Tag: Jason Donovan

Talk you down

Various pictures of Emma Charlesworth taken during the Jason Donovan Doin’ Fine 2025 Tour

It’s been a couple of years since I wrote a blog to mark Jason Donovan’s birthday (although, apparently, it’s more importantly Tom Holland’s birthday before my daughter moans at me!) But 2025 has been a bit of a special year. So, I couldn’t let today go without writing something.

You see, 2025 saw the Doin’ Fine 25 Tour take place. I’m not entirely sure how it happened, but I ended up with six dates between February and March. My daughter on multiple occasions would simply look at me and say “excessive.” It became a running joke at work as to what I was doing of an evening or weekend. I even had a message from someone who follows me on Instagram asking if I do PR for Jason because of my posts. I mean, I don’t but if there’s an opening for this position I’ll happily apply!

But what most people didn’t realise was just how much I needed this tour during this time this year. To be perfectly honest, I hadn’t realised it until it came to it. In my head I was just doing the dates in those three months because it just so happened that those were the ones I’d booked. I hadn’t quite thought about how the impact those three months would been having on me.

From late February onwards, the five-year anniversary of the pandemic, my late husband falling ill and dying just felt like they were hanging over me. I became acutely aware of the dates in a way that I hadn’t really been since 2021. Don’t get me wrong, I know all the important and pertinent dates like the back of my hand, but there was just something about this year which felt like a milestone. A real marker in the sand. I turned the calendar over to March and it was almost as though my body knew. One week it manifested itself in sheer and utter exhaustion. I fell asleep on the train home from the office. I was asleep on the sofa by 8:30pm. I wasn’t really able to concentrate on anything. My patience was thinner than normal. My temper was shorter than normal.

It almost felt in a way that I was leading a double life. The weekends and evenings at the Jason concerts when I could live a life where I didn’t have a care in the world and was transported back to my seven-year-old self when I first decreed that I was going to marry Jason when I grew up. The rest of the time I was that young, widowed, working mother of one who was juggling the enormity of all that had happened to her against the backdrop of her daily life. But I guess that is my life to some extent. It’s the reality of grief. You will grieve forever. You will never get over it. But you do learn to live with it. You do learn to have it as part of your daily life. Most of the time I’ve become quite adept at living with my grief but sometimes it just takes hold and there’s absolutely nothing you can do about it.

But this tour. This tour. I don’t even really know where to begin. Except I do really. I begin with that random woman from Twitter. That random woman who in 2021 was so very kind to me and meant that we finally met in person after years of fangirling over that Australian on Twitter. I still remember walking into that pub to meet her and wondering just what the heck we’d find to talk about. Or whether it would be the most awkward meeting ever. I needn’t have worried though for she and I clicked instantly. I knew she was my sort of person even though in so many ways we are the complete opposite of each other. It’s the biggest juxtaposition really. I genuinely believe I’d never have met her had my late husband not died. I wouldn’t have her as a friend yet I’m so sad that he never met her. I can’t help but wonder at times if he sent her to me. Admittedly, the drunken video calls I receive when she’s singing Too Many Broken Hearts might have elicited a few eye rolls but even so.

This tour was the first time we’ve done multiple dates on a tour together. Up until this point we’ve done theatre shows and one-off gigs but never a tour. Our excessiveness started off with an intimate gig in Bishops Stortford (oh how we amused ourselves on the group chat about getting intimate with Jason!) but it was such a fab evening. Although. The North-South divide was very apparent when she moaned on the train about people being rude in London and then proceeded to talk to other poor commuters who just wanted a quiet journey and to go home. But this was our first insight into the fun the two of us have going to concerts together. Oh, how we laughed. Oh, how we danced. Oh, how we fan-girled over Sophie (his singer). The set-list just hit the mark. I wasn’t expecting a Cliff Richard song to be included or to be video calling my mum (as I went on to do every time I saw him sing this apart from the night she was there too!) But there was one little song that I don’t think anyone had been expecting him to include. A lot of the audience may not have even heard of this song, but it’s one called Talk You Down. It quickly became our song. The lyrics are just so pertinent about no judgement, how there isn’t a right and wrong, but that no matter what happens, the person will be there to Talk You Down. And that’s exactly what we do for each other. As well as all the good times, there’s been tough ones too. We’ve cried on each other. And we’ve got each other’s backs.

