Articles Happy Birthday John Barrowman (11th March)

 

Putting aside all the autobiographical things we know about John Scot Barrowman and focusing on what we know post Torchwood (telly version), what do we not know? Well, that’s the tough question, because, John is a social butterfly, so shares all of his stories, his life and his loves on social media, so finding something that nobody else knows, is nigh on impossible. So, we decided that, with everything that John has achieved in his life thus far, that it was probably better to see what he’s been up to since Torchwood ended on the telly rather than find something that probably wasn’t true, and upsetting the guy by posting it. 

Torchwood has to be one of the best spin-offs from Doctor Who but since Torchwood ended on our screens in the fourth season – Miracle Day, and with the head of Drama announcing that the BBC were axing Torchwood, millions of fans were heartbroken and desperate for more of their heroes in some form or another. 

John was also saddened by the news, so he and his sister Carole, continued with Captain Jack and wrote a few Torchwood comic book stories which followed on from Exodus Code, their novel written in 2011. 

In 2015, the very first Torchwood audio arrived from Big Finish and Torchwood was well and truly back, with The Conspiracy taking Torchwood back to its almost beginnings with the full team including Ianto Jones for its second outing. Although Conspiracy only starred John Barrowman, it also featured the late John Sessions who played George Wilson. More cast joined for the continuing stories, and Big Finish brought back Owen, Tosh and Ianto Jones and not forgetting Sgt. Andy Davidson and Rhys. Suddenly the full team were there, to hear, and to remember, and to get excited about all over again. 

John wasn’t just acting though, since Torchwood, he’s returned as presenter for panel shows such as Pressure Pad, as well as being a judge on Dancing on Ice, and performing as singer for other dance off shows, once hosted by Bruce Forsyth. He’s appeared as a performer for the Commonwealth Games, and who can forget that kiss back in 2014. Loved the suit. And guest appeared on Loose Women, making us laugh once more by falling off his seat. 

And if we talk about his love of all animals, let’s not forget his time at the Glasgow University Small Animal Hospital, where he got to work with students looking after Scotland’s small and indeed a few larger animals, all needing some TLC. 

John does love his animals, especially his dogs, and quite recently took in another wee dog to add to his family. Wee Dixie. What a cutie. On the subject of dogs, John hosted the game show Superstar Dogs, in and around the same time as Animal Hospital was broadcast. 

One of the biggest characters that John has been involved with since Torchwood, is Malcolm Merlyn, from the Dark Archer series with Arrow from 2012 – 2019, The Flash between 2015 – 2017, and Legends of Tomorrow from 2016 – 2017. Merlyn, as much as we all wanted to hate him, you couldn’t help but admire the character – and its Barrowman – you can’t hate him for long. Even when he played that dastardly bad guy in Desperate Housewives – as much as you knew he would get his comeuppance, you still kind of rooted for him – right? Oh, just me then!!! 

In 2016, John played Munro in two episodes of Reign, where his Scottish accent was less convincing, but his character was quite something – even if he didn’t survive the episode. She was a bit evil, was she not? 

Of course, it has to be said, that seeing Jack back in Doctor Who has been well overdue – but being somewhat cynical, I often wonder if it’s not just been because of the flagging ratings. But, and that aside, it’s been wonderful seeing him return, and as Doctor Who time lines are never linear, I’m wondering just how old Gwen’s son is and when Big Finish will bring that into a story!!! 

In 2014 John released his fan funded album. You Raise Me Up, which you can hear on Spotify and Apple Music. Plenty of well known tunes to sing along to. 

It’s hard to believe that it was 2018 when John was in I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. It was also one of the best seasons of the show, because everyone looked after each other. Nobody was bitching and back stabbing, and nobody was a flake. I haven’t seen a single series since or before that one when everyone worked together as a team. And when Scott met up with John in the Jungle, I think I had a lump in my throat. It was such a sweet moment. 

Covid-19 may have knocked John’s spirit during the initial start of the pandemic, because after you’ve achieved all your goals in the house, all the catch ups you’ve not been able to do because of work, all completed, he was struggling to get through the day, in much the same way as many other people struggle. But with his fans pulling together and bringing back that sparkle, he was once again taking over the Internet platforms being FAB-U-LOUS once more. 

Everyone needs a little sparkle in their lives and John adds it by the bucket load. 

Happy Birthday Mr Barrowman from all us fans, from far and wide, and even teenage Weevils.

 

Articles Fans of John Barrowman

 

Of course, don’t just take our word for it, regarding John Barrowman, or indeed, Gareth David-Lloyd in this month’s celebration of these two cool stars of Torchwood. Here are what some of the fans have to say about them. 

