from young men and women who are struggling to come out of the closet and they don't know who to turn to because they're afraid of their family's reaction and they're afraid of their community's reaction. So when they approached me to do this [The Making of Me], I thought, 'Yeah, you know, I really kinda have to do it.' I do think I've got a responsibility to help change perceived attitudes or try to change them.

(On why he is adamant about not calling his civil partnership a "marriage")
John: I don't call it 'marriage' for my own reasons - and I would suggest to gay men and women that they don't call it a marriage, because it connotes religious organisations that don't like them, and why do we want to take that on board?

(On the questions the program "The Making of Me" asked about his sexuality)
John: I've always known who I am. That's what I believe. I feel I was born this way. I've never questioned that. It's not going to change who I am. I always said, if the outcome is you're born this way, I'm going to be ecstatic. If the outcome is that it's something that happens to you, a trauma or it's your choice, I will have to reflect and think about that, but it's not going to change who I am because I like who I am.

(On how Captain Jack is slowly become a little more like The Doctor in "Doctor Who")
John: There's tons of stuff there to develop now, all around Jack. It's a huge science fiction world we're creating, and all the time Jack is getting more like the Doctor – with all this history, and his assistants around him. I was thinking about it the other day, and it was a really cool revelation! I had a great big grin on my face for the rest of the day.

(About fame and the work he loves)
John: I'm not out to become famous. If fame comes with the work that I do then I am honoured and happy with that, and thank goodness, that's the icing on the cake. But I came into this industry because I love the art of performing and I love making people laugh or cry, making them happy and I want to have a career with longevity and to be proud of my career.

(On his reaction when an interviewer didn't know he was gay before his stint on "Doctor Who")
John: It was about 6 months before Dr Who, someone asked me a question and I just blatantly spoke out about it and the guy's mouth dropped to the floor, and I'm like… "what??", I said "Come on!" I said, "Please, I'm 36/37"… I was 37 years old at the time, "I'm not married to a woman and I'm I musical theatre! What other clue to you need??"

(On how excited he was when he first met Elisabeth Sladen with whom he worked on the 4th series of "Doctor Who")
John: I'm in love with Lis; the first time that I met her, a year or so ago, she was coming out of an elevator. I grabbed her and said, 'I just want to say what an honour it is to meet you. I am so thrilled! Hopefully, we'll get a chance to work together one day'. She was very gracious, but after she'd gone I thought, John, you idiot, you've embarrassed yourself in front of Sarah Jane Smith!

(On the impact Captain Jack has made) John: I'm an openly gay man playing an omnisexual hero, who is loved on both sides of the Atlantic. How could I not be proud of that?

John: I don't feel any obligation to be happy. It takes a lot to piss me off, but if you do, you'd better beware.

(criticising gay actors who are afraid to come out) John: I know people who lie about being gay because they think it will affect their work chances. And that is just sad.

(on being voted Entertainer of the Year by Stonewall in 2006) John: Thank you for this honour. It means a great deal to me to be recognised by my community and peers. Congratulations to the other nominees. We are the few who are proud of who we are and not afraid to talk about it. We are proof that you can be honest and have a great career. I hope others can live by this example.

John: (On his next appearances in the Who Universe) I'm not in the Doctor Who Christmas special, but I come back in Series Four, which starts filming after Christmas. Series Two of Torchwood also starts airing on BBC2 in January.

(on starting a family with Scott) John: One day I might want to have children and in order to have a child, you either do it artificially or you have sex with a woman. And you can never say no to anything. I do have a couple of very good friends who have said: 'If you want to do it, I'll be happy to do it.' So I could possibly have sex with a woman but it would be for a reason - to procreate, not for sexual enjoyment.

(on differing attitudes in the UK and US to homosexuality) John: In the UK, we're more European in our outlook but in the US, oh my God, we're sinners, we're going to hell. How Christian is that? To tell someone they're going to hell because they're in love with somebody.

(on working in Sci Fi) John: So I'm a huge fan of this genre and I absolutely love saving the world. How many people can put that on their résumé? I've saved the world about 15 times!

(John talking about gay marriage and religion) John: And that's not to say I'm not religious, because I do believe in God, and I believe that I was created as I am, and that He loves me, or She... you know, whoever God may be, that Creator loves me and created me this way for a reason. And my mother believes that, my father believes that, my family believe that. [But] it's something that then those religious groups take that word 'marriage' because they think they own it. And that's what a lot of those religious groups do - they think they own God. And they don't. They don't own God. God owns us.

(John on his on-set antics while working on "Doctor Who") John: The alien operators can only see so much through their 'outfits', so I'd moon at them every so often. Captain Jack's butt!

(John on what does it matter if he's gay?) John: Put it this way, some (people these days) still are bigoted but most people in the general public, they really don't care, they don't care what you do, and really it shouldn't matter what you do in your bedroom as opposed to what you do for your job.

(On being gay in the US). John: I am proud to be an American, but I'm not proud to be a gay American, because they shun me.

(On getting the part of Capt. Jack in "Doctor Who"). John: When I was told I'd got the Doctor Who job, I was walking through the middle of Covent Garden with my niece, and I literally screamed and jumped around because I was so excited. After that, I had to keep pinching myself.

(John on English Theatre audiences). John: English audiences are appreciative of what you do on stage but they're a little bit harder to get on their feet, which I think is great because then when they do get on their feet you know that they really, really mean it.

(John on his lifestyle). John: I just lived my life and I always feel that if you live your life and you live it honestly and are good to people around you that everything will be OK.

John: My parents have always brought us up to believe that sex and sexuality are something to be proud of, and you don't have to flaunt it if you don't want to. People don't walk around with a banner saying they're straight, so why should I walk around with one saying I'm gay? I understand there are people who want to and need to make that statement, and I appreciate that, but don't come down on me because I'm not one of them.

(on Torchwood") John: Damn, we've got every element of like a film in this. We've got sex, blood, and violence. Rock on!