I mentioned in my previous blog about my mental health and how I knew when I was back to being me. And it was on 3 March in a bar near the London Palladium. It was our second night on the tour, and we (obviously!) went for a Bottomless Brunch first. Except it wasn’t really a brunch. As it was at dinner time. Honestly. But as she used the words “cool” and “mint” to describe how I looked that evening, I looked at the photo and I saw it. The sparkle was back. Despite being at the start of the month that was to prove so very difficult for me, I could see it. I was back to looking as I had in that photo I’d taken seven months earlier when we’d been away to see Jason in Derby. It really does feel at times that everything always comes back to Jason.

And just a few days later my long-suffering sister and I headed to York. With the group WhatsApp messages printed ready to be signed. The WhatsApp messages that said she really couldn’t do a Meet and Greet. That she couldn’t justify it. Swiftly followed by messages saying they had accidentally been bought… But travelling up north seems to never be without drama and as we were diverted off the A1 into Kansas (or at least that’s what it felt like, we were completely anticipating ending up in Oz) our journey once again turned into about a nine day one. But we made it. Eventually.

The following day I was a geek walking round York taking in the sights and the history. Our table for brunch said “Bottomless Hotties.” We found Paddington. We had such a lovely day. And as we arrived at the Barbican, my nerves kicked in. Randomly. I realised I hadn’t spoken to Jason since October 2022 at the stage door at Grease. I panicked as to what I would say to him. 43 years old and suddenly behaving like that seven-year-old again! But I needn’t have worried. I got my hug. I got things signed. I had a lovely chat. And within seconds my Facebook profile photo was updated. Without so much as a second thought. A far cry from all the agonising over doing this I’d faced in 2021. While I’m not convinced time heals, it does make a difference. And that’s all you can really ask for.

Two weeks later came the next date. Liverpool. Quite possibly my favourite date of the whole tour. But this was a date that in the week leading up to had felt a little uncertain. My daughter had been unwell. My mum had had an operation cancelled after she too fell ill. The solo parent guilt kicked in. I just didn’t know if I could go away. Whether it was the right thing to do. This is the constant juggle I face. The guilt when I do things for me because I’m the only parent my daughter has. The buck stops with me. But after talking with friends and my daughter, I was convinced to go.

And I’m so incredibly glad I did. It was just a perfect weekend. The sort of weekend that money can’t buy. I wasn’t nervous in the queue to meet him this time. But I’d never have expected that when we did go in to meet him that I’d have ended up saying something a tad inappropriate that meant I got “Emmaaaaaaa” shouted at me! But the photos that were taken just sum it up. They might not be the best photos. They might be slightly blurry. But my word do they show how much fun we were having. I’m so thankful to Tasmin, Jason’s tour manager who captured them for us. Epitome of happiness right there.

No-one watching me that weekend would have actually known that at the back of my mind was the date. 22 March. That it was five years since my late husband first noticed he had a temperature. Since he made his final ever Facebook post. I was so conscious of it. But again. Being away and seeing Jason gave me something else to focus on. The double life coming into its own really. I thought back to the exact day in 2020. The final day before lockdown was announced. When the thought of being away with friends and going to a concert would have seemed impossible. Fast forward to 2025 and it was a completely different story, it felt somewhat pertinent that the venue for this concert was on Hope Street. After all. Hope is everything. It’s the one word that has got me through the last five years.

I only had a matter of days before my next date. In Canterbury, two days before my birthday. I knew he was performing on my birthday itself, but I had no intention of going. I’d have had to be away for the night and my daughter simply didn’t want me to not be at home given not only was it my birthday, but it was also Mother’s Day and the five-year anniversary of my late husband being taken into ITU. Sometimes things are just important than Jason. Controversial I know. I took non-Jason fans with me (after all, I need to introduce as many people as possible to him!) and finally got the setlist I’d wanted given to me from the stage at the end of the night. This was my last UK date. Yes. You may get the violins out.