Kirsty 

“The first time I met John was about fifteen years ago. It was when he was doing a book tour with Carole, the first time round. 

I begged my boss at the time for the day off so I could go, and surprisingly she said yes. Thankfully! John wasn’t due to arrive till 2pm, but something told me to go and wait early. Boy I am glad I did. I got there about 10am, and the queue was already at the end of the store.  I met a few new people and have actually kept in touch since then. 

The second time I met him was at his second book signing. I was kinda ill, which put a dampener on the day. 

But the best time I ever met JB though?  I woke up to a text from my friend telling me JB was in town, filming Antique Roadshow with Myleen Klass. I got up, and raced into town. Luckily town is only 5 minutes down the road from my house. We talked for a while, and he told me he was learning BSL for his deaf fans. 

Then proceeded to shout after me as I was leaving... um dude?” 

Credit

Photos courtesy Kirsty Price

 

 Katherine 

“I've met Barrowman a couple of times. John is an awesome man. He's always so nice and patient and such a big kid. It's like meeting a fellow fan. He gives great hugs too.” 

Credits

Photo courtesy Katherine Pozarek

 

 

Ruthy of Torchwood Australia

I have been a fan of Torchwood since Captain Jack Harkness first appeared in Doctor Who.  And let's face it, who wouldn't love a character like Captain Jack??? 

I got heavily involved with the fandom when I took over the Torchwood Australia Website and Forum in 2008. 

I have met the entire Torchwood team at various conventions and I first met John Barrowman personally at one of the Hub Conventions in Northampton.  I had seen him in concert prior to this, both in Cardiff and in London.  I have to add, and I think most Torchwood Convention goers would agree, those Hub Conventions were the best to attend.... they were just so up close and personal and far surpassed any event that has been held since.  I've been very lucky to attend fan events worldwide, in the UK, Canada and Australia. 

John is always in fine form and very generous with his time.  I remember going to Supanova Sydney with my friend Caroline, and how John donated some signed photos for a couple of her students who were massive fans (Caroline is a school teacher) - John wanted to know all about them, and he had a great chat with Caro.  And at that particular event, we went to the VIP night and I think we spoke to Scott most of the time.  It was wonderful to finally have a chance to have a good chat with him, especially as John was surrounded by a lot of people so you couldn't really get near him anyway.  I think it might've been this Supanova event when the Tim Tam towers took off - I think John should've bought shares in Arnott's Biscuits!!! 

One of the most amazing nights 'with John' was when he performed a one-off concert in my home state of Queensland in Australia.  He performed this concert in 2019 at the Concert Hall, Queensland Performing Arts Complex, Brisbane - this is a beautiful venue, quite intimate, with gorgeous acoustics.  I had seen him in concert a number of times in various places in the UK and I wondered how this concert would go, being that he would have musicians backing him who weren't his usual crew.  He did though have Matthew his Musical Director with him on keyboard, and who oversaw the entire show.  I must say, our local musicians were brilliant, and I REALLY enjoyed the entire concert.  It was a great night - we weren't permitted to take any photos during the concert, but in a way, this was lovely not to have the distraction of photo taking.  My friend and I had VIP tix, so we attended the meet and greet after the concert, and had drinks and nibbles, and a photo taken with John. 

It was probably the most memorable night with John in concert, particularly having him perform here in Australia.  It will be a night I shall never forget. 

We of course all look forward to some normalcy returning, when COVID19 is under control, and we can travel again and attend these events to see our favourite actors/performers. 

Photos courtesy of Ruthy 

 

Teejay Peacelover

 

I’ve always been a fan of John...but he’s my hero because he saved my life. Knife in hand, headed for the bathroom to escape the planet once and for all...and John posted a social media post that arrived just as I walked past my phone, two steps from where I was going to end it all. Yeah, I was a mess...but all I needed was a distraction to regain some perspective and pull back from the edge. He gave me that moment...and literally saved my life. I can’t remember what the post was now...just that his smile, his laugh, and genuine love of his fans (that’d be ME folks!) got through to me when nothing else could. So, John Barrowman is my hero...and connected to my soul in the deepest way possible. 

I’ve allowed my love of the man to become an obsession...in a good way. I’ve used his singing to help calm me when I’m driving, his panels on YouTube to cheer me up when I needed a laugh, his TV Shows and audio books (Doctor Who, Torchwood, Arrow, Legends of Tomorrow, Big Finish Torchwood audios etc) as escapes when I needed head space, and getting to his events as dreams for me to chase. His smile makes my heart sing, his laugh is contagious, his relationship with his husband Scott is utterly beautiful, and love of his dogs is gorgeous, his sense of humour is wicked, and his innuendo is ‘on point’ 😉 

I’ve never had goals before. Ever.

