Jason Donovan reminisces about 1989 - a pivotal year for the singer
He left Neighbours and had his breakthrough record
Last updated 19th Jan 2024
Singer and actor Jason Donovan recently announced he would be going on tour in 2025, so after more than 35 years in the entertainment business, we thought it was only right to get him into Greatest Hits Radio for Ken Bruce's Golden Years.
The 'Too Many Broken Hearts' singer, who has had huge success as a singer, TV actor and West End performer, explained to Ken when he chose 1989.
"I don't always look back, but one can't ignore is how significant that moment was for me," Jason explained to Ken, talking about how he left Neighbours to pursue a career in music.
"I guess coming out of Neighbours, I must have been 21... It seemed to just be a magic moment, with obviously my music career with Stock Aitken and Waterman, I decided to leave Neighbours. I wasn't quite sure of the future, and then I had this massive album ('Ten Good Reasons'), and life began again!"
'Ten Good Reasons' was a massive hit in the UK, reaching Number 1 in the albums chart, and spawning five Top 5 hits, and several Number 1s including the iconic duet with Kylie Minogue, 'Especially for You', and his breakthrough solo song 'Too Many Broken Hearts'.
The 55-year-old went on to reveal how he became "obsessed" with wanting to be a pop star, turning down several acting opportunities after he left Neighbours.
Jason explained: "I knew that even if my music career didn't go off, that I could follow an acting career. In fact, I turned down a number of acting roles, because I just got obsessed by the music, and wanting to become a pop star, you know? Which I kind of managed to tick a box quite successfully."
Jason recorded two albums with Stock Aitken and Waterman, and revealed what it was like working with The Hit Factory.
"Working with someone like Stock Aitken and Waterman obviously meant it was quick slick and well produced and you know, people talk about 'The Factory'," Jason explained.
Continuing: "To me, it was really important to get stuck in and play live, even if at the time, that music wasn't really being played live too much."
The singer chose three great songs from his Golden Year, including Donna Summer's 'This Time I Know It's For Real', another song crafted by Stock Aitken and Waterman. And Jason explained why he chose that song: "I think Stock Aitken and Waterman were one of the greatest melody writers of a generation, you know, Mike Stock particularly knew how to carve a wonderful melody.
"If you listen to songsmiths, they will say that's a great song... Chord structures pretty much stay the same, but melodies always have to change. This is one of those songs, I'll be honest with you, that I wish I had from the top of their cassette cupboard."
He went on to reveal that actually, Stock Aitken and Waterman didn't have a bank of songs ready to go.
"They tended to create their songs on the day, so there was no such thing as, when you go to publishers back in the day, saying I want your song from the top of the shelf, I want your best song. They were just working at it, and they just worked towards the artist themselves. I think they knew with Donna Summer, they had to come up with an absolute smash."
During the interview, Jason also spoke about his upcoming tour 'Doin' Fine 25', which will start in February 2025. He said: "It goes back to my world tour in 1990, and I'll be honest with you, I haven't really drafted the landscape of the show, but I just want to go back to the optimism and the spirit of that time.
"I think that there's a lot of tracks in my catalogue and through my theatre career, that I haven't used in tours that I've done in the past. I really enjoy touring live and I enjoy the connection, the emotional connection."
Tickets are now available for Jason Donovan's tour
Take a look at tours coming up in 2024 and beyond:
ABBA - 'ABBA Voyage'
ABBA's virtual tour 'ABBA Voyage' started in May 2022. The tour sees the ABBA avatars accompanied by a 10-piece live band, all taking place in a custom-built arena at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London.
The shows were due to run until October 2022, but due popular demand from fans, they will now run until 2026.
Hue and Cry
Hue and Cry announced their 40th anniversary tour which is taking place in October and November 2024. The band, consisting of brothers Patrick and Gregory Kane, are best-known for their hits 'Labour of Love' and 'Looking For Linda'.
Lightning Seeds
Liverpudlian serial hitmakers the Lightning Seeds are celebrating their 35th anniversary in 2024 with an extensive UK & Ireland tour, taking place across November and December 2024.
The Human League
The Human League, Philip Oakey, Joanne Catherall and Susan Anne Sulley, will perform eight huge arena shows in the run-up to Christmas 2024 on the 'Generations 2024 tour'. They will be supported on all dates by Sophie Ellis-Bextor and T'Pau.
Wet Wet Wet with special guest Heather Small - 2025
Wet Wet Wet have announced they will be going on touch in 2025 with special guest Heather Small. The band will be touring in January, February and October 2025.
Jason Donovan - 2025
Jason Donovan has announced a huge tour for 2025 to celebrate 35 years in entertainment. Shows begin in February 2025, running through to the end of March.
Mike + The Mechanics - 2025
Mike + The Mechanics have announced their 'Looking Back - Living The Years 2025 Tour', performing across the country in March and April 2025, including dates in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Manchester, Sheffield, and Birmingham, before finishing in London at the Royal Albert Hall.
Alison Moyet - 2025
Known for her solo hits 'All Cried Out', 'Is This Love?' and 'Love Letters', Alison Moyet will be taking her hits on the road in 2025. The singer will start in Dublin on 16th February 2025, before performing across the UK, ending in Aberdeen on 22nd March.
Cyndi Lauper - 2025
Cyndi Lauper has announced four UK dates for her 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour', due to take place in February 2025.