But I still had one date left to do, the one in Dublin the following weekend. Again. This date was because of that incredibly kind northerner who knew I’d always wanted to go to Dublin. It also became a birthday weekend for her stepmum as well. And while it’s safe to say this is the furthest I’d ever travelled to see Jason, again, what a weekend! My sister set off bright and early for our flight. My sister, the Jason superfan, that is. Ever since a photo had been posted on X (or Twitter if you’re old school) after the York date of the three of us standing up and someone commenting on the energy of these three fans, it became a running joke that she was a superfan. It’s not something I’ll ever tire of! We had such a fun first day. We convinced Dave the Taxi Driver to play Jason as he took us into Temple Bar. He got such a candid photo of us when we got out of the taxi. We danced in the street. I tried Guinness for the first time and loved it.

The following day we did an Afternoon Tea Bus around Dublin and learnt some fascinating facts about doors. And I saw a green postbox. What can I say? Once a geek, always a geek, right?  We had another fab day in Dublin and as we headed back to our apartment, I couldn’t help but feel a little sad. Not only was this the last night of seeing Jason, but that northerner had a Meet and Greet ticket and I didn’t. It just didn’t feel right. I’d love to be able to say that I hadn’t moaned, made numerous digs about this or made my sister’s life a misery but I can’t quite do that. Because I’d done all of this.

As the northerner headed off, I sat and sulked, made myself a cuppa and ate some onion rings. What I was unprepared for was the call that came shortly afterwards. “How quickly can you get here?” were her opening words. I swore quite vociferously at her. I can now confirm that when there is a Jason Meet and Greet ticket available, I can take a call, get changed, chuck make up in a bag, order an Uber and get down to reception from the 16th floor of an apartment in eight minutes. Eight minutes. No wonder my adopted northern mum has coined the nickname Road Runner for me! But I didn’t give it a second thought. I just went. And would now like to make a public apology for doing this after all the moaning I’d done up until this point. It’s only fair really. I was a bit of a nightmare. But I didn’t really have a chance to think about this Meet and Greet as I had with the other two. I just had to wing it. I got the most unexpected hug from Jason ever. It felt like the perfect way to end the Doin’ Fine 25 Tour.

But as I look back and think about this tour, I’ve realised so very much. That little seven-year-old who decreed she was going to marry Jason Donovan would never have envisaged quite what being a fan of his would bring to her world 30-something years later. The other Jason fans that she gets to talk to and who have been there for her across the highs and lows of the last five years. The Meet and Greets which were almost a metaphor for how she’s dealt with her life during the last five years. The nervousness, the inappropriateness and the winging it. She’s done all of it since her late husband fell ill. The adopted family that she now has because of Jason. The adventures and trips she’s gone on. The smiles and laughs she’s had. The sheer enjoyment she still gets from being a fan and being transported back to the 1980s when she sees him.

People joke that most people grew out of being a Jason fan in the early 90s. I didn’t. And I don’t think I ever will. Because without him I wouldn’t have as much as I do in my life. So much that I’m so very grateful for.

The Beatles sang “Money can’t buy me love.” Jason covered it during this tour. They’re right. Money can’t buy you love. But it can buy you concert tickets and help you make amazing memories. And that’s pretty much the same thing.

Suddenly you’re seeing me, just the way I am

A year ago, I wrote a blog called “When I grow up, I’m going to marry Jason Donovan.” I’ve now given a copy of that blog to Jason. “I promise you I’m going to read this darling; I promise you” was his reply. I’ll be honest. Even if he didn’t, it’s not the end of the world. Because he called me darling. Life made in that moment!