Goal 1, to meet him in person. Check! 2am at Auckland airport (New Zealand) - yeah, I know, stalker MUCH?! But while he could have said hi and walked away...he chose to spend time with me and chat for 15 mins or so while he waited for Scott and Kelsey to get their bags...he asked me to wait with him. I love him even more for that. He also grabbed my phone and took photos of me with him, and with Scott when he caught up...unasked for, blissfully happy moments! Photos taken by John...him just off a plane ‘looking unshaven and dishevelled’ to use his words, and with me a puffy eyed mess in the middle of him and Scott! lol Yeah, I cried...he saved my life after all! I told him. He hugged me. Told me to talk to his fan family if I ever felt that way again - they’d be there for me, and yeah, they truly have been there for me because I can share my joy and love of the man with other people who understand. 

He’s a genuinely beautiful man/soul. 

Goal 2, to see him do a panel at a convention. Check - Auckland Armageddon - twice. Auckland Armageddon 2017 - BEST 4 days of my life - I got hugs and photos and autographs! And I made a great friend, an Aussie no less 😉 

Goal 3, to see him in concert. CHECK! Melbourne. Omg omg omg. Truly fanbloodytastic concert. AND I listened to him rehearse for a couple of hours first. Bliss. 

Goal 4, to see him at another convention for new stories - Melbourne check!

Then booked for Brisbane Australia - Supanova 2018! Check. I’ve since travelled to conventions in Australia multiple times to see him – and have many photos and hugs and autographs on my walls now that make me smile every day. 

Goal 5, to see John in concert in Glasgow in his Scottish accent, his home town - Check, 2019. Thanks to the truly excellent planning and booking skills of an aunty in the UK who knew how the UK systems and trains etc worked, I then followed John to Edinburgh and nine other UK destinations for the concert tour - that cost an arm and a leg - but absolutely worth it! VIP tickets, sound checks, concerts, heaven. Took me a year to pay off the debt for the trip – totally worth it. 

Goal 6, to get his autograph tattooed on my arm, tried at multiple conventions - finally got the autograph at the sound check prior to a concert in the UK thanks to another fabulous fan who also wanted one. We both got them done at the same tattooist between the meet and greet and the actual show, so I got to show it to John after the show at the VIP photo session! Lol Got the autograph tattoo from John and Captain Jack’s too! 

Goal 7 - to stay alive to see more of John, to see more concerts, to hear more of him singing...I finally lost my life long death wish mid 2019 while following his tour around the UK. It shocked me to the core. I’ve never wanted to be alive before, and I’m really quite stunned I finally kicked the ‘kill myself’ urge. My obsession with John keeps me alive, happy, and attached to the planet. He is my anchor, my hero, always there on CD or YouTube etc when I need him to calm me down or cheer me up or distract me. It’s VERY handy being able to self-medicate with a fabulous sparkle-tastic person who has SO many social media posts and shows and CDs to enjoy. 

November 2019 - I headed back to the UK, to see John in concert with his Fabulous Christmas tour. The aim was to get my happy Xmas vibe back. I lost it years ago. This concert run was HUGELY emotional for him, and it’s something he’s genuinely excited about (long story) – it was huge for me too. This last UK trip was extra huge for me as I planned and booked the whole thing myself (I’m strangely terrified of forms and numbers, and booking online is all about forms and numbers!), it’s challenged many of my fears and self-doubts - and I’ve beaten them all thanks to Barrowman. 

I was relatively recently identified with autism. I’m now 52, and was only told I was autistic a couple of years back. It explains SO much. I’ve always struggled with crowds, travel, forms, bright lights, noises, textures, overwhelming fears etc etc - since allowing my Barrowman obsession to flourish I’ve ticked SO many things off my bucket list! From 4-wheel driving to jumping off the Auckland Sky Tower, to bungee jumping, to traveling to Australia and the UK alone. He sings to me in the car and at work on night shift, he’s always there. He is my soul, my joy, my inspiration, my life. The wonderful relationship he has with his hubby Scott, seeing the love and life they have together, gives me hope. 

John Barrowman is the reason I’m on the planet, and my reason for staying.

