Jason Donovan first taste of fame came in the Australian soapie Neighbours and was followed by a successful career as a recording artist and stage performer. His debut album was the highest selling UK album of 1989.
At first, when Jason started his television career he reckoned he was just like another kid and remained down to earth, but over time he became increasingly hooked on drugs and the party lifestyle. His public embarrassments included appearing on stage in a black bin liner and having fits at public events that resulted in him losing consciousness. Not surprisingly Jason’s career plummeted.
In Jason Donovan’s autobiography Between the Lines, My Story Uncut we get to read the real story. The prose is no literary masterpiece and some of the writing is clichéd but what makes this book good is the honesty and humour inherent in Jason’s telling of his story. The book also includes little nuggets of information that aren’t commonly known. Often when you read a celebrity “tell all” autobiography it’s the same old stuff rehashed, but this book provides genuine new insights into Jason’s fall from grace and eventual return to the public eye.
Jason talks about his love affair with Kylie Minogue, whom he met in his first television role, Skyways
“Done this before?” she asked as we headed out of the trailer onto the set.
“No. Have you?”
“A bit here and there,” she replied with a smile. “What’s your name then?”
“Jason Donovan,” I blurted. “What’s yours?”
“Kylie – Kylie Minogue.”
He also talks candidly about his family, his drug taking and dealing with being “outed” as gay in an aggressive campaign by gay activists. Believing that he should stand up for himself, he disputed the claims in what he now describes as one of the biggest mistakes of his life. He also talks with regret about passing up the opportunity to appear in the blockbuster hit Priscilla Queen of the Desert.
Finally, Jason talks about his love affair with his current partner Ange and their two children. Ange was the impetus behind his decision to quit drugs. Jason had started drugs at an early age smoking weed and gaining the nickname ‘Bongovan’. Later he found cocaine saying
On coke I was king of the hill, master of my own destinyAnge walked out on him when he put his love of drugs ahead of her, but eventually the pair reunited after Jason quit drugs and committed to helping care for their first child.
The book has a satisfying ending with Jason turning his life around. Between the Lines, My Story Uncut finishes with Jason’s return to the small screen in reality television show I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here. Jason had dropped off my radar so I was interested to read the twists and turns in his career and relationship and see that he had beaten his demons and established a stable career and family. This book is worth reading. It's always refreshing to read about a celebrity that can laugh at himself, and give an honest account of his battle with addiction and heartbreak.
Jason now has a starring role in UK soapie Echo Beach and will be hitting the recording studio in March to record his new album due for release in October 2008.