And for those of you who have followed my story, you’re not going to be surprised when I say this viewpoint about wanting to marry him hasn’t changed over the past year. I can’t lie. Every time I meet him, there’s still a nervousness and a tiny part of me that always wonders whether this will be the occasion where I change my opinion. Whether this will be the occasion where he crushes my love. But no. It hasn’t happened this year. If I’m completely honest, I doubt it ever will. But what has happened since my last blog is a vital step forward on the widowhood rollercoaster, a marriage proposal and the biggest surprise of my life…

Let’s start with the vital step forward on the widowhood rollercoaster. I’ll start by giving some context. When I look back at my Facebook profile photos from across the years, Jason features in more of them than Mr C! I’m lucky that my late husband was fine with this. After all, he knew his place! But since he fell ill, all my profile pictures had featured him. Aside from one, when I wanted to show solidarity with my friend who had just lost her partner. I felt that was ok to have and people would understand. Because at the back of my mind was the worry that I’d be judged of having a profile photo that didn’t feature Mr C or didn’t have a valid reason behind it. Now, a lot of this comes from my own insecurities and fear of judgement since becoming a young widow. I know that. But I worried. Would I be accused of moving on? Would I be accused of forgetting him? But this is my life now. Overthinking absolutely everything. And there’s also a small part that couldn’t change the photo because of guilt. That I’m still able to live my life, take new photos and make new memories when he no longer can. Grief really is the most conflicting thing to live with.

A prime example of my overthinking about this came in August last year. We went to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the London Palladium, and waited at the stage door. Something I’ve done many, many times. This time though, I was pushed forward to talk to him by a fellow Jason fan who mentioned what had happened to Mr C. Thus followed a lovely chat between me and Jason about everything I’d gone through. I turned round to see my sister and my friend in tears! They were so moved by how lovely he was and how intently he’d been listening to me. But that’s Jason for you. A genuinely lovely guy. While we were having that conversation, my sister got the most wonderful picture. I walked round the corner to Pret A Manger to grab some lunch, (it’s literally a two minute walk) and when in there I debated whether I should change my profile photo. Whether it was the “right thing” to do. By comparison, when my daughter and I had met Jason at the same place in 2019, my profile photo had been updated before I’d even made it to Pret. But this time, I just couldn’t bear to do it. For that fear of judgement from others. So, after debating over lunch, I didn’t do it. I didn’t change my profile photo. Despite me absolutely loving the photo and what it represented.

Fast forward to October 2021. I was fortunate enough to get some Meet and Greet tickets at the last minute to Jason’s Even More Good Reasons Tour. I don’t think two days’ notice was adequate preparation time really, but I did it. I overthought my outfit (to be fair I’d have probably done this pre-widowhood) and my sister and I made our way to the Hammersmith Apollo. It was only when we got there that we learnt that we’d only be allowed in one at a time. “What on earth am I meant to say to him?” was her response to that. She messaged my brother-in-law. He responded with “go in first and tell him to run.” And while she did go in first, she didn’t tell Jason to run. In fact, she came out with tears in her eyes “he’s just so lovely, I can’t right now” was her description of the conversation they’d had. But I couldn’t ask her why, because it was my turn to go in.

He told me what a lovely conversation he’d had with her. (Shockingly, she didn’t tell him to run. He confirmed that!). And it won’t surprise anyone to know that I left that experience completely agreeing with my sister. He really is just so lovely. I received a brilliant picture from that moment. It came through while the concert was happening and as soon as I looked it, it made my evening. It was a proper smile on my face. The smile reached my eyes. You can see the adoration in my face. You can tell how happy that moment was making me. Just like the conversation I’d had in August.

And I knew the instant that I saw it, that I’d love this to be my profile photo, but that thought I’d had before was nagging at me. What would people think of me if I no longer had Mr C on my profile? Yet on the train home, I did decide to go ahead and change it. Believe me, it took everything I had to click “save.” When I did this, I cried. It might sound small, it might sound stupid, but to me, it felt huge. It felt like I’d just taken a massive step forward. It felt like I was finally giving myself permission to keep living. It felt that I was finally allowing myself to be more than just a widow. To show people who I really am (title of this blog works on so many levels!) One of my friends even commented “well done” when she saw it. She knew just how much it had taken for me to do it. And it’s probably no coincidence at all that it was a picture of me and Jason that made me do it. My one constant since childhood.