 

Beyond The Hub Shark Attack 3: Megalodon by DJ Forrest

 

The Terror Has Me in Stitches 

Everyone has a turkey of a film somewhere in their credits, and this may be one of Barrowman’s. The acting is a little ham fisted and the dialogue a little over done in places, but I actually enjoy watching it, weirdly. Perhaps because Barrowman’s role isn’t completely overdone – apart from in some places, when he’s whacking a rubber shark, I mean Megalodon that’s popped through the bottom of the boat they’re on, to say HI Mom, what’s for dinner, I fancy human tonight. And the swearing is a little Oh God. Oh Shit, which I may have added a little more emphasis on and perhaps added the odd, Oh F**k, especially if I’d just seen a very large aquatic beast pop up to the surface of the water and take down an entire speed boat and owner?   

The film is set off the Mexican coast but filmed in Bulgaria, and begins with a diver being attacked by a large shark as he installs a power cable at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Six months later, and lifeguard Ben Carpenter, played by Barrowman is out catching lobster for his supper, and comes across a shark tooth embedded in the broken cable, only it’s too big to be a Great White Shark. Taking it back to his apartment he uploads the shark tooth he’s photographed and asks anyone what it might be. This attracts the attention of Cat Stone, a natural history researcher played by Jenny McShane, who comes down and investigates further, with two of her friends.   

What I hadn’t realised, till I researched a little, was that Shark Attack is a series of films which involve Ben Carpenter, but these are not all played by Barrowman. Jenny McShane played a different character in the first film. Am not entirely sure how well her first character came across but this one really struggled to engage with the audience especially me, on any of the emotional situations she came across. 

Mind you, the antagonists in this story didn’t seem to have much of a pulse either. The big bad in the film is a businessman called Tolley, who needs the power cable to work because of his business which I think was in tourism, and because of the threat to his trade, he wanted the big shark found and killed, so he could return to making more money. 

The film has become something of a cult classic, especially amongst Barrowman fans, who always talk about the worst scene in the film possible, and of which doesn’t involve him whacking a baseball bat at a rubber shark and screaming DIE! DIE! DIE! 

No, it’s the ‘pussy’ one, which John ad libbed to evoke a reaction in his female co-star. It, as far as I am aware, didn’t work but the comment was kept in – on DVD. It’s not however, on the streaming channel known as Amazon Prime. It’s not there at all. Plus, the audio is out by a millisecond and enough to really ruin a bad film altogether – that and the crap acting, by most of the cast. If you are going to watch it, I’d advise purchasing the DVD. 

This film came out in 2002, so it’s not a digital copy, which means that it doesn’t travel well to a streaming channel. It’s not crystal clear, and with the audio failing on the lip sync it’s a hard one to watch. But I persevered, because I have the DVD and I just wanted to watch a Barrowman film that night.   

Barrowman’s role as Carpenter is entertaining to watch – but then, Barrowman is always entertaining to watch. 

To be fair, both he and Ryan Cutrona were perhaps the only two actors in the entire film that were worth giving a hoot about. The rest – well, it was early on in their careers, I guess I shouldn’t complain too much. 

It is a laughable film from the rubber Meg in the boat being whacked with a baseball bat, to the big momma Meg rising from the depths to take out a speedboat and a jet ski, and various other people in a raft escaping the sinking ship. It’s absolutely, side splittingly hilarious from then on in, which is sad really, because, when it first starts, there’s promise, and interest, and hope. 

It’s not Jaws. It tries to be. But it’s not. 

If you’re a Barrowman fan you’ll want to watch it, just to know what it is that the fans are talking about – but buy it on DVD – don’t wait for a streaming channel to air it. They cut out all the best bits!!! 

The Whoniverse Round-Up December 2020

 

December 2020 

 

Jeremy Bulloch 

Jeremy Bulloch was born on 16th February 1945.  He was a British actor, known for his role as Boba Fett in Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983) along with the Return of the Ewok (1981) video short. 

Bulloch later played Captain Colton in Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith in 2005. But it's for his roles in Doctor Who that we also remember him for.

He played Tor in the Doctor Who story The Space Museum for 3 episodes in 1965. He returned in 1973 to play Hal for 4 episodes of The Time Warrior. 

Jeremy Bulloch sadly passed away on 17th December, 2020. He had been living with Parkinson's disease for many years and due to health complications, died on Thursday in hospital.

He was 75 years old. 

Sadly missed. 

 

New Year’s Day 2021 

Doctor Who Special: Revolution of the Daleks – bringing Captain Jack Harkness BACK to WHO. 

Have a wonderful Christmas, and make it the Best that you can, in these strange times.

 

Stay Safe!

Reviews The Sins of Captain John by Tony J Fyler

Tony goes toe to toe with Captain John.

