Terry George column: Jason so happy to say sorry!

Oct 22 2007 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

I MET Jason Donovan again, signing his new book at Asda House. I came up with my camera and he said: “I know you!”, wagging a finger. I said: “Well, I won’t tell you where from...”

“I know where from!” he said, “You write that newspaper column, don’t you?”

He was really rude and grumpy the last time I saw him at the Party in the Park at Leeds on a cold, wet summer day, paddling round in the mud. I told Examiner readers all about this in a column that featured a picture of him looking thoroughly bemused as he tried to smile convincingly for the camera.

Then I e-mailed a copy to him with my best wishes.

“I am soooo sorry,” he said as he scribbled his name in the front of his book for Asda staff.

“I was in a really bad mood that day, everything went wrong!”

Not only had he waited around for hours to perform – I didn’t ask why on earth he’d turned up so early – but then when it was his turn onstage, the sound system wouldn’t work properly.

Never mind, I forgive him. But I think he should go a bit steadier on the Botox. He was looking, how shall I say it? Airbrushed.

He’s upset Kylie, apparently, with some of the stuff he’s said in his book – which is ironic considering he hates being asked about his famous former love and Neighbours co-star.

I remember one press conference he did when he performed at Gay Pride in Gran Canaria at which a press officer hurtled around beforehand, insisting: “No-one should ask him anything about Kylie!” So how come he’s so keen to spill the beans now?

I’ve seen Kylie a couple of times at things like Pride in London and she’s every bit as dainty and delightful in real life as you’d expect her to be.

And I’m a huge, huge fan of her sister. I like to think of myself as a talent spotter and Dannii Minogue is on fire! Her profile on X-Factor has really kickstarted her career – I think she’s going to be massive. She looks amazing and her singing is stunning.

I continue to be glued to X-Factor but it’s clear it’s not a foregone conclusion any more that the winners will get a great career on the back of it. Having said that, Ray Quinn seems to be doing ok. I took my mum to see him as a surprise – we went backstage at St George’s Hall.

She particularly likes his Elvis routine and so did a lot of other, older ladies – the place was packed out with mums and grannies. The press have been slating him and Louis Walsh reckons he’s a “one trick pony’ who can only do swing. Well, what’s wrong with “only doing” swing? Good luck to him!