I woke up the following morning still on cloud nine. This was what I shared on social media…

Once upon a time, there was a little girl who wanted to grow up and marry Jason Donovan. That little girl went on to go through quite a bit in her life. Jason always proved to be a constant for her. Yesterday, that little girl got one step closer to realising her childhood dream…

I am aware I bleat on about him (a little bit). I am aware that it possibly looks like I have a problem (a small one). But yesterday just reminded me why I am the way I am. He’s honestly one of the most genuine people there is. He reminds me of a time when life was simple, and I didn’t have a care in the world. And for the second time this year, he had my little sister in tears because of the care and compassion he showed regarding Mr C. Spoiler alert. Even she is starting to have a soft spot for him now. Only a little one mind you.

So, when she grows up, that little girl still wants to marry him. His proposal is in writing now. That must be legally binding ❤️

That’s right. I got a marriage proposal. From Jason Donovan. And it’s in writing. 23 years I’d been waiting for this moment. And it was definitely worth the wait! My sister had teed it up for me when she spoke to him, she explained everything I’d gone through over the past couple of years and thanked him for all he’d done for me. What she was unprepared for was how much compassion Jason would show to her about this. The questions he would ask about Mr C and what had happened. That’s what brought the tears to her eyes. The kindness and the compassion.

So, when he and I spoke, he said “I understand there’s a question you’ve wanted to be asked for years, shall we do this then?” I was lost for words. He did tell me not to tell the wife, but I told him how lovely she is too. I was sure she’d understand just what this meant to me! I clutched that signed programme for the entire concert. It is my most treasured possession now. It’s framed. I sent pictures of it to everyone as soon as walked out of the Meet and Greet. But it was the response from my daughter that got me the most. “God save me” was her response. It made me take a sharp intake of breath. Because it was no doubt what Mr C would have said. Or something incredibly similar. That pang of missing him hit. Even when I was the most excited I’d ever been, the happiest I’d been in months, the pang of him not being here was there. I’ve come to accept that’s how my life will always be. The happiness and the pain being intertwined.

And then we come on to the biggest surprise of my life, which is obviously linked to Jason. In October last year, I did something most unlike the old me. I trekked halfway across the country to meet up with someone I’d never met after she so very kindly offered me tickets to see Jason in Leeds. It sounds crazy. I’d never let my daughter do it. Travel halfway across the country to meet someone you’ve only ever spoken to on social media and take her at face value that she’ll give you tickets to a gig. But this is the new me. The new me that realises that life is too blinking short not to do crazy things every now and then. The new me who has been so absolutely blown away by the kindness shown to me. I just knew it would be ok.

I was right. As soon as I walked into the pub to meet her, I knew she was my type of person. She is without question my kindred spirit. So much so, I invited her to my belated 40th birthday party. Despite only ever meeting her that once in Leeds. Sadly, she was unable to attend. Or so I thought. It turns out that she had colluded with my sister to be there. She travelled 5.5 hours to be there. With her somewhat wonderful husband who had never met me (bloody love that man). They walked into my party wearing Kylie and Jason masks so I wouldn’t recognise them. When they came over to me and lifted them up, I think I actually shrieked. I hugged them both so much. I couldn’t get over it. I couldn’t believe people would do that for me. Travel all that way and surprise me. A mutual love of Jason has brought the most wonderful, full of life person into my world. I’m so lucky.

And since my marriage proposal last year we’ve repeatedly joked on Twitter that she will be my chief official bridesmaid. So, her gift to me at my birthday was a photoshopped image of me, her and my sister onto the Neighbours wedding photo. She even got Jason to sign it for me when she did a Meet and Greet. We come back to that word I used a lot in my blog about him last year. Kindness. It means the absolute world and invariably costs nothing. Though I’m not going to lie. I do wonder what he must have thought when he saw that picture! And I also feel he probably needs some warning ahead of us going to the theatre or a gig together. I’m thinking someone should brief The Dominion Theatre ahead of our visit at the end of the month!!!