This may not end well…

Imagine you had a sports car. Top of the line, tricked out and pimped out exactly to your liking.

Would you let Captain John Hart borrow the keys?

Ah well. It was a nice cosmos while it lasted. Buckle up, pilgrims, we’re about to go for a spin.

Bottom line, from the moment he first gun-danced his way into Torchwood and kicked the ever-living crap (a phrase which has more meaning here than in most places) out of Captain Jack Harkness, Captain John Hart, late of the time agency, late to most places where there isn’t a bar, has been the bad boy of the Torchwood world. Technically responsible for the deaths of about a third of the team, he added that frisson of real danger that Jack, bless him, had lost a little in his quest to be more like the Doctor with the bleeding hearts.

John Hart is exactly the drunk-ass, punk-ass, wildly sexy, madly irresponsible, shoot-it-and-see kind of maniac you think he is, and that, whether secretly or blatantly, is what you always want him to be.

Setting that maniac loose in time and space sounds like a very bad idea, but nevertheless, here we are in The Restored, with John initially back in Restoration England, technically looking for the Resurrection Gauntlets. You’ll remember those if you saw Season 1 of TV Torchwood. They’re…really not where they should be, and they’re quickly getting John involved in some trouble with Oliver Cromwell’s spiked but nevertheless altogether rather chatty head. In between his ordinary adventures, which sound like the slightly more X-rated version of every historical Carry On film ever made (Carry On Charlie II?), he has to hunt down the person or persons responsible for bringing a shedload of bodies to life, retrieve the gauntlets and get out of there with both his life and his unmentionables intact.

Otherwise…y’know…Restoration Zombie Apocalypse.

So…no pressure there then.

The big difference you notice immediately about this set as opposed to any other Torchwood you care to name is that it’s utterly irreverent to not only the historical period, but also to the conventions of narrative storytelling and even to some extent to the listener. It’s the John Hart school of doing things, baby, and that’s got its own fourth wall-breaking, pop culture-referencing spacepunk vibe to it. Early on, you’ll know if it’s for you or not, because early on it’s spread quite thickly (Oh, make up your own jokes, who’s to stop you?), and you’ll know whether you love it or whether it’s like nails down an eyeball to you.

The Restored starts making more sense the further in you go (seriously, go nuts (ahem), there’s really no-one to stop you), and the more the story of the gauntlets is revealed. The joy about it is that everything’s only revealed in between sex romps, panting aristocratic hussies, closeted lesbians with telescope fetishes and oh yeah, did I mention? The endless armies of the undead who seriously won’t shut up.

When you find out what’s really going on, it’ll still take you aback, and even as people die horribly, John Hart has difficulty locating his empathy. But then you almost don’t want him to discover his softer side. That’s more or less what Jack’s for.

If The Restored is a historical sex romp with zombies, his next stop in Escape From Nebazz is solid space adventure with a loony twist and quite a lot of drinking and farting. Imagine, if you will, a wooden space prison. Imagine one of the prisoners, the gloriously named Dr Magpie (more glorious still if you’ve followed New Who with a magnifying glass). She made the Resurrection Gauntlets. Annnd she’s conducting experiments on mental enhancements.

Because what could ever go wrong with that?

Imagine Jack Hart posing as a prison guard, fairly desperately trying to get Dr Magpie to fix the wretched gauntless of zombification, and subsequently getting involved in your significantly-above-average (it’s David Llewellyn, after all) zombie fungus life cycle prison break drama, with added giant wooden space shark. Sound fun? Is fun. Is surprisingly fun, actually, because when the episode starts, it doesn’t promise anything like the kind of mayhem you’ve just escaped from in The Restored. Leave it to David Llewellyn is clearly the lesson to take from this. Something bizarre and what-the-flying-fin-is-that will be along shortly.

Escape From Nebazz has an almost Red Dwarf feel about it, crossed with 80s episodes of Prisoner Cell Block H and with maybe just a dash of Shark-freakin’-nado – lots of people trapped in a human garbage pod, nothing but the crushing monotony of institutionalized life to look forward to. Then along comes Magpie and her brain-altering experiments, and along comes John and his gloves of seriously-these-freaking-things, and before you know it, you’re hurtling to oblivion, being eaten alive by wooden space-sharks, or absorbed into entirely other life forms on what feels like it must be a Tuesday.

As if all that’s not bad enough, John bumps into Captain Perfect-Teeth Harkness towards the end of this story, and the two of them ride the absolute bejesus out of the next episode together.