Toto - 2025
Toto, the band behind hits such as 'Africa' and 'Rosanna', will grace the UK early in 2025 for a headline arena tour.
Opening at Glasgow OVO Hydro on Saturday 1st February, Toto play Birmingham BP Pulse Live (Sun 2nd Feb), Manchester AO Arena (Tue 4th February) and London OVO Arena Wembley (Thu 6th Feb) on the short trek.
Kim Wilde - 2025
'Kids in America' singer, Kim Wilde, has announced a brand new tour for 2025 - shortly after the release of her 15th studio album, 'Closer'. The UK leg of the tour, of the same name, will kick off in Birmingham on 14th March - and will span nine dates, including in London, Liverpool and Glasgow.
Gabrielle - 2025
Gabrielle has announced a tour for 2025 called 'A Place In Your Heart'. The singer will be playing 10 UK dates, starting in Glasgow on 2nd April 2025, playing at locations such as Newcastle, Birmingham, Manchester, and more before ending in Bournemouth on 19th April 2025.
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue has announced her latest tour will be called 'The Tension Tour' and will take place in the UK throughout May 2025. Speaking about her tour, Kylie said: "I am beyond excited to announce the TENSION TOUR 2025. I can't wait to share beautiful and wild moments with fans all over the world, celebrating the Tension era and more! It's been an exhilarating ride so far and now, get ready for your close up because I will be calling Lights, Camera, Action … and there will be a whole lot of Padaming!"
Bryan Adams
Chart-slaying Canadian rocker Bryan Adams has announced a nine-date UK arena tour. Part of the 'Roll With The Punches' world tour, Bryan Adams' headline trek opens at Newcastle Utilita Arena on Thursday 8th May 2025 and visits Manchester, Leeds, Aberdeen, Glasgow, London, Liverpool and Nottingham before concluding at Birmingham bp pulse LIVE on Sunday 18th May 2025.
Holly Johnson - 2025
Holly Johnson will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Frankie Goes to Hollywood's debut album 'Welcome to the Pleasuredome' with a June 2025 UK tour.
Opening at Birmingham Symphony Hall on Friday 6th June, Holly Johnson visits London, Bath, Newcastle and Glasgow before culminating with a massive homecoming show at Liverpool M&S Bank Arena on Saturday 21st June.
Billy Joel - 2025
'Piano Man' Billy Joel has announced two UK dates for 2025. The singer will be performing in Liverpool and Edinburgh, making it the first time in more than 45 years that he'll be playing in those cities! He will be performing in Edinburgh on Saturday 7th June, and Liverpool on Saturday 21st June 2025.
Billy Ocean - 2025
Billy Ocean will start his UK tour in Manchester at the O2 Apollo on Wednesday 4th June 2025, before travelling across England, Scotland and Wales, ending his tour on 30th June in Nottingham, and the Royal Concert Hall.
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band have announced a trio of concerts for May and June 2025. The Boss and his legendary band will kick off their short run of shows with two nights at Manchester's Co-op Live on Saturday 17th and Tuesday 20th May 2025.
They will then play an outdoor concert at Liverpool Anfield Stadium on Wednesday 4th June 2025.
Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie has announced several UK dates as part of his 'Say Hello To The Hits' 2025 tour. Starting in Glasgow's OVO Hydro on Wednesday 4th June, before travelling to London, Sheffield, Birmingham and Manchester, Lionel has already added extra dates to his tour before it went on general sale.
Sting - 2025
Sting announces UK dates for his 'Sting 3.0' world tour. The tour sees the singer enter a new 'dynamic era', showcasing some songs from his huge back catalogue. On tour, Sting performs as part of a trio, with Sting on vocals and bass, Dominic Miller playing guitar and Chris Maas on drums.
Simple Minds
Scottish band Simple Minds have now announced a series of 2025 shows taking place at several festivals and outdoor locations, including Live At The Piece Hall, Halifax and Lincoln Castle, taking place in June and July 2025.
Oasis - 2025
Oasis have reunited and now announced a UK tour taking place in July and August 2025, performing in Cardiff, Manchester, London and Edinburgh.
Simply Red - 2025
Simply Red have announced they will be going on tour to celebrate their 40th anniversary in 2025. The band will be performing 12 gigs in September and October 2025.
Marti Pellow
Marti Pellow has announced he will be going on an arena tour in 2025 to celebrate 30 years of his iconic song 'Love Is All Around', which he released when he was part of Wet Wet Wet, back in 1994.
Speaking about the tour and the upcoming announcement, Marti said: "To think it's been 30 years since 'Love Is All Around' became such a huge part of my life is amazing. It's not just my song – it belongs to the fans. Celebrating this milestone with them is going to be incredibly special. And I've got something exciting planned around the song itself – I can't wait to share more soon!"
Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard has announced six UK dates as part of his 'Can't Stop Me Now' tour, which will see him perform across Australia, New Zealand and the UK in November and December 2025.
When is Ken Bruce on Greatest Hits Radio?
You can find Ken on Greatest Hits Radio Monday - Friday from 10am until 1pm.
Now read:
Marti Pellow reveals how his parents influenced his music and the first record he bought
Noddy Holder reveals why 'Merry Xmas Everybody' nearly didn't happen
How Annie Lennox and Tori Amos inspired Emeli Sandé