But while I jest. My adoration and love of Jason really has given me so much this year. It’s helped me take a step forward I didn’t actually realise I really needed to take. It’s brought someone truly wonderful into my life. It’s helped me make some new and very special memories. That I will treasure for my entire lifetime. I wonder what I’ll be writing this time next year. I may have peaked with the proposal last year, but there’s a few more theatre trips booked over the coming months. So, you just never know what could come next. A girl can dream. I mean, after all. Any Dream Will Do…

When I grow up, I’m going to marry Jason Donovan…

I’ll admit from the outset that this blog is slightly different to all my other posts so far. But when I said I was going to start writing a blog about my rollercoaster life, a friend of mine said that she hoped I’d use it to tell more of my life story. Not just the post COVID story. To tell people more about Emma. And to answer the question which I think more than one person has wondered. Just what is behind the infatuation with Jason Donovan?? So, as it’s his birthday today, it felt like a nice time to tell this story…

I think I was seven years old when I made the momentous life decision that when I grew up, I was going to marry Jason Donovan. Seven years old, totally bought into the Scott and Charlene love story in Neighbours so that when the transition to music happened, I was there ready and waiting with my pocket money! Now I work in marketing, I can see that I would have been a marketer’s dream. And it’s also since becoming a parent that I can see how I must have driven my parents insane with this adoration. The Ten Good Reasons album was the album of choice for any day trip, and I still know which song would be playing as we arrived at Dymchurch Beach. I knew this meant that on the way home we’d have to turn the cassette over! (Yes, I am that old that I remember cassettes). My bedroom wall was covered in posters. I’d buy all the records. I’d buy all the magazines. I had the Straight From The Heart board game (still own this). Everything was helping me prepare for growing up and marrying him. I don’t think anyone actually had the heart to break it to me that this wouldn’t happen.

So, when he was cast in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, it was the height of excitement for me. Except my mum told me that she couldn’t afford the tickets. I was heartbroken. Little did I know that a few months later; on what I thought was just a day trip to London; her and my godmother would present me with tickets. I could barely eat all day. The excitement was too much to bear. At the end of the show, I stood outside the stage door for just over three and a half hours. This was the start of my stage door stalking that continues to this day. A girl next to me said that her friend was at the front of the queue and passed my autograph book forward. When it was given back to me, the autograph was in there. The excitement was palpable. It became my most treasured possession. Although now when I look at it and compare it to other autographs I’ve seen him sign, I can’t help but wonder if it was actually her friend who signed it…

And then the fall from grace. Jason Donovan was no longer winning all the awards. He was no longer the big pop star. It was no longer cool to like him. I remember going to Woolworths (again, showing my age), picking up Mission of Love and a group of teenage girls next to me sniggered and laughed that I was buying it. It was the first time I really became conscious of what other people thought and the impact it could have. I think it undoubtedly played a part in me trying to fit in and be like everyone else for so much of my teenage life and my 20s. I didn’t like the feeling of being laughed at for liking something different or that wasn’t perceived as cool. First boyfriends weren’t told about this secret love affair of mine (didn’t want to scare them off). My liking of Jason Donovan became a closely guarded secret so that people wouldn’t think I was weird.

But deep down inside, I was still a fan. And when I was 17, I met him for the first time. He was appearing in The Rocky Horror Show in Canterbury. My friend; who I’d become friends with because she had pictures of him on her folder when we started at secondary school; and I went with my mum. I vividly remember saying before we went that if he was horrible at the stage door, that would it be. It would be over. We waited nervously. But when he came out, he saw that there was a girl in a wheelchair at the stage door waiting. He went straight over. He knelt to her level. He spoke to her. He spoke to each and every one of us. He gave us his time. Over 20 years later, the impact of that evening stays with me. Despite having just performed on stage, Jason gave us his time and showed kindness. To anyone who’s read my previous blogs, you’ll know how important kindness is to me. The love affair was still on.

