Jason Donovan
b. Jason Sean Donovan, 1 June 1968, Malvern, Melbourne, Australia. Donovan appeared in the Australian television soap-opera, NEIGHBOURS, which, when shown on British television, commanded a considerable viewing audience of pre-pubescent/teenage girls who instantly took Jason's character, Scott Robinson, to their hearts. His co-star Kylie Minogue had already begun to forge a career in pop music when he also signed to the Stock, Aitken And Waterman label, PWL. In 1988 his first single, Nothing Can Divide Us Now reached the UK Top 5. The follow-up was a collaboration with Kylie, Especially For You, which topped the UK charts in January the following year. Donovan consolidated his position as the Britain's top teen pin-up by scoring four more Top 10 hits, including Too Many Broken Hearts (a number 1 hit), Sealed With A Kiss, Every Day (I Love You More) and When You Come Back To Me. His album, TEN GOOD REASONS, reached number 1 and became one of 1989's best-sellers. His success the following year was endorsed by Top 10 hits in Hang On To Your Love and a re-make of the 1963 Cascades hit, Rhythm Of The Rain. By this time Jason had left the cast of NEIGHBOURS. Although his acting talents were called upon for minor roles in film productions, it was not until 1991 that acting again showed off Jason's talents. His performances in the stage show of the Andrew Lloyd Webber/ Tim Rice musical, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, at the London Palladium, drew sell-out crowds and good reviews, taking many of his critics by surprise. A single from the show, Any Dream Will Do reached number 1 in the UK chart, scotching any notion that Donovan was wavering as a hit-maker. The perception by many is of Jason simply being a teen-idol, yet his obvious talent in acting and singing, and the extent of his loyal following, have echoes of previous teen-idols made good as all-round entertainers. In the spring of 1992, Donovan succeeded in having judgement in his favour in a libel action which he brought against THE FACEMAGAZINE. Later in the same year, his high-profile concert tour was greeted with a good deal of apathy and critical derision (‘Jason's big rock dream turns sour’), and it was considered by many to be a retrograde career move when he returned to JOSEPH in the following year. For some time he alternated with other leading performers before taking over for the last few weeks before the show closed in February 1994.