Jason Donovan is an Australian singer and former actor best known for playing Scott Robinson in Neighbours from February 1986 to May 1989, followed by a brief return in 2022. While not the first actor to play Scott, it was Jason who turned the character into one of the most iconic in Neighbours history. Before replacing Darius Perkins as Scott, Jason auditioned for the part of Danny Ramsay which ultimately went to David Clencie.
Jason is one of the most famous Neighbours actors and his character Scott Robinson, is one of the most memorable, most notably for his romance with Charlene Robinson. In the 1980s Jason dated Charlene's actress Kylie Minogue. He has also had a popular music career, selling over 30 million records worldwide, and has been involved in several theatre productions. He also released a best-selling autobiography in 2007.
Jason's father Terence Donovan played Doug Willis and his maternal half sister Stephanie McIntosh played Sky Mangel.
Pre Neighbours career
Jason Sean Donovan was born on the 1st June 1968 in Melbourne to English actor Terence Donovan and Sue Menlove. Jason's father was an actor and when he was 12, Jason appeared in 2 episodes of Skyways in 1980. In 1981, Jason appeared in I Can Jump Puddles. In 1981, Terence remarried and Jason had a half brother Paul Donovan born in 1983.
Sue Donovan remarried and had a daughter Stephanie McIntosh in July 1985, Jason's half sister.
In 1983, Jason appeared in Home. In 1985, Jason appeared in several episodes of Golden Pennies as Sean.
Audition for Danny Ramsay in Neighbours in 1985
In late 1984, early 1985, Jason showed interest in new upcoming soap opera Neighbours. In January 1985 he auditioned for the part of Danny Ramsay. He was given the role but pulled out due to wanting to finish his schooling, advised by his father Terence. The role was given to David Clencie.
Neighbours 1986-1989 as Scott Robinson
Jason as Scott.
Jason started filming for Neighbours in November 1985 as the role of Scott had been recast due to the unreliability of previous actor Darius Perkins. Jason's first scenes as Scott aired in Episode 188 - 12 February 1986. Jason became happy working on Neighbours and his on screen relationship with Charlene propelled his character Scott to being one of the most iconic characters in the show.
In late 1988 Jason left Neighbours for 6 weeks to make an album. Notable hits for Jason around this time included "Too Many Broken Hearts" and 'Especially for You", the latter of which was a duet between Jason and Charlene's actress Kylie Minogue. He returned in December 1988. At the same time he had planned to quit the show for good.
In his 2007 autobiography he said he felt Scott had run his course and his story was told. Scott's exit storyline was joining Charlene in Brisbane after almost being lead into temptation by another girl. Scott's original last episode was Episode 964 - 18 May 1989. In his original exit storyline, Scott did not have a proper farewell scene, just saying he was going to Brisbane to be with Charlene.
In 2022, Jason returned to the show for one episode alongside Kylie Minogue.
After Neighbours
A pic of my 2nd visit to see Jason Donovan. Nov 2023, Great Yarmouth Vauxhall Holiday park.
In March 1989, after filming his final scenes in Neighbours, Jason swiftly moved to London, England to concentrate on his pop career as he was at the top of the UK charts and the hottest young male singer around. By the early 1990s his pop career had faded and he ended up in theatre. One of his most notable theatre roles was being cast the lead role in the Andrew Loyd Webber musical Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in the late 1980s, with its song "Any Dream Will Do" becoming a big hit for Jason. He continued performing as Joseph until 1991, and Phillip Schofield replaced him.
Jason regularly gives interviews about his time on Neighbours.
Jason does many tours across the UK performing his greatest hits, and is also involved in musical theatre a lot.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Donovan
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0232997/
Gallery
I had the fortune to meet Jason in May 2014 when he performed on stage at Potters Resort in Hopton, Suffolk, 20 miles from where I live. I also saw him again in November 2023 in Great Yarmouth.