And then the wilderness years. We all know why. But in 2006, Jason returned to our TV screens in I’m A Celebrity. Mr C and I were in New York for some of the series. I set the video to record (yes, a video tape!) to watch when we got back. Poor Mr C, this was about to be his first real experience of what was to come over the subsequent years of our marriage. Jason was back. I was there at the comeback tour the following year making me join a camping trip with friends a day late. I wasn’t missing this! It was such an enjoyable evening and took me straight back to my seven year old self (although if you happen to see the DVD, there’s some very amusing footage of me looking beyond starstruck when he comes into the audience…)

Over the subsequent years, Jason started doing more TV, more theatre and just generally being more of a presence again. I tried counting up how many times I’d seen him and failed. I’m sure I will work this out one day! I’ve been on the most epic trip to Butlins with friends to see him. So much laughing. So much fun. It was the best weekend EVER, despite me coming home with the nickname “Jasonzilla” because, apparently, I turned into a bit of monster to make sure we were there on time and right at the front of the stage to see him. A claim I vehemently deny to this day. I’ve danced on stage in an Australian hat with my friends and family in the opening song of Act 2 of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. It’s not even a guilty pleasure any more, I’m quite open about all of this now. It’s led to more of my family and friends winding me up about this obsession. There are the jokes about the injunction order. I’ve even got one friend who is convinced that whenever Jason finds out I’m in the building via my over excitable tweets or front row seats, there’s a call to security “code red, code red, she’s here again.”

But why am I still like this over 30 years since my first declaration of love? The memory of how genuine he was the first time I met him has stayed with me. It’s resulted in many more occasions waiting at the stage door. And throughout it all, Jason has been a true gent. Every single time. If he’s too busy to talk or take photos at the stage door, he tells us. He’s honest and upfront. He’s genuine. He makes time for his fans. To the point that when he was the compere at an event my company was sponsoring and I stealthily stalked him, he took a selfie of the two of us for me. Why? Because I was so excited, I simply couldn’t make my thumb work to press the button. At a critical moment to get an amazing picture, I couldn’t make my thumb work. That evening was the first time one of my colleagues had properly met me. She’s gone on to become a fabulous friend, but nearly six years later, I’m still staggered she speaks to me. She spent most of the evening with me being a quivering wreck. I also remember sending the selfie Jason had taken to Mr C. His response was simply “That poor man.” No compliments on what an amazing photo it was, just three words. Harsh, in my opinion. But despite how much Mr C mocked me, he secretly liked how much I’d become more open about the adoration. He liked that I no longer felt the need to hide it.

And over the last few years, with the advent of social media, I’ve even had the odd tweet or two from Jason himself. I can’t begin to explain how excited I get when these notifications pop up on my phone!! Social media has also meant I’ve been able to connect with more like-minded Jason fans. I don’t really know what you call a group of Jason fans (I suspect Mr C would have suggested Nutters, Crazy Women or something equally flattering) but I genuinely feel I could meet these women for a drink and it would be like we’ve known each other for years. Equally, social media has led to conversations with the lovely Ange, Jason’s wife. I sometimes wonder how she puts us up with us all fawning over her husband, but she does so with such good grace. And on more than one occasion has made me laugh out loud with her responses! But above all else, the kindness and support shown to me from each and every one of these people over the past 15 months, including the main man himself, has meant so very much. They’ve been there for me every step of the way, even arranging for Jason to send me a tweet the day after I was told the next 24-48 hours were critical for Mr C. There’s been other little nice touches too, none of which would have taken any time or cost anything, but each of them has meant the absolute world. We come back to that word again. Kindness.

So, as I come to the end of this blog, I hope I’ve answered the question I posed at the start. What is behind the infatuation with Jason Donovan? Quite simply, he’s just so lovely! But in all seriousness, I feel like he’s been there for me at every stage of my life. Because listening to his music takes me back to a time when life was simple, and I didn’t have a care in the world. I need that at times. Because he’s helped me realise that it doesn’t matter if you’re not the coolest. It doesn’t matter if you like something that means you don’t quite fit in. That’s ok. The girls in Woolworths wouldn’t bother me now. Because he’s shown that when it comes down to it, all that matters is that you’re kind, genuine and true to yourself. Whoever you are. Whether you’re famous or not. And that is one of the most invaluable lessons you can ever be taught.