Especially for YOU!

Actor and singer JASON DONOVAN on his special visit to The Woolpack

- ALISON SLADE

Jason Donovan's 45 years in show business have taken him all over the world, and now the former Neighbours favourite turned pop icon turned musical-theatre star is pitching up in ITV1's Yorkshire-set Emmerdale!

The cameo appearance comes about in a story that sees wealthy businesswoman Kim Tate (played by Claire King) turn fairy godmother by arranging for the Australian chart-topper to sing at The Woolpack as a surprise for Lydia Dingle (Karen Blick) after her pal missed out on seeing her idol in concert.

Here, in an exclusive interview, Jason, 57, chats to TV Times about his brief return to soap, saying goodbye to Ramsay Street and why he's proud to embrace his past...

So, what leads you to performing in The Woolpack?

The storyline centres around Lydia, who is a fan. Kim has my agent's number, so one thing leads to another. I was nervous about the term, 'Going back into a soap.' I have a lot of love for soap, but I was sure that I didn't want to be a character - I wanted to be myself.

It's close to my story, in that with the little bit of magic I have with the music and the nostalgia of Neighbours, occasionally I can turn up and make people's dreams come true.

Coincidentally, this week we say farewell to Neighbours (see page 29), in which you found fame playing Scott Robinson from 1986 to 1989. How do you feel about the show, which began in 1985, coming to an end?