
John Barrowman Reveals ‘Only Holly Willoughby and Phil Schofield Reached Out to Me’ After Scandal Ruined His Career
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John Barrowman, once a beloved figure on UK television, faced a dramatic career downturn in 2021 following three decades of success. The Scottish-born actor and singer, known for his roles in Doctor Who and Torchwood and his stint as a Dancing on Ice judge, found himself “blackballed” after accusations of flashing on the set of Doctor Who. Since then, work has been scarce, and Barrowman has been grappling with the fallout while promoting his tour, Laid Bare, which includes several stops in Wales.
In a candid interview with WalesOnline, Barrowman reflected on the challenging period, revealing that only three celebrities offered him support during the ordeal. “What was upsetting at the time when I left Dancing On Ice was only Ashley Banjo and Holly and Phil [Willoughby and Schofield] reached out to me,” he shared. “No one else did. There is a double standard in the industry that 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”, reported Wales Online.
Barrowman admitted to seeking therapy to process the situation but said he remains hurt by the lack of loyalty from others in the industry. “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,” he added.
Despite his struggles, Barrowman clarified he is not bitter. “I’m not bitter. Bitter is very different from upsetting. I’m upset about what happened. I’m still a big fan of Doctor Who. I love watching it and enjoy Torchwood too. That’ll never change because of what happened.”
Barrowman’s Laid Bare tour promises a deeply personal experience for audiences. “It’s exactly that – we’re stripping it back. You’re going to be entertained and learn things about me you might not expect me to talk about,” he explained. The show combines storytelling, stand-up, music, and an open Q&A session. “I’ve had the most frivolous to the hardest questions, but I’ll answer them all.”
Wales holds a special place in Barrowman’s heart, and he’s excited to reconnect with audiences there. “Wales means a great deal to me,” he said. “I do feel like I’ve kind of been adopted by Wales. For Laid Bare, I really wanted to get around Wales and feel closer to the audience.”
While Barrowman’s reputation has taken a hit, he hopes his tour will showcase a new, vulnerable side of himself. “It will catch people by surprise a little bit,” he concluded.