In Peach Blossom Heights, they find themselves trapped in a kind of Peyton Place for child-humans. People who’ve never heard of sex (wow, that’s a busy afternoon on audio). People who have no concept of childbirth. People who, quite frankly, live in blissful ignorance of everything but their own existence minute to minute.

You know there’s gonna be something hideous going on there, right?

Sinister mascots roaming the suburban streets by night hideous enough for you? No? How about people who just ‘move away’ or ‘win competitions to go somewhere else’ and are never seen again, and actually are disturbingly quickly forgotten? Getting a vibe of the what-the-hellness yet?

This is a story that starts weird, gets weirder, turns more than a little bit creepy, and yet, for all its ghastly potential, ends up being at least a little sweet. In among the horror. It’s not at any point quite what you think it is, which given the premise is really rather saying something. Smiley suburban neighbours from hell has already been done in Torchwood audio, with Jack and Ianto foiling an alien invasion by attending weekly barbecues and being terribly nice to people. This is something different to that, and while you might get close to what’s really going on, it will still surprise you when you finally understand it.

Plus, there really is lots and lots of grandly experimental sex before the end.

So…that’s nice.

To be fair though, you need something nice before you head into Darker Purposes. Darker Purposes is what happens if you smash Kind Hearts And Coronets with the Space-Borgias, repeatedly, till something bleeds, and gurgles, and dies.

The Resurrection Gauntlets (Yep, still them, still here, still dragging John through time and space) are needed to sort out the last will and testament of one of the galaxy’s richest, nastiest, deadest men. But of course, one of the richest, nastiest men in the galaxy will have children. Children who’ve inherited at least his nastiness, and who intend to inherit his riches too. Game on for Last Sibling Standing, with John in the middle like a sacrificial chew toy thrown to the wolves. When you play the Game of Gauntlets, you win or you die. Annnnd if you die, you probably get brought back to life until you say what your killer wants to hear in any case.

It would be spoiling the final episode, and to some extent the arc of the set, to explain how – and indeed, if – John gets out of Darker Purposes, but it certainly adds a grimmer note than anything we’ve dealt with so far in the set. Which given that we dealt with a Restoration Zombie Apocalypse in Episode 1 is really going somewhat.

We’re not as yet sure whether the Sins of Captain John is intended to become an occasional series, like the Lives of Captain Jack, or whether it will forever be just what it is, a mad handful of hours with James Marsters giving of his dandy time pirate. What’s certainly true after this first set though is that David Llewellyn’s given it a tone and a pace unlike anything else even at Big Finish, and that there’s certainly plenty of scope for further sets. Unless you have the energy of Captain John though…you’re probably gonna need a nice lie down before you run with him again.

The Whoniverse Round-Up December 2019

December 2019

Jonny Owen

“Well I did it and it’s unbelievably hard work. Uncomfortable, damp, noisy.”

Club's Chief Executive Ioannis Vrentzos, and Executive Director Jonny Owen joined Nottingham Forest for the Big Sleep Out, raising money for the homeless through Framework. So far they've raised over their £5000 target. 'All funds go directly to supporting those who are sleeping rough locally, getting people off the streets...' This is Nottingham Forest's second Big Sleep Out. It took place on 23rd November at The City Ground.

You can still donate to the page by helping them raise even more, by following this link. 
Either click on the link or copy and paste

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/nffc-sleepout2019?fbclid=IwAR3q7pCYNLhaqqDcgduQ1wMei9qINggYuEmI7f0V4Jji8vA7XbAflwi8nO4

Jonny posted on his Facebook page about his experience at the event, photos are also courtesy of Jonny Owen.

“The life expectancy of someone who is homeless is 47... You can totally understand that at 1am on a damp November. It's so difficult to get warm let alone sleep. It’s in your bones the rain. Winter must be particularly awful. Also, you're much more likely to be attacked or abused when you're on the street sleeping. How you're much more vulnerable. I mean you're in cardboard boxes but people kick you and spit. Dreadful really, isn’t it?

The great Nye Bevan said we judge our society by how we treat those less fortunate than us. The sick, the homeless, the poor. I actually think it’s incredible how many DO care and try to help. There [are] loads of people doing as much as they can. Volunteers lots of them. They told me about a Welsh lad from Cardiff who was sleeping rough in some church grounds in North Notts. They saved his life. They woke him and his thin tent had completely frozen and he was hours away from dying. He’d recently got off the drink and drugs because they’d got him on a course and into temp accommodation and was even applying for jobs now. That’s Framework. They really do care.

Bless them for that. Bless them for everything they do."

John Barrowman

John Barrowman is back with his latest web series Acursian, the time travelling journey between 1745 and present day, where Charlie Stewart, descendant of Bonny Prince Charlie looks set to lose everything on his 40th birthday, if three talismans are not retrieved from Bregan, the god of war.

If anyone fancies writing a review of this latest series, in the New Year, do please get in touch, by email or through our social networking sites.

https://www.webtoons.com/en/fantasy/acursian/list?title_no=1452&fbclid=IwAR0h3LZlG_NIUkpLSI0tJy2DGYlWWzHYMBDMZKO9dqjHnWsUcznkS94XG3M

On 1st December, Barrowman had a little procedure after suffering a C5/6 facet joint injury. He was given a series of intraspinal injections which reduced the inflammation and got him back on his feet again. An injury like this, can take up to 6 weeks to fully heal. So, we hope he takes it easy and avoids back flips for a while!!!

On 29th November, John's new Xmas album A Fabulous Christmas was released, and I don't think there are many fans left who don't own a copy, downloaded or physical ones. Plus, a gorgeous collection of merch. Joshua has eyes on the teddy!!!

https://www.themerchandisingshop.co.uk/shop/shop.v3/product_list.php?&shopid=764

That’s it for now. See you all in 2020.

Reviews Serenity by Tony J Fyler

Tony helps burn suburban hell to the ground.

Ten years ago, Torchwood – Children of Earth terrified a nation and later a world with its gritty, ghastly prospect: aliens who were addicted to the secretions of children, and who wanted to take a job lot away with them, or they’d kill us all. The horror of the concept made Children of Earth a dark high point in TV Torchwood’s career, and one of the particular spikes of horror was that (spoilers, but get over yourself, it’s been ten years), Ianto Jones, Torchwood operative and lover of Jack Harkness, was killed.

To commemorate that ten year deathiverssary, Big Finish has released Torchwood – Serenity, a story featuring Jack and Ianto set back in their heyday, when they were working out exactly what it was they had together. As if to highlight the uncertainty of that, James Moran (whose last Torchwood work was apparently on Children of Earth – how has a decade gone by and allowed that to happen?) puts Jack and Ianto in a kind of Desperate Housewives – Of Death! scenario, a gated community in Cardiff, where life couldn’t be more Stepford, more suburban, more passive aggressive if it tried. It’s all cheery greetings, beaming smiles and prizes for the best kept lawn.

It’s hell on earth, and Torchwood’s investigating.

To anchor the episode back in the days of Ianto being alive, Serenity also gives us a return engagement for a Series 2 villain, an organisation ideally suited to invasion and destruction through weekend barbecues and very small, small talk. The episode unfolds like Mr and Mrs Smith meets Men In Black… in Cardiff, with Jack going cheerily off to work each day, leaving Ianto to be househusband and to deal with all the helpful, polite, smiley visits by the neighbours to discuss the length of his lawn grass and the state of the as-yet-unwashed car.

It’s a subtle but staggeringly honest satire on the domestic Fascism of collective ‘niceness,’ and the difficulty of not punching neighbourhood busybodies in the face. And Ianto, remember, is no domestic slouch – he’s a man who wears a suit to serve coffee.

As the episode unfolds, so does the alien threat, but not before Jack and Ianto have enormous fun impersonating each other’s characters, fend off threesomes and foursomes, endure a barbecue full of meat-based knob gags and realise the consequences of foiling this particular alien invasion.

Underneath all this of course are those awkward questions any relatively new relationship doesn’t want to ask, but has to find ways to get past – what is it we have? Are we just having fun or could this be a serious thing? Do we want it to be a serious thing? Do we want to blow up the house and take everyone else’s house with it? Standard stuff, but given an effective Torchwood twist in this story. By putting these two characters in the environment of ultra-nice neighbours, picket fences, and suburban gated ugliness, James Moran forces them to look themselves in the heart and ask ‘What the hell do I want out of this relationship? Is it going to end up here anyway, and if it does, is that right for me?’

On top of all that, there are ethical questions tackled in this otherwise relatively light-hearted script – if you have an alien threat that can ‘infect’ other people, are you justified in killing those it’s infected as a first response? Do you not have a duty to try to help the infected, or do you just kill them? Imagine the zombie apocalypse – do you reason with the zombies as they march towards you, or do you shoot first, run away second, and agonise about the morality of it all at some later, safer date over a bottle of wine or whiskey?

And just when you think that’s the peak of moral indecision with which this story will present you, Moran adds another layer to the question. If there was a threat to your way of life, and you could press a single button to make it go away – silently, distantly, with no immediate impact on you – but to press the button meant death for other people, meant potentially genocide, could you press the button?

In an age of nuclear weapons and drone warfare, these are important questions, and here they underline a fundamental difference between a Jack who still feels he’s bound by the ideas of the Tenth Doctor, and Ianto, who for all his experience at Torchwood One, still has qualms about standing at that moral crisis point and doing the deadly thing. In this story it actually makes you ponder the question of whether the Tenth Doctor is the best example to learn from, and whether Jack, perhaps, has grown so used to having ‘no choice’ but to do the deadly thing it’s become his first choice. It makes you wonder how far he is down the path of remote-access death and destruction, how far divorced he is from the consequences of death, as an immortal. How far his vision of the ‘bigger picture’ has deafened him to the immediate, horrifying consequences of his actions – a crisis to which he’s re-introduced through the events of Children of Earth.

But before you get the impression that this is all angsty death and consequences, that’s just a moment towards the end. For the most part, this is a celebration of Jack and Ianto, a funny scenario of domestic bliss and whether they’re ready for it now, or ever will be. But, y’know, with aliens wanting to take over the world, one barbecue at a time. It’s a cracking listen and a laugh-out-loud reunion for the winners of Team Torchwood’s Hottest Couple Award. Give it a go, and then get out and trim your privet – you never know who might be watching…

Interviews Matt Jago - Custom Art Designer by DJ Forrest

Custom Art designers are popping up a lot these days, and I’d love to be as artistic as they are, with their canvas paintings on Converse and Vans trainers, these are real pieces of work that you’d want to treasure forever. I’m not sure, after spending a vast amount of money on a piece of art, I’d want to take them out in the rain though.

We caught up with Matt Jago who came to our attention after a photo was posted on social media by John Barrowman, showing off his rather fancy pair of Converse with Captain Jack and the Tardis on them.  Naturally, we wanted to know more, and after locating Matt on Twitter, then viewed more of his artwork on his website, we wanted to know more.

Hi Matt, thanks for this opportunity.

Have you always had artistic flair or have you had to hone your craft through uni or is this a natural talent crafted on your love of all things sci fi?

Matt: It's definitely a natural talent which has grown massively over the years. I have always loved being arty since a young age but didn't attend art school or uni for it.

I certainly wasn't as good as I am now when I started painting the shoes 8 years ago.

You have an awesome Etsy page, I love all of them. Do you just paint shoes?

Matt: At the moment I'm busy with the shoes yes. But will be painting canvases very soon.

How did you meet John in order for him to own a pair of your shoe art?

Matt:  I met John at Supanova Brisbane. He came to my stall and actually purchased my Star Wars converse for his display back home and then he placed a custom order for the Dr Who/Torchwood pair.

Do you do commissions for other celebrities or people in general?

Matt:  I do take commissioned orders, yes. The majority of my work is commissioned. John is my biggest celeb so far.

Are you a fan of the genres you paint for?

Matt: I do get a lot of different requests for different genres and I am definitely a fan of the comics/sci-fi/musical genres I paint.

I would imagine that painting onto canvas, especially shoes, doesn't leave room for error. How do you prepare before each painting?

Matt:  I actually create designs on Photoshop first, so I have a clear image of how I want the shoes to look before I paint.

How long does it take to complete an order (as such)?

Matt: The timing does depend on what I am painting but for example the John Barrowman pair took 16 hours in total. Which is actually super fast for two portraits, the Tardis, Torchwood tower and I also added the DW logo and Torchwood logo to the tongues.

Can you move for shoes in your house? Or do you have a workshop?

Matt:  I do work from home and I do have a huge stack of shoes in boxes. I order in the shoes on a weekly basis, so I have a nice flow of shoes in and out.

How many years have you been painting shoe art for and when did your interest in this kind of art begin?

Matt: I've been painting on shoes for 8 years and it all started with a birthday gift for my brother. That led on to a couple of people asking for a pair then a couple more and there was a lot of interest, so I started a Facebook page and I took off.

Other than Etsy, do you have anywhere else that showcases your work?

Matt:  I have a website store http://www.MattsCustomArt.com  where you can order any shoe I have on there or place a custom order and I'm also on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @MattsCustomArt.

Because the shoes are painted, would it streak if you wore them in the rain. or if they were damp?

Matt: The paint is totally permanent. It won't run or fade in the rain. And can be washed.

Thank you so much for the interview.

Matt: Thank you very much

Photos for the cover and indeed the interview are courtesy of Matt Jago

Credit John Barrowman for photo of proudly showing off designer shoes.